Clarence isolated at foot of NPL standings

Photo:  Clarence's Harrison Lange clears the ball as Riverside threaten [PlessPix]

(NPL Tasmania, Wentworth Park, Saturday, 4 May 2019)

Clarence United 1 (Moynihan 65)

Riverside Olympic 3 (Vigilante 20, Kinslow 44, Campbell 86)

HT:  0-2   Att:  60   Ref:  J McInerney

Clarence United:  Dyson  -  Lange, Demar, Reibel, Voss  -  Ebini, Price, Burt, Cannamela  -  Snell, Hatcher  (Subs:  Downham, Kannegiesser, Marsh, Moynihan, Randall)

Riverside Olympic:  Hill  -  King, O’Neill, Olner, Humphrey  -  Monticchio, Vigilante, Gilmore  -  Spanos, Kinslow, Campbell  (Subs:  Davis, Lucas, Murfet, Prince)

Photo:  Clarence's Harrison Lange in pursuit of Riverside's Aaron Campbell [PlessPix]

Riverside Olympic moved away from last-placed Clarence United with this 3-1 away win at Wentworth Park.

At Easter, Clarence had beaten Riverside 1-0 through a penalty to grab their first win of the season.

It was a different story this time around, although Clarence squandered some excellent chances which might have given them some reward for their efforts.

Both teams were guilty of poor passing and inadequate technique and skill.  Clarence, in particular, found it difficult to retain possession and why they persist in trying to play the ball out from the back is a mystery as it just keeps them under pressure.

Photo:  Clarence's Kane Hatcher wins a header against Riverside's Jasper King [PlessPix]

Riverside had the better of the first half and they took the lead after 20 minutes through a magnificent goal from their Argentinian import, Luca Vigilante.

The visitors attacked down the left, but Liam Gilmore was unable to get his cross over from the goal-line.  Instead, he played the ball back into midfield to Vigilante, who took a touch and then arrowed an unstoppable shot from 20 metres into the far top right-hand corner of the net.  Clarence keeper Matthew Dyson flew through the air but had no chance of saving.  He may have felt the slipstream from the ball, but he probably didn’t get any part of his glove to it.

It was 2-0 a minute before the interval, which is surely one of the worst times to concede.  A cross from the left was headed home by Rhys Kinslow, who bravely outjumped Dyson and Jackson Ebini.

Clarence scored their first goal of the season in open play in the 65^th minute, and what a goal it was.  Cody Snell cut the ball back across the goalmouth from the right and substitute Romolo Moynihan met the ball perfectly with the laces of his right boot and sent a magnificent first-time volley into the net to make it 2-1.

Photo:  Riverside's Rhys Kinslow has a shot at goal [PlessPix]

Snell had earlier forced Riverside keeper Jarrod Hill to make an outstanding save when he cut in from the right and shot for the near post.  Hill blocked bravely and denied Clarence what looked like a certain goal.

In the 78^th minute, Clarence substitute Liam Marsh missed a sitter that will haunt him in his dreams.  He somehow looped the ball over the bar from 6 metres, with the goal beckoning, after yet another dangerous cut-back from the right by the nippy and speedy Snell.

Riverside weren’t finished, however, and only a perfectly timed last-ditch tackle by Clarence defender Odaine Demar prevented Kinslow from scoring after he had rounded Dyson and was presented with an open goal.

The visitors did get a third goal.  Four minutes from the end, Aaron Campbell was put through and lifted the ball over Dyson to make it 3-1 and ensure Riverside of the 3 points, which kept them second-last buy 3 points ahead of bottom-side Clarence.

Photo:  Clarence coach Warren Burt (right) discusses matters with goalkeeper Matt Dyson before the kick-off [PlessPix]

Clarence United coach, Warren Burt, said:

“I think in the first half they definitely played better.  We gave the ball away too often and it was hard to count how many passes we actually completed.

“In the second half, we played a lot better, but we just couldn’t do it.  They played better football with more composure.

“We had a couple of chances and it was good to score from open play.

“We’ll look at the positives and move on from there.”

Photo:  Clarence defender Sam Reibel tackles a Riverside opponent [PlessPix]

Riverside Olympic coach, Alex Gaetani, said:

“I have to be pleased with the win after the last time we played them a few weeks ago.  That had been a low point for us.

“The win was important and I think, in the first half, we played some really good football.  We probably should have three or four goals up at half-time.

“The second half was disappointing in terms of the first 15 or 20 minutes.  They came out and pressed us hard.  There’s some quality at Clarence and you have to be careful.  If you drop off, they’ll provide some danger.

“We got out of it, luckily, and that third goal was very, very important.  But, it should have been more.”

Photo:  Rhys Kinslow (partially obscured) heads Riverside's second goal [PlessPix]