Launceston City left it until the dying minutes before their 2017 Rising Star winner Noah Mies rose to head home and secure a 1-0 win over the Kingborough Lions at Buckby Land Rover Park.

City looked to get on the scoresheet early and they thought they had done just that in the opening minute when Tyler Fischer thought he had broke through and fiercely struck the ball past Stalker in the Kingborough goal. Before City’s new American import could wheel away in celebration however, the flag had long been raised for offside, much to the chagrin of the City players and supporters.

City had their backs to the wind in the first half and arguably had the better of the chances throughout the first half but Kingborough weren’t letting this City team have their way.

Mies looked lively in the first half as he looked to continue his scintillating form from the preseason. He was played through by Cartwright in the 19th minute but was uncharacteristically off target, skewing his effort well wide of the mark.

Jamie Richardson Reporting

Danny Cowen was playing as a solitary forward up front for Kingborough and he did well when he was called upon, holding off the likes of Cartwright as he controlled the ball and looked to play in his teammates. A foul given away by Cartwright on Cowen led to a deadly Chris Downes free kick just outside the box at the 24th minute mark, Downes had the power but couldn’t guide it past Giantsopoulos and the Canadian’s safe hands had no trouble making the save.

As the teams headed into half time there was a real sense that this game could go either way especially given that City couldn’t get the most out of the wind advantage and it was now the Lion’s turn.

Kingborough racked up the corner count which was playing into the dead ball specialists hands in Chris Downes. In the 59th minute an in-swinging corner from Downes had Giantsopoulos scrambling back to make the save and keep the scores at nil all.

Kingborough’s American import Tim Baker began to look dangerous out on the left for the Lions and he had too much speed for City’s Liam Scott as he headed toward goal. He struck at goal on an angle but Giantsopoulos was never troubled by the shot and saved with ease.

As the game neared full time and still locked at nil all, a Chris Downes free kick in the 85th minute was delivered on point once again to the front post where Di Martino latched onto it but Giantsopoulos had his near post well covered and kept the Lions at bay.

A few minutes later Campbell out on the right for City was fouled but was allowed to play on for a few seconds and get a cross in which came to nothing. The referee brought the play back adjudging there was no advantage for the City full back.

Fischer took the resulting free kick just inside the touchline on the right hand side of the field and he delivered it into the mixer looking for the big target of Noah Mies. The delivery was on point into the 6 yard area leaving Stalker and Mies to challenge for the ball and it was the City striker who nipped in front and flicked the ball past the stranded Stalker and into the net to send City 1-0 up with only minutes to play.

From there on it seemed like an eternity as the game headed into extra time and the Lions threw the kitchen sink at City looking for an equaliser with corner after corner.

Downes came the closest to grabbing an equaliser as a Herweyen throw in deep in the Lions attacking third wasn’t cleared by Goold and headed back ino the danger zone where Downes was on the end of it but his effort flashed past the post and out for a goal kick.

But as much as the Lions huffed and puffed they couldn’t quite get the ball in the onion bag and City held on for a one nil victory.

Mark Broadbent was relatively happy with the performance from his men and felt like they should have come away with a result from the match, insisting that football can be a cruel game sometimes.

Jez Kenth on the other hand was happy to get the win but knows there’s much work to be done as his City side need time and games to gel and suggested it may take until the second round for things to really click into place.