Clarence United may become the new leaders

________________________________________
New Town Eagles v Clarence United
_____________________________________

Clare Street, Saturday, 11 April 2009, 2.30pm

Clarence United are second on the Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League ladder, but only on goal-difference to South Hobart, who have yet to concede a goal in four games.

New Town Eagles are in sixth place and, although they have scored as many goals as Clarence (9), they have conceded an alarming 14 goals compared to Clarence’s three.

Clarence must, therefore, start as hot favourites.

They will be without goalkeeper Michael Moschogianis, who is unavailable, and Sam Sweetten comes in as the replacement.

Coach Andrew Brown reports everyone else as fit and ready to go.

Eagles will probably be without defender Wade Savage, who injured a knee yet again at training.

But, Cormac Collins is available after missing the past two games and will come in to the line-up.

“I’m very, very confident,” said Eagles coach, George Krambousanos. “I’ve watched every game they’ve played.

“I think I’ve worked them out.

“We’ve trained well and have some good sessions and tried to work out how to stop Clarence.

“The boys are feeling good and, honestly, we’re very confident.

“Brownie’s had them for five years and he’s had patience with them, but honestly, they’ll doing really, really well.

“They’re a fast, young attacking side. They’ve got their experienced captain at the front there and he dictates a lot of things.

“But, I honestly believe they can be beaten.”

Prediction: Clarence United
__________________________________________
University v Hobart Olympic
______________________________________

Olinda Grove, Saturday, 11 April 2009, 2.30pm

University have traditionally had problems fielding a full-strength side over the Easter period.

They are at home, which should be of some benefit, but they will need to show considerable improvement to get anything from this match.

They are currently last and have scored just two goals, while conceding 13.

The Students will be without Bryn Griffiths, John Merry and Nigel Blundell, all of whom are unavailable.

Oliver Venettacci, who missed last week’s game returns, while Lucas Winter will get a starting place.

The big news is the inclusion for the first time of midfielder Richard DeLara, signed from New Town Eagles.

Hobart Olympic are not travelling much better, however, and the feeling within the playing ranks is far from positive.

I have heard that Kostas Kanakaris may have trained with South Hobart this week.

Chris Tsimiklis is away in Adelaide for Easter, which means Paul Kaproulias comes in as his natural replacement.

Matthew Hedge also joins the attack. His brother, Adam, is already a regular in the team.

“We’re looking forward to having a better game this week, hopefully,” said Hobart Olympic coach, Farrell Shaw.

“A change of attitude, a change of mental attitude, would help, to see if we can work a little bit harder at doing the simple things and retaining possession.

“Matthew Hedge comes in and will partner Michael Bulis in attack and I hope they’ll gel as a partnership up front.

“That makes it two sets of brothers in the team, with Chris and Peter Tsakiris and Adam and Matthew Hedge.

“We also have the pleasing sight of Lincoln Conquest signing for the club.

“He’s having a run with us after two years of ill health.

“It’ll be a while before he reaches the senior team, but he understands that.”

Prediction: Draw
_____________________________________________
Glenorchy Knights v Kingborough Lions United
_____________________________________________

KGV Park, Saturday, 11 April 2009, 2.30pm

Glenorchy Knights have a lot to prove in this match against a Kingborough Lions United outfit that has made a successful start to the season and scored a lot of goals in the process.

The Knights disappointed last weekend and coach Eamonn Kelly read the riot act to the players on the pitch straight after the 4-1 loss to Clarence United.

It will be interesting to see if he makes any changes.

Tony Dzelalija should be available after illness ruled him out of the Clarence game.

If he does play, the question is will it be in defence or midfield?

The Knights are shipping goals at an alarming rate and it is in defence that things need to be rectified first.

It will also be interesting to see if Amadu Koroma is on at the start, and if Cosmos Paite is fit and available.

Tom Sherman needs to improve his finishing, too, while goalkeeper Ben Peter must strive to lift his performance and play as well as everybody knows he can.

Kingborough have an unchanged line-up and must be confident of winning.

Brett Andrews is back in training after injury and may play in the reserves this weekend.

“I think we’re going okay,” said Kingborough coach, Geoff Freeman.

“We’re looking to build on a fine start to the season.

“We don’t wasn’t to get ahead of ourselves.

“We’re scoring lots of goals and in the last couple of weeks we’ve managed to tighten up the defence just a little bit, and that’ll be important against the Knights.”

Prediction: Kingborough Lions United
_______________________________________
Tilford Zebras v South Hobart
____________________________________

KGV Park, Monday, 13 April 2009, 2.30pm

This game is being played on Easter Monday, at the same time as a host of Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy State-wide cup ties.

Supporters of both clubs are thus denied the opportunity of seeing some northern sides in action for a change.

Why couldn’t this game have been scheduled for last night (Thursday)? I’m sure the players would have preferred that to training.

Zebras will have Josh Thorpe back after he missed last week’s match, while the return of Paul Cairns last week was a bonus for Nick Lapolla’s squad.

Lapolla will not decide on his final line-up until Saturday afternoon.

“There’s probably about sixteen players vying for a place,” Lapolla said.

“It’s always intriguing games between us and South Hobart, and there’s always a touch of controversy.

“I watched them against Olympic last week and they were very impressive.

“They played well as a team, but then again, Olympic weren’t that crash hot.

“It’ll be a good game and the boys are looking forward to it. It’s a crucial game. We respect what they’ve got but we’ll play our game.”

South Hobart will miss key midfielder Gary Upton, who has a four-game suspension after being sent off against Olympic last weekend.

South may use youngster Hugo Bladel in midfield, while other youngsters such as Jim Pennicott and Nick Di Falco may also get a run.

Central defender Matthew Brown is concentrating on his PhD studies and is unavailable, but Daniel Brown may be brought into the squad.

South won comfortably with only ten men last week, but the Zebras are a much more formidable outfit than Olympic.

Prediction: Tilford Zebras