Knights beat Clarence, but it should have been double figures

Photo:  Knights' Rowan Heggie rises for a header [PlessPix]

(NPL Tasmania, KGV Park, Wednesday, 20 March 2019)

Clarence United 0

Glenorchy Knights 5 (D Brown 24, 57, 91 pen, M Nowicki 44, 68)

HT:  0-2   Att:  150   Ref:  J Hamilton

Clarence United:  French;  Bremner, Cannamela, Hatcher, Hedge, Kannegiesser, Lush, Price, Randall, Smith, Snell, Voss, Wilcock, Marsh

Glenorchy Knights:  Hart;  A Bellini, D Brown, Hallard, Hardwick, Heggie, James, Marney, Nowicki, Stuart  (Subs:  T Bellini, Kadisha, Le Rossignol, Naden, Sherman)

Photo:  Declan Brown is brought down by two Clarence defenders, who needed treatment.  Clarence coach Warren Burt came on to the pitch to see if his players were all right and was told by referee James Hamilton to get off the ground. [PlessPix]

Declan Brown hit a hat-trick and Mathew Nowicki grabbed a brace as Glenorchy Knights beat Clarence United 5-0 at KGV Park tonight.

Clarence had no answer to Knights and were spared a greater deficit by some excellent goalkeeping by Jake French and the assistance of the woodwork.

Knights had some appalling luck at times as goal-bound shots came back off the crossbar and posts.

It could easily have been double figures, too, were it not for some amazing saves by French.

Photo:  Referee James Hamilton has just red-carded Paul Bremner (right) and seems to be telling goalkeeper Jake French he has to face a penalty [PlessPix]

Clarence also had key player Paul Bremner sent off in the last minute when he conceded a penalty by pulling Rowan Heggie’s shirt and bringing him down as the Knights attacker was through on goal.

Clarence had no shots on target at all and were cut to pieces at times by a Knights outfit that passed speedily and showed pace in attack, especially down the flanks.

Knights were sloppy at times, too, and some moves came to nought through inaccurate passing.

Knights preferred Lachlan Hart to Trent Le Rossignol in goal, while coach James Sherman came on 10 minutes from the end to give Sam James a rest.

In tonight's other NPL game, Riverside Olympia beat Launceston City 2-1 away at Buckby Land Rover Park in Launceston.

Photo:  Hat-trick hero Declan Brown weaves his way through the Clarence defence [PlessPix]

Clarence United coach, Warren Burt, said:

“It was pleasing, particularly the first half, when I was happy with the way the guys adapted and played like a team.  They passed the ball around and we had a couple of opportunities down in their 18-yard box, so it was very pleasing from that perspective.

“I think you could see improvement, particularly after the Kingborough game, which was pretty disappointing.”

Glenorchy Knights coach, James Sherman, said:

“I think that’s a fair point [that we should have had twice as many goals].

“[Jake French] is having a good start to the season.  It’s something we spoke about before the start of the game, that with his Futsal background, he’s really good at [saving] that low finish.  We talked about lifting the ball a little bit higher when we’re through one on one, but it fell on deaf ears.

“There were a handful of chances there where, if we were a little more composed, it was just a case of lifting it a bit and it probably would have gone in.” 

Photo:  Knights' Jake Stuart is stopped by Clarence's Sam Randall [PlessPix]

NPL Tasmania (As at 20 March 2019)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Devonport City	3	3	0	0	7	1	9
South Hobart	4	2	1	1	9	5	7
Olympia Warriors	4	2	1	1	7	5	7
Kingborough Lions	3	2	0	1	11	3	6
Glenorchy Knights	4	2	0	2	11	8	6
Hobart Zebras	3	1	2	0	12	3	5
Riverside Olympic	3	1	0	2	4	8	3
Launceston City	3	0	0	3	3	9	0
Clarence United	3	0	0	3	0	22	0

Photo:  Knights' Luke Warrener takes on Clarence's Chris Kannegiesser [PlessPix]