Lions devour Riverside in friendly

Photo:  Kingborough's Tom McDonald slide tackles Riverside's Jasper King [PlessPix]

Kingborough Lions United beat Riverside Olympic 4-0 in a hot conditions at Lightwood Park this afternoon in an NPL Tasmania pre-season friendly.

The teams had drink breaks midway through both halves.

The Lions scored twice in each half and were awarded two penalties, but scored only from one.

Danny Cowen came on as a substitute for Kingborough 2 minutes before the interval and scored from a penalty with his first touch of the match.

Photo:  Riverside's Michael Monticchio gets the ball away from Kingborough's Dominic Easton [PlessPix]

The second penalty, late in the match, was taken by Conor Bastock, but Riverside’s substitute keeper, Reef Murfett, saved.

Kingborough had their new American keeper, Hunter Harrison, on view.  He had a fine, confident game and even registered an assist 5 minutes from the end when his long kick flew straight to Keenan Douce, who lobbed the keeper to score and make it 4-0.

Nick Cuthbertson was back with the Lions after a spell with Beachside and played in his usual position of centre-back, where he partnered Joel Schuth.

Tom McDonald was also a returnee from Beachside and played in the Lions attack.

Photo:  Kingborough's Brentyn Muir (right) pressures Riverside's Aaron Campbell [PlessPix]

Kieran Biggar and Brentyn Muir were two other former Beachside player to have joined the Lions and both started on the bench.

Riverside had former Launceston City striker Aaron Campbell in their line-up.  He could have had a hat-trick, but his shooting was off target and on one occasion he was foiled by a brilliant piece of goalkeeping by Harrison.

Michael Monticchio has also joined Riverside from Northern Rangers and he played in midfield.  The American import is also running Riverside’s development academy.

Kingborough almost hit the front after just 2 minutes, but Riverside keeper Jarrod Hill did well to turn Vince Turner’s shot from the right wide of the far post.

Photo:  Riverside's Mitch Jones tackles Kingborough's Nick Cuthbertson [PlessPix]

In the 12^th minute, an under-hit back pass by Kingborough fullback Nic Zammit allowed Campbell in on goal, but his low drive crept narrowly past the far left-hand post.

The Lions took the lead in the 34^th minute when a corner from the right carried to the far side of the box and Turner chipped the ball back into the danger zone and over Hill and inside the far post.

Cowen netted a penalty in the 43^rd minute to make it 2-0 after Jasper King and Mitch Roberts combined to bring down James Hall on the right of the box.

In the 65^th minute, Bastock squandered a marvellous opportunity when Riverside’s substitute keeper, Murfett, came out of his area and tried to head the ball clear.  It fell to Bastock, who lobbed at goal, but the ball drifted wide of the gaping goal.

Photo:  Kingborough's Keenan Douce (left) pits pressure on Riverside's Aaron Campbell [PlessPix]

Five minutes later, Cowen grabbed his second goal of the game, controlling a cross on his chest before firing home from the edge of the box to give the Lions a 3-0 lead.

In the 83^rd minute, Campbell broke through and found himself in a one-on-one with Harrison, but the keeper produced a splendid reaction save to deny the Riverside attacker.

In the 8^5th minute, Harrison launched a long kick up-field which found Douce, who controlled the ball before lobbing over Murfett and into the net to make it 4-0 for the home side.

Two minutes from the end, Roberts brought down Bastock, who took the penalty himself, but Murfett beat out the spot-kick to keep the score at 4-0.

Photo:  Kingborough coach Greg Calvert issues instructions [PlessPix]

Kingborough still have players, including Chris Downes, to come back, which must be pleasing for coach Greg Calvert.

Riverside coach Alex Gaetani has a lot of work to do with his young squad, particularly at the back.  The visitors had a very young back-line.

Photo:  Riverside Olympic's coach, Alex Gaetani [PlessPix]

Kingborough Lions United:  Harrison  -  Douce, Cuthbertson, Schuth, Zammit  -  Hall, Easton, Joe Davis, Kantzos  -  Vince Turner, McDonald  (Interchange:  Cowen, Bastock, Biggar, Nugent, Muir)

Riverside Olympic:  Hill  -  Jago, Prince, King, Roberts  -  Gilmore, Humphries, Monticchio  -  Jones, Campbell, Harvey  (Interchange:  Murfett, Coert, Lucas, Sykes, William Neilson, Kingslow, Wakeford, Kidman)

Photo:  Kingborough's Vince Turner gets the ball ahead of Riverside's Jasper King [PlessPix] 

Photo:  Kingborough's Vince Turner wins a header [PlessPix] 

Photo:  Riverside's Mitch Jones shields the ball from Kingborough's Keenan Douce [PlessPix]