Knights bow out against a determined Burnie

Photos (Top to Bottom): Glenorchy Knights starting XI; Burnie United starting XI; Referee Sean Collins (centre) and his assistants; Glenorchy Knights' Tony Dzelalija (left) goes for a header with Burnie United's Chris Smith; Glenorchy Knights' Mynonge Kamba (left) tussles with Burnie United's Chris Smith; Glenorchy Knights defender Brodie Green (left) tries to stop Burnie United's player-coach Sam Cocks from gaining possession [PlessPix]

Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy (KGV Park, Saturday, 15 May 2010)

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Glenorchy Knights 1 (A Koroma 61)

Burnie United 2 (C Smith 65, A Johnson 67)

HT: 0-0 Att: 100 Ref: S Collins

Glenorchy Knights: Peter - Green (Marsh 70), Holmes, Grundy, J Huigsloot - Roberts (Barabara 75), Dzelalija, Kamba, Clay - Koroma, Hope (Nowicki 85) [Substitute not used: Grainger] [Coach: Nick Harrison]

Burnie United: Bradley - Wolfert, Scolyer, Van Ek, Phillips-Crole - Knight, Wright, A Smith, A Johnson - C Smith (K Johnson 80), S Cocks [Substitutes not used: Agar, T Johnstone, Arnol] [Player-Coach: Sam Cocks]

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Burnie United came to KGV Park meaning business. In the opening stages, they looked very dangerous and were shooting on sight. It was only that they were slightly off target or that their shots were blocked that prevented them taking an early lead as Sam Cocks, Chris Smith, Astyn Johnson and Andrew Knights blazed away against a desperate Glenorchy Knights side that was on the back foot and badly missing the absent Josh Fielding.

Burnie missed some glorious chances. In the 17th minute, for example, Chris Smith put Astyn Johnson away on the right and his cross found Cocks, who squared the ball to Wright, but his shot was blocked by Grundy when a goal appeared certain.

Knights gradually regained their composure and began to build up attacks of their own. In the 20th minute, the hard-working Jade Clay sent over a dangerous cross from the left that almost sneaked in under the bar but was just turned out for a corner.

Five minutes later, Burnie keeper Ryan Bradley required two attempts before he got the ball under control after another Clay shot.

Will Roberts went close for Knights in the 26th minute, his effort going just wide of the angle of crossbar and post.

The best chance so far then fell to James Hope. In the 28th minute, Brodie Green picked out the Knights striker with a deep cross from the right, but the unmarked Hope sent a tame header straight at the keeper from close range. It was to prove a costly miss.

Hope was at fault again on the half-hour when he did well to round the advancing Burnie keeper, only to direct his shot into the side-netting.

A minute later, Mynonge Kamba did well to get to the edge of the box and slip the ball through to Amadu Koroma. Koroma was bundled off the ball and when it came back to Kamba, he shot narrowly over the crossbar.

Two minutes before the interval, Hope’s low drive was turned against the post by Bradley and the ball was cleared.

In the 45th minute, Chris Smith was guilty of a glaring miss for the visitors. Cocks delivered a perfect cross from the right to his unmarked team-mate, who missed a simple header.

In stoppage time at the end of the first half, Burnie created a beautiful attacking move when Cocks again put Astyn Johnson away on the right. He crossed to Chris Smith in the middle, but with only the goalkeeper to beat, Smith fired straight at him from point-blank range.

Ten minutes after the resumption, Kamba went on a great circular run outside the box and played a neat one-two with Jacob Huigsloot, but on receiving the ball back, he fired tamely at the keeper from 12 metres.

Koroma finally broke the ice and put the Knights ahead in the 61st minute from Clay’s left-wing cross, finishing neatly from inside the box.

But, it took Burnie just four minutes to draw level. Brodie Knights put Chris Smith through the middle as the home side looked in vain for an off-side flag and the Burnie marksman easily beat Ben Peter to make it 1-1.

Two minutes later, Chris Smith fed Astyn Johnson through the middle. Anthony Grundy was unable to intercept, but Alex Holmes managed to force the striker to run wide to the left. But, it was a false sense of security and Johnson fired home from an acute angle, past a complacent Holmes and inside Peter’s near post, for the winner.

Burnie almost had a third when they won a corner 16 minute from the end. Peter could only punch the ball wide, where it fell to Cocks, who powered a great volley against the crossbar.

Knights were almost served an equaliser on a platter in the 78th minute when a poor free-kick by Burnie’s Sam Phillips-Crole gave possession to Koroma just outside the penalty area, but he missed the target and the chance went begging.

Burnie clung to their lead and it was the end of the road for the Knights in this competition, which is named in honour of one of their late and great strikers.

This game emphasised the attraction of a State League. It was wonderful to see a different team, new faces, and skilled players from the other end of Tasmania.

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· Glenorchy Knights coach, Nick Harrison, said:

“We were very disappointed after the last week or so we’ve had at the club. We needed to bounce back with a win today.

“Defensively, we just weren’t right today, I suppose. But, we had chances to win it. Nil-nil at half-time, but we could have been in front.

“They had chances, but very disappointed to be honest because it was a game we could have won. I think that’s what the lads know. So now, we’ve got to pick them up, sort them out and get ready for our game next week.

· Burnie United player-coach, Sam Cocks, said:

“After our last four weeks’ performances on the North-West Coast, to come down here after four-and-a-half hours’ travel, the result is brilliant.

“We had all of our midfield out, so we knew we were coming down for a battle.

“We reacted very well, despite going down one-nil. The Knights put up a good battle. They had home-ground advantage and they put us under pressure many times, but our boys got stuck in and played our game style and came away with a win.”