Lions fail to bring down Zebras

Photo:  Kingborough's Zoe Horgan battles for possession [PlessPix]

(Women’s State-wide Cup Final, KGV Park, Monday, 10 June 2019)

Hobart Zebras 3 (D Kannegiesser 5, 64, A Berry 62)

Kingborough Lions United 1 (L Davis 59)

HT:  1-0   Att:  2000   Ref:  R Longo

Hobart Zebras:  Cook;  Mason, Kannegiesser, Steventon, Delaney, Berry, Ferrier, Gill, Nichols, Graham, Hulton, Fieman, Burt, Ponting, Fagan, Leon.  (Coach:  Chris Hey)

Kingborough Lions United:  Gardner;  Ollington, Dadswell, Cane, Clifford, Tatton, Hickman, De Smit, Moore, Watkins, Hart, Lawson, Horgan, Davis, Manuela, Roubickova, MacIntosh.  (Coach:  Simon Edwards)

Photo:  Kingborough's Hanna Manuela and scorer Laura Davis dance a jig after Davis had equalised [PlessPix]

Hobart Zebras beat Kingborough Lions United 3-1 in the Women’s State-wide Cup Final, making it two years in a row that the Lions have lost this final.

Zebras got off to a perfect start when Danielle Kannegiesser gave them the lead in the 5^th minute with a 30-metre effort that sailed into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Allie Berry had the ball in the net in the 17^th minute, but it was ruled off-side, much to the relief of Kingborough’s defence.

Kingborough’s ace in the pack, striker Laura Davis, needed treatment for a head injury before the first half was out, but she was able to return to the fray.

Photo:  Zebras' Allie Berry celebrates, but her goal was disallowed [PlessPix]

Zebras weren’t taking prisoners and both Kayla Mason and Zoe Nichols were cautioned in the opening half.

Zebras keeper Shelley Cook had already saved twice with her legs as the Lions threatened, but she was helpless in the 59^th minute when Davis equalised.

Davis could have given her side the lead shortly after, but she was off target.

The stalemate lasted just 3 minutes as Berry fired home to restore the Zebras’ lead in the 62^nd minute.

Photo:  Team-mates congratulate Danielle Kannegiesser on her second goal to make it 3-1 [PlessPix]

With the Lions on the canvas, Zebras struck again immediately.  In the 63^rd minute, Kannegiesser fired against the underside of the bar on the left and the ball ricocheted inside the far side of the net to give them a two-goal buffer at 3-1.

Both sides had half-chances as the second half wore on and Zebras held on to lift the trophy.

Kannegiesser, with a brace, was named player-of-the final.

Kingborough goalkeeper Olivia Gardner was in great form for the Lions and saved well on several  occasions and Zebras threatened to add to their tally.

Photo:  Kingborough celebrations after Laura Davis's goal [PlessPix]

Photo:  Kingborough's Airlee Lawson tackles Zebras' Lilly Hulton [PlessPix]

Photo:  Former FFT president Sean Collins (left) was presented with life membership by current president Bob Gordon after the Women's final [PlessPix]