Clarence and South win cup semi-finals

Photos (Top to Bottom): Eagles' Adam McKeown is shadowed by South's Daniel Brown (right); Eagles' Alex Leszczynski is outnumbered by South Hobart defenders; South's Liam Scott lays the ball off as South attack [PlessPix]

The holders of the Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy, Clarence United, will meet Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League champions, South Hobart, in this year’s final of this state-wide competition.

Clarence made it two successive appearances in the final when they scored a late penalty to down Burnie United 4-3 away at Montello.

In the other semi-final, South Hobart beat New Town Eagles 2-1 away at Clare Street.

Clarence led 3-0 after just a quarter of an hour, but Burnie pulled a goal back through Chris Smith before the break.

Goals for the home side by Kayron Johnson and Mark Ambrose made it 3-3 near the end, but a late disputed penalty converted by Ben Hamlett gave the southerners and cup-holders the win and a ticket into the final.

New Town Eagles shocked South Hobart by taking a 4th-minute lead. Ben Whitehall’s excellent cross from the right found Alex Leszczynski at the far post and he kept the ball in play and headed it back across goal, where Adam McKeown nodded it home at the other post.

South were level within two minutes when poor defending by Eagles failed to cut out Liam Scott’s deep cross from the left and Jonathon Lo was unmarked as he headed the ball into the net from 12 metres.

South Hobart goalkeeper Sam Kruijver produced a marvellous save from Simon Strang in the 10th minute, but as the ball fell to McKeown, a desperate tackle by Daniel Brown prevented the Eagles striker from scoring.

In the 15th minute, Eagles again went close when Whitehall’s corner from the right found Strand on the far side of the box, but his shot across the face of goal went centimetres wide of the far post.

Eagles’ Michael Anderson received a yellow card from referee Ivan Jozeljic after just 17 minutes after an overly boisterous tackle.

South squandered a good chance in the 28th minute when Eagles goalkeeper Nathan Pitchford failed to deal with a Shae Hickey cross from the right. Under pressure from Lo, Pitchford could not gain possession, but when the ball fell to Kostas Kanakaris, he blazed over an open goal.

South were denied in stoppage time when Andrew Clark cleared off the line after a superb counter-attack by the visitors.

Strang gave the ball away needlessly in midfield and a fine passage of play involving Andy Brennan, Hickey and Lo almost resulted in a South Hobart goal.

South Hobart gradually got the measure of Eagles in the second half and learned to deal with the home-side’s long-ball style of play.

Ten minutes after the resumption, a fumble by Pitchford following a low cross from the left by Kanakaris almost allowed Lo in, but the keeper recovered and managed to propel the ball clear of danger with his fist.

South’s winner came in the 78th minute after Whitehall conceded a free-kick by fouling Scott wide on South’s left flank.

Scott floated the ball towards the far post, where Kanakaris materialised and was untroubled in shooting past Pitchford.

Eagles had to make a couple of last-minute changes to their line-up in this game and this may have unsettled them.

Midfielder Blayne Hudson was dropped from the side in the dressing rooms after a difference of opinion with coach George Krambousanos, while defender Shane Kent was a last-minute inclusion after earlier being told he was suspended because he had accumulated five yellow cards.

Eagles claimed that they had not been given the required three days’ notice by FFT of Kent’s suspension and so he played.