Devonport win battle against Knights 2-1 and establish what could be a title-winning lead

Photo:  Devonport's Connor Parke (left) limps away from the scene after winning a free-kick against Knights. [PlessPix] 

(NPL Tasmania, KGV Park, Saturday, 4 June 2022)

Glenorchy Knights 1 (E Luttmer 45+2 pen)

Devonport Strikers 2 (K Mulraney 74, A Dulleh 75)

HT:  1-0   Att:  110   Ref:  B Kopra

Glenorchy Knights:  Murfett  -  Gorrie, Harrison, Luttmer, Bowman  -  Muller, Castaneda (Undy 75), Schmidt  -  Naden (Walpole 75), Vincent, Yost  [Subs not used:  Woodham (GK), Brkic, Richardson)

Devonport Strikers:  K Smith  -  Parke, Mulraney, Barton  -  Moradi (D Smith 82), Last, C Bidwell (Kidmas 82), Andrews (Stone 57)  -  Denehey (Lanau-Atkinson 57), Garrido, Dulleh (Mohammadi 88)

Photo:  Devonport's Roberto Fernadez Garrido shoots at goal. [PlessPix]  

Two goals in as many minutes with about 20 minutes remaining gave Devonport Strikers an important 2-1 away win over Glenorchy Knights at KGV Park yesterday.

The win gives Devonport valuable breathing space at the top of the standings, where they now lead second-placed Knights by 5 points.

It was also sweet revenge for Devonport’s 1-0 loss at home to the Knights in the league at the start of the season.

There is no love lost between these two rivals and there were three brawls that broke out involving most of the players.

Photo:  The tackle by Knights' Tyler Harrison that brought down Connor Parke. [PlessPix]  

Cautions were issued to Knights’ Daniel Schmidt, Austin Yost and Jack Bowman, while Devonport’s Toby Barton, Charles Bidwell, Fahim Moradi and substitute Joel Stone received yellow cards and substitute Nick Lanau-Atkinson was a shown a straight red late in the game.  Lanau-Atkinson’s introduction early in the second half was instrumental in swinging the match Devonport’s way, but he will now miss next weekend’s Milan Lakoseljac Cup Final.

Devonport started strongly and were unfortunate not to take an early lead when Faradi attacked down the right and shot against the base of the right-hand upright, the ball rolling across the face of goal and out at the fer left-hand post.

The Knights switched play and counter-attacked throughout the first half but rarely managed a shot.

Photo:  Knights' Austin Yost cannot bear to watch the penalty he earned, but Eli Luttmer sends Devonport keeper Keegan Smith the wrong way and scores. [PlessPix]  

With 45 minutes gone, Knights earned a penalty when Yost was upended and captain Eli Luttmer sent keeper Keegan Smith the wrong way with his spot-kick to take Knights in at the break leading 1-0.

Devonport made two substitutions before an hour was up, bringing on Stone and Lanau-Atkinson, and the changes worked.

In the 74^th minute, Lanau-Atkinson’s free-kick from deep on the right found Kieran Mulraney at the far post, where he outjumped Kyle Vincent to power home a header and make it 1-1.

Photo:  A Knights shot flies wide of the target. [PlessPix]  

Devonport regained possession immediately from the restart and Lanau-Atkinson fed Alu Dulleh down the left with a diagonal pass from the right and the winger slotted home to give the visitors a 2-1 lead, which they held until the end.

Lanua-Atkinson made the lead a little more precarious when his vicious and unnecessary tackle on Luttmer in the final minute of normal time saw him sent off, but Devonport held on for victory.

Photo:  Another Knights chance goes begging. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Nick Lanau-Atkinson pleads his innocence after felling Eli Luttmer. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Nick Lanau-Atkinson's gestures to the crowd after he was sent off and makes his way to the dressing rooms. [PlessPix]