Written by Jacob Batt
The Hobart JEEP Zebras have kept the pressure on Olympia with a 2-1 win over the Devonport Strikers yesterday at KGV, coming from behind with two second half goals to record victory.
The match was evenly contested in the opening stages with both sides having chances to score early. Winger Michael Holden hit the post with a cross-turned-shot from the left byline, while at the other end a bad first touch from Adam McKeown at the top of the six yard box led to a golden opportunity missed for the Zebras.
Devonport began to have the better of the play, and went ahead after 11 minutes when Beau Blizzard played in Holden on the left. The speedy winger shot low and hard to beat Graham Wright at his near post, and it was evident Holden was creating headaches for Zebras.
A minute later, McKeown again failed to take a chance. He found himself in on goal but could only scuff a shot, missing a great opportunity to draw his team level.
As the Zebras searched for an equaliser Jayden Hey, Harrison Thomas and Ricky Self lifted and were sensational through midfield. Since crossing from South Hobart, Thomas has given Zebras an extra dimension in their attacking play and this was evident in the Zebras fightback.
For Devonport, playing Coach Bobby Eaves was playing sensational pin point balls to his wingers, placing them in fantastic attacking positions. Kieren Mulraney and Bradley Chilcott were looking solid in defence and got Devonport to half time still 1-0 ahead.
Zebras had to win to keep their title hopes alive and that was evident in how they came out and chased the game in the second half. Kurt Engels had been quiet in the first half but he sparked to life after the break.
In the 53rd minute Engels played in McKeown on the left into the penalty box. Tom Pearce came off his line as McKeown attacked the ball, but the ball somehow rolled over Pearce. McKeown got to the ball first and shot high past two Devonport defenders and into the back of the net.
The equaliser lifted Zebras, and four minutes later they had the lead. The ball was played out to Kurt Engels from a corner, whose shot took a horror deflection off Eaves. The deflection gave Pearce no hope as it sent him the wrong way.
However there was some slight controversy around Engels’ winner. The Devonport players were adamant the corner referee Brenton Kopra awarded that resulted in Engels’ goal should have been a goal kick instead. From the grandstand it certainly looked to be a goal kick.
Hey, Engels and McKeown had opportunities to put the result to bed but failed to score, while Holden had a late chance to equalise but Wright came off his line well and Holden’s touch let him down.
After starting strongly, Holden’s attacking prowess was shut down by Dwayne Walsh in the second half. It was a fantastic tussle between the two number 9’s all day – both lightning fast, aggressive at the ball and with silky moves in their arsenal. Even though he got on the score sheet, the chocolates in the individual battle go to Walsh for a splendid second half when the game was there to be won.
Devonport playing coach Bobby Eaves thought his side started brightly but fell away in the second stanza.
“We played very well in the first half, I don’t think they really had a sniff. But that’s football, we didn’t take our chances and they buried them,” he said.
“They really picked it up in the second half and shut a few of our danger players out which completely swayed the game.”
Eaves believes his side is very hit and miss at the moment.
“At times we are much better, at times we are definitely a top four side. But it’s our lapses in concentration that make us a bottom four side.”
“We’re too up and down to be a top four side at the moment. But we have the quality to be up there,” he said.
Hobart JEEP Zebras coach Chris Hey was disappointed with his sides first half but impressed with their second.
“I thought the first half was pretty poor, pretty ordinary. Devonport are a good side,” he said.
“We were probably lucky to go in one nil down, could’ve been two or three. A better performance (in the) second half without a doubt.”
“Sometimes you’ve got to scrap for the points and that was one of those games today.”
Hey seriously believes his side remain a chance at the title but knows there is no room for slip-ups.
“We’ve got to play both South Hobart and Olympia, and they’ve got to play each other. I honestly believe, potentially, it will go down to the wire,” he said.
“Drop points, any points, and our season is gone.”
Devonport are still in the hunt for the four and have a difficult assignment next week up against table toppers Olympia.
For Zebras, they keep the PS4 Victory League title dream alive. An Olympia victory over Launceston City will mean six points separates Zebras and Olympia and one point separates Zebras and South Hobart.
Slice of Cheese 