Clarence and Launceston City play out 1-all draw

Clarence came away with a share of the spoils against Launceston City on the weekend. Coach Mark Astley gives his verdict on the result and what made for a “difficult” contest.

Clarence Zebras coach Mark Astley.

A windy Wentworth Park played host to a hard-fought 1-1 draw between Clarence and Launceston City on Saturday.

Kyle Vincent opened the scoring for the Zebras from a header in the third minute, before Joel Stone equalised for the visitors in the 77th.

Clarence coach Mark Astley admitted the wind was detrimental to both team’s ability to play.

“The wind certainly made it difficult,” he said.

“We talked about it before the game; we knew both teams wouldn’t be able to play the way in which they wanted.”

A Clarence freekick from Joshua Mathie found the diving head of Vincent to give the hosts the early lead.

The swirling winds proved difficult for City to generate offence, but also made it challenging for Clarence keeper Manuel Hennicke.

A corner from Will Humphrey almost found the back of the Zebras’ net, before it was tipped over by Hennicke.

Despite being in the lead, Clarence was struggling to move the ball past the Launceston press.

As a result, it was City who had the bulk of the chances in the first half.

Thierry Swaby was played through but denied from close range by Hennicke in the 28th minute.

Swaby came close to equalising once again 10 minutes later, as his header rose just too high to trouble the Clarence shot stopper.

The Zebras came out firing in the early stages of the second half, as only a goal line clearance from Humphrey managed to keep Clarence from doubling its advantage.

An inventive run from Ryan Cook led to a cross that almost caught out Lachlan Clark in Launceston’s goal.

The best that the visitors could respond with was a speculative effort from Jack Woodland in the 69th minute that flew high and wide.

This was immediately countered by dangerous interplay from Clarence’s Nicholas Wright and Jack Maundrill, with the latter unable to finish the move.

The equaliser did come for Launceston, when a piece of trickery from Joel Stone allowed him the room to fire a low bullet into the bottom corner.

A pair of last minute chances with the win up for grabs for both sides brought fans to the edges of their seats.

Youngster James Greenaway played fellow substitute Shin Kwanhoon in while counter attacking.

Kwanhoon’s rolling shot glanced the outside of Clark’s foot, and narrowly trickled past the wrong side of the left hand post.

A similar opportunity presented itself to Stone for Launceston City, with his attempt shaving the upright, marking the final play of the game.

Astley remarked the importance of his sides early goal, and how they attempted to break Launceston’s pressing.

“It was definitely important to score early on given the conditions, and also not to concede early, which we have had a habit of doing,” he said.

“City’s press was very good, we attempted to play through it by dropping another midfielder back into defence when we had the ball to try and move the ball.”

Clarence faces another test next week as it travels to Glenorchy to play against the Knights.

Elsewhere, the match between Launceston United and Riverside Olympic was postponed due to pitch conditions and the weather.

Glenorchy dismantled Kingborough 7-3 away from home, with a brace to Joshua Redfearn.

In the Women’s Super League, Kingborough defeated Glenorchy 4-0 and Devonport overcame South Hobart 2-0 to go top of the ladder.