Thursday, June 18, 2009

Three southern and one northern side to progress to semi-finals of Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy state-wide competition

Three southern teams should make it to the semi-finals of the Milan Lakoseljec Memorial Trophy state-wide competition after Saturday’s quarterfinals.

Northern Rangers, first in the northern league, meet third-placed Prospect Knights at Birch Avenue in the only all-northern clash, which ensures there will be one northern club in the semi-final draw.

Hobart Zebras, top in the south, should be too good for fifth-placed northerners, Riverside Olympic, away at Windsor Park, while Glenorchy Knights, second in the south, should account for fourth-ranked northern outfit, Somerset, away at Cardigan Street.

The remaining quarterfinal tie is an all-southern affair, with fifth-placed Clarence United hosting bottom-side University at Wentworth Park at 2pm.

Although this is a knockout cup competition, in which anything can happen, league placings should be a reliable guide for the outcomes this time.

Rangers beat Prospect 3-0 in the league last weekend and this should be a repeat performance, although Prospect coach Dane Hudson has other ideas.

“After last week’s loss in the roster match, we really need to address the technical aspect of our game,” said Hudson. “I thought we gave them opportunities they didn’t deserve simply by not finding our own players’ feet.

“There are no excuses, though, as we played a very good team that has had only 6 goals scored against them, so this week we will need to address some issues in our attacking third and make sure we are effective in and around the box and get a good completion rate on our attacks.

“We have three players out from last week, but are getting back two more from our senior group.

“It’s a cup game, so anything can happen and we won’t be sitting back.”

Rangers will field a very young side against Prospect Knights.

“We will be resting some senior players to give exposure to some young ones and, hopefully, they will be the backbone to future team,” said Rangers coach, Roslan Saad.

“This is not a sign of complacency, but rather priority.

“Like I said at the beginning of the season, the cup will be used as a development opportunity and we are just looking at performance improvement rather than results.

“But, hopefully, we are able to finish better than last year’s quarter-final stage.

“Knights have enough quality to win the game, but I believe the young boys will not make it easy for them.

“I told my young boys that they will be going into the game as underdogs and it is up to them to prove me wrong.”

Clarence will have striker Ben Hamlett back after a lengthy absence through injury, but midfielder Joseph Stevens is unavailable because of university exams.

Clarence were disappointing last week when they went down 6-0 to South Hobart and University must be in with a chance after getting their second win of the season last weekend.

Zebras are a goalscoring machine and Riverside will not be able to resist the southerners’ onslaught, which will come from all angles and many different players.

Similarly, Glenorchy Knights are in a rich vein of form and have won seven games in a row, the last being Wednesday’s night’s 3-0 win over Kingborough Lions United through two goals by James Hope and one by Josh Fielding.

Knights introduced their new Brazilian midfielder, Breno Bianchini Joviano Dos Santos, and he looked quite tidy on the ball and made the third goal.

Knights will travel to the North-West Coast on Friday so that the team is fresh for Saturday’s game.

The only Premier League game this weekend is at Clare Street on Sunday, when sixth-placed New Town Eagles entertain third-placed and reigning champions South Hobart.

Both sides should be at full strength, but South coach Ken Morton will be in Melbourne and Jed Donoghue and Bart Beecroft will coach the side in his absence.

Eagles coach, George Krambousanos, said South’s 6-0 win over Clarence last weekend was the best performance he has seen from South and his side will need to be in top form to earn even a point.

Krambousanos has been working on a strategy to overcome South’s threat and this should be a fascinating encounter.

14 comments:

Carbo said...

Rumor going around the traps at the minute is that south hobart are a little bit cash strapped at the minute.
I wonder why!!!!

ginger said...

anyone know the result from last nights match??

The Phoenix said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Phoenix said...

if you mean the clarence v Uni game it isnt on until the 2nd of july now

Walter said...

Ginger, FFT postponed the Clarence v Uni game at the last minute, that is, after it was published in the paper that it was on. It's now scheduled for 2 July.

ginger said...

cheers walter and benchie, i did mean that game. i cant keep up with all the changes FFT keep making! what was reason given for postponement? ground closed again?

CU and uni now play each other twice in 4 days in 2 league matches!! 2 weeks after meeting each other in the swc qf. they will definitely know each other well by the end of that!

CU young legs are sure to be tested over the next month with 7 games in 22 days on heavy grounds. my body hurts just thinking about that.

eightball said...

south won't be cash strapped when ladic takes off to melbourne, that will leave some room in their salary cap

yellowgemi11 said...

very true eightball ladic is on the big bucks and he hasnt been performing the best this year and i have been told that this is because his payments have been behind, wonder where all the clubs money is going?

eightball said...

oh gemi, get your head out of the sand haha, where else is it going? straight to morton's hairdresser! how else does he get those angel wing grey streaks in his hair??

Captain Australia said...

C'mon Lads, back on the games!! We know the leppers cant change their spots!!!

yellowgemi11 said...

my tips 4 this week
knights5-2
zebras4-1
rangers3-1
uni2-1

also eightball i think i saw you at knights kingbrough game on wednesday was you behind the goals?

Who cares said...

yellowgemi11 and eightball are you both girls

yellowgemi11 said...

oh no you have hurt my feelings, obviously you must be a south hobart player or supporter have we touched a nerve? have you realized we are right? have a nice day dodgy

The Phoenix said...

Clarence defeated Uni 2-0, Hamlett 1, Phillips 1.