Hobart Zebras put aside a turbulent six days for the club to remain firmly in the mix for their maiden NPL Tas title running out 5-0 victors against Launceston City at Buckby Land Rover Park. Matt Sanders bagged a hat trick, with Chris Downes and the reigning Mitsubishi Medalist Dwayne Walsh netting one a piece to round out the scoring.

Zebras initially didn’t have it all their own way and City looked to try and take it to them for the first 20 minutes as both teams tried to play through the midfield and build up their attacks from the back. This was a different way of doing things for Zebras who under Peter Savill tended to miss the midfield out and play route one football to put the opposition defences under pressure and press from the attack, earning set pieces and using their tall timber to full effect.

On the 23rd minute mark the Zebras hit the lead through a familiar avenue, with a trusty old free kick from Groenewold on the half way line was played right into City’s 6 yard box asking questions of David Smith’s young replacement Will Smith. Young Smith looked to have it covered but fumbled while under pressure from the oncoming Huigsloot and the ball dropped to Sanders who made no mistake in guiding it home to give Zebras the lead.

Zebras didn’t have to wait long to extend their lead and it came in the fashion of a Chris Downes free kick from just outside of the box on the left. He played a low one in, intentional or not it got the job done as the ball bounced three times and snuck inside the back post eluding everyone, although a nice bunny hop from Groenewold over the ball may have assisted in guiding that one home by throwing a few defenders off.

As the half drew to a close both teams had a chance to score. First Downes swung in one of his trademark free kicks into the area, which fell to McKeown who narrowly missed. Then for City, Compagne was within a whisker of firing a volley Mercuri’s way but for a timely intervention from Luke Warrener clearing the danger. Zebras going into the half time break 2 nil up and looking reasonably comfortable.

Five minutes into the second half Egan came close to clawing one back after Compagne crossed but his header was straight at Mecuri and easily claimed. Sanders a minute later had a golden opportunity as he sent a low cross along the carpet from Walsh into orbit from around the penalty area.

City shaded the overall play in the first 20 minutes of the second half, they set out to try and get back into the game as they played in Zebras half for large period but were unable to find the key to unlock the Zebras resolute defence and in the end the Zebras took the stuffing out of them going 3-0 ahead.

It came from virtually no where as McKeown played the ball to Sanders around 22 yards out, with his back to goal was allowed to roll the ball onto his left and strike low and with pin point accuracy across Smith who got a hand to it but it wasn’t enough to keep the ball out.

That took the wind out of City’s sails and Zebras made it 4-0 three minutes late as Sanders looped a cross into the box looking for McKeown, Smith tried to clear the danger for City but his punch wasn’t enough and McKeown slid in to get the ball Walsh’s way who coolly picked his spot and smashed it past O’Connor on the goal line.

It didn’t get any better or easier for City as Groenewold hit a long ball out of defence straight to Smith down the other end who under no pressure tried to volley a pass to a teammate but instead playing it to Muller and putting City back under the pump. Muller found Walsh who crossed into Sanders and he made no mistake in slotting his third and sealing a hat-trick.

That was how it ended, a 5-0 win to Zebras which City would be particularly pleased with given the progress of the side in the last two weeks. They don’t have time to sit and mope though with next week’s Semi Final Lakoseljac Cup clash against a red hot Glenorchy Knights side. Conversely Zebras would be happy to come away with the 3 points given the week they’ve had and remain in the mix with the top three.

Ben Brookfield felt like it just wasn’t City’s day and admits if you make mistakes the top sides will punish you in this league.

“Can’t fault their effort, they tried really hard and the energy was there. Just the easy mistakes were made and they punished us, brutal.”

He agreed the abscence of David smith was a big one.

“Had to put a really young keeper in there and I still think he did quite well but it was just one of those days where a few things didn’t come off and they’re very strong at set pieces.”

Zebras assistant coach Jez Kenth expected nothing less than that resounding response from the Zebras senior players this weekend.

“We expected this response, if you’re not ready to put in this kind of response then you’re not ready to play for the championship, so if you want to win the championship you have to respond.”

He said that there had been some change stylistically since Savill’s departure.

“Smith has only had a session with them so far so it’s a lot to ask to change too many things. We changed a bit, we started to play through the midfield a lot more, so just a slight switch.”