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Kingston Claims Road Win And Clean Sheet In Defeat Of Sanjaxx

By League1 Ontario staff, 06/19/16, 11:45PM EDT

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Kingston Clippers put Sanjaxx Lions to the sword in matchweek eight, coming to Sanjaxx's home at Monarch Park and winning 3-0 after goals from Patrick Van Belleghem (28') Lucas Blain (46') and Mackenzie Roach (74').

Keeper Chris Withers kept the clean sheet.

On an extremely hot and humid day, both sides started the game flat, but it quickly came to life after Van Belleghem opened his account. 

"The reason it was a slow start for both teams was obviously the heat," said Clippers technical director, Chris Eveleigh. "It was over thirty degrees today and after a long drive it's hard to get out the vehicle and start playing."

The Clippers were awarded a penalty just after the half hour, and Sanjaxx keeper Matt Zaikos kept his side in the hunt with an excellent save. Zaikos proved again to be up to the task on the retake that immediately followed. Fortune and form appeared to be in Sanjaxx's corner on the day, but it was not to be. 

"The first half wasn't as good as we hoped," said Sanjaxx coach, Laza Lowe. "The team wasn't as strong mentally as we would have liked and after a couple calls didn't go their way they became a bit fragile."

"But by the end you could see the fighting spirit that you would want them to have throughout the game, but we would like to see that approach continue in the future and not break the momentum of the game."

Kingston added a second just before the interval courtesy of Lucas Blain, and Mackenzie Roach added the insurance marker with only a quarter hour remaining.

"Seems like we are always fighting against the eight ball," said Lowe. "At the end we were still fighting and trying to play, which is important as it can be carried forward into the next games, but the defending has to be better as a group, and individually."

"We also had our fair share of chances to finish on as well, so we need to work on the attacking end as a group and individually also." 

Kingston's home form has typically been outstanding, but the team has had difficulties on the road. Eveleigh was thrilled to see his Clippers team turn over a new leaf.

"I think the performance was a lot better than we usually get on the road," he said. "We've got several good results at home, and away we've wanted these results and deserved them sometimes - today we thoroughly deserved the three nil win."

Kingston also fielded some new players in their starting lineup, before bringing through some of the usual starters late in the game, such as Ryan McCurdy. Eveleigh indicated there was some long term strategy at play, as well as careful team management.

"We were obviously thinking of the L1 Cup game on Thursday and next Saturday versus Sigma, so we rested a few players to start," he revealed. "Then we looked at the opposition and changed our team as necessary from there."

"Ryan McCurdy is obviously a great player, but we had eighteen players here today that are fantastic and another two or three coming through as well."