Tonight Tasmania Seniors played Central Coast Mariners A League team in a friendly match that had all who attended walking away happy regardless of the 3 0 loss scoreline. With crowds streaming in the gate and the official count at 1,768 FFT and the Mariners could only be delighted with the southern crowd & hospitality on offer.
Steven Payne the Tasmanian coach was delighted with his teams effort and he deserves to be as the players did not let him down. No doubt the Mariners were the better of the sides, being a class above the Tasmanian standard, but for a team that has never played together as a unit and had only one 20 minute strategic talk pre match the Tasmanian lads can be proud of the soccer played and a gritty performance all round.
Others will give better match reports no doubt but what can be said is that the Tasmanian defense was continually put under pressure but managed to keep the scoreline 0 - 0 at half time and in fact to 76 minute before the first goal was taken against them. Will Abbott and Marc Iseli played great football as central defenders and Jim Pennicott and Liam Scott were very solid down the sides. With good support from the midfield in particular Marcello Marchioli who did a fine job of ancorhing the centre midfield the Tasmanian team did well to absorb the pressure and still produce their own chances.
The half time score highlighted the the vistors lacked of an effective striker and this situation was addressed second half with the entry of Matt Simon and Adam Kwasnik, and it was only a matter of time before the goals began to land in the back of the net.
The first scoring opportunity of the evening belonged to Andy Brennan who missed in the opening minutes, but showed the intention of the Tasmanian lads that they were there to play the game and not just defend which is never attractive football.
Comments were made by the visitors at the youth of the side and the promise this holds for our state, with our youngest player being only 16 and then 4 others at 17 and then 18 year olds to early 20's the standard age.
It was well worth the $10 entry as it was a very entertaining night out for all who came. Hopefully this match will give incentive for other teams to come to the south and for Football Australia to reconsider the idea that Launceston is the home of soccer for A League matches. Well done to all the Tasmanian players and congratulations to FFT for a fine effort in bringing this game to the state.
and hopefully now the naysayers will crawl back into their respective holes. The selected team did well considering the lack of preparation. No loss of pride in that game. Well done to all concerned, particularly the players themselves.
ReplyDeleteFFT please take note of decent football in the South we will support it with open arms - we want more!
ReplyDeleteTo all the people who bagged out the youngsters in particular Pennicott and Brennan I hope you took note of how well they and all the team played this evening. In the first half Abbott & Pennicott were certainly two of the best for our state so well done to the younger lads of the team.
loved the game, great football by both sides. but pennicott was probably the worst on field. weel done boys.
ReplyDeleteGive the kid a break - Pennicott is all of 16 and did a fine job for a young man. His first half was better but this was the case for all.
ReplyDeleteWhy all the rubbish about did or didn't he deserve a position is a mystery me. Pennicott and the entire team made me proud as a Tasmanian The decision to play him was made and he seized it and did a fine job.
Congratulations to all the players it will be interesting to watch their futires from here.
Let's be honest, CC controleld the game and credit for Tas for holding out for so long but it could of been a much bigger scoreline. Tas Centre backs were sitting on there 18 yard box most of the game while CC passed it around.
ReplyDeleteI thought Pitchford was good in goals, Kosta showed a bit going forward and Abbott was very good at the back.
Can't really say any other Tas player was really in the game but that's the difference in class when you are playing an A-league outfit, when CC bought on there better players they destroyed us.
I'd have to agree that Pennicott was struggling at right back and his distrubtion was terrible but it's all a learning experience and he will be better for it.
Good Football and a good crowd for a Tues night.
Will Abbott will go far. Looked as though he's been playing against these blokes every week.
ReplyDeleteJust goes to show that Will Abbott made the right decision staying in the TIS programme and being developed rather than jumping straight into Local League football. Showed himself well last night and also i believe a week trial at Brisbane Roar next month is on the cards.
ReplyDeletehe will certainly move upwards on onwards...
are you guys joking? are you that uneducated that you dont know when you are completely outplayed?
ReplyDeleteabove comments @ 7.58 state to give pennicott a break as he is only 16, that is our point, it is supposedly the mens tasmanian team and players are in it on what should be based on abaility but are not
CC had Tas centre backs sitting on our 18 yard box most of the game, Abbott was very good on Nick Mjrda, Kosta showed a bit of run and flair and actually did some nice stuff. Liam was ok at left back but gave the balla way alot.
ReplyDeletePennicott was so bad, my brother was going nuts about how bad his passing was and defending. Centre of the park was a joke, Roach didn't even start, Chel was chasing shadows all game, I think Mann was in Centre of park lol was anonymous. Mckenna is too old now to be playing these games(he might be good at finishing in Tas league but is just too slow now, Crossa would of been actually handy upfront . Our fwd's put absolutley zero pressure on there backmen.
CC wouldn't of even been worried about the scoreline, Arnold had them passing the ball around practicing possesion (they passed alot backwards aka PIM.)
Pitchy kept real well and made some decent saves. Nothing else to say about anyone else because CC had the ball 90% of the game.
When they bought on matt simon and kwasnik they ran a riot.
Could someone please explain to me what individual developement is gained by being in the tis.Some dont even get on the park.
ReplyDeleteI heard that Brendan Garth let the flare off at the end of the game.
ReplyDeleteI heard that Jackson Marsh let the flare off at the end of the game.
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