Mark Wakefield 

A stunning defensive effort by the Devonport Strikers saw them edge South Hobart 1-0 at KGV to claim a thrilling Lakoseljac Cup victory. The win not only means the Strikers earn the Lakoseljac Cup, but they also gain entry into the Westfield FFA Cup where they will be able to test their mettle on a national stage.

The Strikers kept South Hobart scoreless for the second time this year, a feat no other team has managed once this season. The back four of Kieran Mulraney, Joe Zupo, Nathan Gratton and Dom Smith have been dubbed as the 'Yellow Wall' and they lived up to that billing by completely shutting out the usually irresistible South Hobart attack. But it wasn't just the back four today - every player from Devonport played with heart and determination and they pressed as a unit, thwarting everything that South threw their way. Daniel Syson was epic in a screening midfield role, Beau Blizzard played with courage on return from a knee injury, whilst Adam Gorrie and Brodie Denehey worked their socks off all game. Miles Barnard also played a role in the middle for Port throwing his weight about, whilst Brayden Mann led the line with a workmanlike performance, pressuring at every opportunity he got.

The first half was a good old fashioned scrap. Daniel Brown had a chance to put South Hobart ahead in the 5th minute with what proved to be their best chance of the game. A long free kick from Kobe Kemp found him inside the 6 yard box and with only the keeper to beat, he managed only to get a shin on the ball and skied his effort well over the bar when the goal beckoned. At that stage, knowing the prowess of the Strikers defence, one wondered if that miss would come back to haunt South Hobart and it most certainly did.

The Strikers worked as a unit for the rest of the game, limiting South to half chances. Whenever something promising looked like it was unfolding the Strikers would snuff it out. This was epitomized by a deep tracking run from Mulraney where he followed Darcy Hall for 30 meters on an infield run before blocking his shot with a lunge. Another was Niko Giantsopolous who twice prevented chances by rushing out at the feet of South's strikers when they looked like they were on the verge of shooting.

It was 0-0 at half time and it was a scoreline that suited the Strikers down to a tee. Then in the 48th minute, Adam Gorrie, who had copped a rocket at half time from coach Peter Savill, managed to nudge Loic Feral under a bouncing ball before running on towards James Wilson in goals. Gorrie summed the situation up perfectly and took his time to set himself before slotting home to Wilson's right to make it 1-0 for Devonport.

South Hobart threw everything they had at the Strikers but the impenetrable wall just kept rebounding attack after attack from that point forward. They were aerially dominant over South and they bullied and out muscled Alex Leszczynski when no other team has managed to do so this year. The closest they came was in the 70th minute when a fine passage of play ended up with the wrong person. Feral was found at the edge of the 18 yard box on his non-preferred foot and had to shape a shot on the outside of his left. It lacked conviction and Giantsopolous was able to collect it.

South continued to press and as the final seconds wound down the excitement and expectation was palpable. Referee Hortle blew the final whistle and the Devonport players converged in a tight huddle, celebrating an amazing victory with huge ramifications. They now go to the National stage of the Westfield FFA Cup and could potentially be matched against an A-League side in their opening round game, depending on the draw. It will be a challenge that Savill's men will surely relish as they look to be a hungry, determined and focused side.

Devonport Captain Brayden Mann was proud of his team after the game, he now gets to go to his third Westfield FFA Cup in a row, "...proud of them, that was an unbelievable fight and we fought it out. We knew South Hobart were going to come and come and come at us but we stuck to our guns."

"I think the whole team performed brilliantly."

"I think we deserved to win."

"They (South) wouldn't have been happy with the way they played especially in the first half."

"I knew if we could get one after half time it would go a long way to winning the game."

"I think we were comfortable... it was a tight affair but there weren't many chances either way."

"It's a great honour to represent Tasmania (on the national stage)."

Devonport coach Peter Savill was his usual self after the game, offering few words of wisdom, "they put in a big shift and congratulations to them."

"I thought we played poorly...yeah we gave it up too easy, we spoke about that at half time."

"We work hard on it (our defence)".

South Hobart coach Ken Morton was forthcoming in praising his opposition, "...yeah disappointed. We got what we deserved. I think they were the better team on the day, they played with much more hunger and passion and spirit and they took their chance and it was good enough to win the game. We were poor."

"I don't think their keeper had a shot to save, we haven't done enough off the ball and we certainly haven't done enough with the ball."

It was an epic win from the Strikers built on a super defensive effort that stretched across their entire team. In arguably the biggest game of the season they were impenetrable and now they reap the rewards as Tasmania' sole representative in the Westfield FFA Cup.

The two teams get to battle it out again next weekend for league points, and one wonders how South Hobart will find a way to score past the miserly Strikers at the Portress.