The stars all aligned for a great day of football in Launceston

Photo:  Adam McKeown (No.14), Ben Hamlett and Jack Turner played key roles in the defeat of Devonport Strikers. [PlessPix] 

Kingborough Lions United used the right tactics yesterday when they beat reigning NPL Tasmania champions Devonport Strikers 2-0 at the University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston.

The Lions played three at the back, made some positional changes at times, and used the long ball to perfection to overcome Devonport.

A team can have as much ball possession as they like, but if they cannot score, it’s all a waste of time.  In football, you don’t get a goal each time you string ten passes together.  It’s the ball in the back of the net that counts.

Two goals from long balls in the opening 16 minutes decided this game.

In the 12^th minute, a superb pass from inside his own half by Adam McKeown released the speedy Ban Hamlett, who chipped Devonport keeper Nathan Pitchford to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.

In the 16^th minute, Kobe Kemp played a long ball from inside his own half and out to the left to Hamlett, who controlled it and squared the ball across the box for the advancing McKeown to fire home and make it 2-0.

It could have been more by the end.  In the closing minutes, only a fine save by Pitchford denied Keenan Douce, who produced his party trick of a first-time accurate and stinging volley.  And then, Pitchford did well to turn Jackson Khasif’s effort from the left wide and out for a fruitless corner.

Kingborough goalkeeper Lee Mackie was never troubled and Devonport probably had only one decent shot at goal, which was straight at Mackie.

Kobe Kemp was excellent in midfield for Kingborough.  He won tackles and used the ball wisely, while the back-three of Byungalee Ahn, Kenneth Trac and Joseph Juma worked hard and always had the measure of Devonport’s attackers.

Douce was given the opportunity to push forward in a wide midfield role, while Phil Kantzos, Andrew Taylor and Jack Turner dominated midfield.  Shane Cartwright showed some of his old form when he came on as a substitute.

It was a marvellous performance by the Lions and they deserved their win, which keeps them third but level on points with leaders South Hobart and Glenorchy Knights, although the Lions have played a game more than the others.

Devonport remain fourth and they must surely now realise that they will need to sharpen their attacking skills if they are to retain their title.

There’s a long way to go yet, but the North-West Coast outfit now has some genuine rivals for their league crown.

In the Women’s Super League match at the same venue, Launceston United were unlucky to go down 2-0 to Olympia FC Warriors.

United showed plenty of fighting spirit and ability, but two lapses cost them dearly.

Midway through the first half, United conceded a free-kick just outside the box and Leah Gubb sliced the ball so that it curled inside the right side of the goal as United keeper, Imogen McCormick, deceived by the curling shot, moved the other way.

United’s Sofie Verhaegen stood out with her passing and speed, while her team-mates made things difficult for the Warriors.

Olympia’s Madi Chambers and Bonnie Davies were rarely able to utilise their speed against a resolute United defence.

It took until the 72^nd minute for the Warriors to make the game safe.  Davies, who had been well held by United’s Gonya Luate, was given a little too much space and she unleashed a long-range shot that flew into the net off the underside of the bar to make it 2-0.

Olympia showed they will be able to give the title a real shake, while newcomers to the league, Launceston United, indicated on this display that they can be a threat.

Saturday’s main fixture, the A-League clash between Western United and league leaders Central Coast Mariners, was decide in United’s favour by a 5^th-minute goal from Connor Pain.  It was a well-worked goal involving a neat-one-two with Besart Berisha and a clever finish by Pain.

The crowd of 3,203 was typical for A-League games in Tasmania.  I can’t see us ever attracting many more, regardless of which teams are playing.

Both visiting teams sometimes attract smaller crowds for their games at home, so nothing is lost by playing in Tassie.

The pitch was magnificent and a credit to the ground staff.

The old chestnut of Tasmania requiring a rectangular stadium if there is to be a Tasmanian A-League side admitted to the competition, was again shown to be rubbish and should be laid to rest.

The venue is excellent and the powers that be will have to come with something new.

Tasmania has the money, it has the facilities, and it can match some less than impressive attendances interstate, so the suits and TV authorities that decide these things will have to come up with something more credible to knock us on the head with in order to convince us that we can’t have a team.

We know we could and should have one, but how does one get that inside the heads of the decision makers?