Sunday, August 22, 2010

South Hobart win trophy and extend unbeaten run to 30 games



Photos (Top to Bottom): The victorious South Hobart squad; Match officials Bill Hanley, Ivan Jozeljic, Kim Barker and Brenton Kopra [PlessPix]


Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy Final (KGV Park, Saturday, 21 August 2010)


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South Hobart 2 (A Brennan 4, T Roach 85)

Clarence United 1 (A Barron 64)


HT: 1-0 Att: 400 Ref: K Barker


South Hobart: Kruijver - Pennicott, Ludford, D Brown, Scott - Hickey (Downes 60), Beecroft, Roach, Lo - Kanakaris (Wook Bum Heo 68), Brennan [Substitutes not used: Cooper, Moncur]


Clarence United: Sweeney - Toghill, Cannamela, Parker, McMahon - Barron (Tsakiris 88), Stevens (Malcolm 90), Rees, McIntyre - Cripps (Hunt 46), Huigsloot [Substitute not used: Maxwell]


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This game could have been over in the first half if South Hobart had taken the excellent chances that came their way.


Andy Brennan put them ahead in the 4th minute with a neat finish from a right-wing cross, but the youngster then missed two clear chances provided by Shae Hickey and Hugh Ludford.


Hickey’s well-timed through-ball put Brennan in with only the goalkeeper to beat, but Cameron Sweeney blocked his shot.


Ludford’s lob into the box found Sweeney caught off his line and, when Brennan lobbed the keeper, the ball bounced just wide of the far post.


Brennan has been the find of the season and his 14 goals have certainly helped South to the title this year. He can be excused for the two misses and must not be disheartened as the goal he did score helped his side to lift the trophy.


Jonathon Lo, the league’s leading marksman with 18 goals, also went close for South as his long-range effort flew just over the bar.


Kostas Kanakaris also had a good chance. He played a one-two with Pennicott and received the return, only to shoot straight at the keeper.


Clarence came out for the second half in determined mood. The injured Luke Cripps had been replaced at half-time by Chris Hunt, who played wide on the left. Andy Barron moved into a central striker’s role and it was game on.


South keeper Sam Kruijver produced a fine save from Barron in the 61st minute, while a minute later, fullback Mattias Toghill shot wide from range.


Clarence’s attacks at this stage were relentless and caused panic in the South defence. In the 65th minute, the South defence was in danger of being over-run and an attempted clearance cannoned off Barron and struck the base of the left-hand post. Barron was the first to reach it and he scored from close range to make it 1-1.


Clarence almost took the lead in the 75th minute, but Nathan Rees’s header following a corner came back off the bar. The ball fell to Luke Huigsloot, who headed it at goal, but it was blocked on the line and all hell broke loose as Clarence players tried to force the ball into the net and South’s players tried to block.


The situation was resolved when Mr Barker blew for a foul on keeper Kruijver.


This was the signal for South to regain the initiative and, with substitutes Wook Bum Heo and Greg Downes full of running, Clarence were now on the back foot. Downes had replaced the injured Hickey, who was brilliant until injuring an ankle in a tackle. One piece of sheer improvisation and skill on the right wing in the first half by Hickey was absolutely sensational as he beat defenders on the proverbial sixpence before passing the ball inside and into the danger zone.


Downes forced Sweeney to make a good save in the 76th minute with a full-blooded shot from an angle on the right.


The winner came in the 85th minute. A cross from the right and deep into the box by Pennicott was not cleared by the Clarence defence and the alert Tom Roach threw himself sideways into the air and volleyed a great shot into the net from 15 metres.


After the presentation of the trophy and winners’ medals to South Hobart, Clarence formed a guard of honour and clapped their opponents off the field in a very sporting gesture. Clarence had relinquished the trophy to a team that has now gone 30 games without defeat.


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· South Hobart coach, Ken Morton, said:


“I thought we made it hard for ourselves because we played ever so well in the first half and could have had three or four goals, but we didn’t put good chances away and we didn’t really turn the screw like we should have done in the first half.


“And, then in the second half, Clarence came out with a good spirit and put us under pressure aerially. They battled away really well and got a goal and that put us under pressure.


“But, I was happy with the last 15 or 20 minutes as we started to play again and when Wook Bum Heo came on we started to get some crosses in and that made the difference.


“A super goal from Roach. Nice reaction in the box.


“I’m very happy. It’s a win for us and it extends our unbeaten run and we’ve won the Lakoseljac Cup final.


“I take a lot of pride in that because I was a friend of Milan and I was one of the instigators in getting the Lakoseljac Cup sponsored, so I’m very happy to win this trophy. It’s a major trophy for us.”

15 comments:

Striker said...

That's quite an unbeaten run. Well done, South Hobart!

archie said...

Execeptional game of 2 halves with South completely dominant then Clarence swinging the chain after half time. Tom Roach clearly man of the match but honourable mentions to Barron and Kanakaris.

Thoroughly enjoyable final - congratulations to both sides.

Anonymous said...

would agree with Roach as BOG, with Barron very close. Kanakaris was non-existant tho, so not sure where you pulled that one from.

Roach will give Self a run for the vic tuting.

Fan said...

Shae Hickey is South's best player. His skill is unbelievable. He may lack a little bit in pace, but his vision, technique and passing are superb. Under-rated as he's always the one to be dragged, but a class player.

Anonymous said...

Good match report Walter. I to feel Roach played well, but Barron was best afield for me. Led the push by Clarence in the 2nd half, played super. Was even out-jumping Daniel Brown, as embarrassing for Brown as that is. A great game of football

Anonymous said...

Brown had one of his worst games all season, a few other south players din't step up to play high standards either - are Clarence the monkey on the back of leaders?

Great entertaining game of football.

Makes the final games look interesting. I did note that there was a few players and coach from Norhtern Rangers checking out opposition - good to see.

I'm Back said...

Good to see Brenton Kopra rewarded for not bothering to turn up to ref the Nelson/Metro game 2 weeks ago and letting the poor bugger that did the Reserves hobble around the ground doing the seniors.

Anonymous said...

Interesting Walter that Ken Morton thinks Wook Bum Heo made the differences with crosses, but in your article and from what I saw it was Pennicott that placed the ball in the right spot.

What the #$!@ was that in front of the goal though from the youngster. Jim needs to learn the art of kicking the ball out.

Anonymous said...

Brown has been top notch for South all season but had a shocker! Very good player but sometimes seems disenterested and doesnt turn up to play.

Lo and Kanakaris were terrible aswell. totally anonymous performances.

Anonymous said...

Brenton was given a reserves middle, senior line then on the same day the seniors middle for Olympic vs Zebras and then was meant to go to the Nelson/Metro game the next day, why was he rostered on to do it anyway, after doing the 3 games the day before? Don't blame Brenton blame the scheduling!

Anonymous said...

Girlfriend please. I don't think getting dressed in that shirt is a reward.

Anonymous said...

Daniel Brown showed how justified his spot in the State team was on Saturday from my view. His attack on the ball, composure, elegance and dominance in the air against such a giant opposition striker was hard to fathom, just incredible. What a jet!

the priest said...

One sub par performance doesnt make Dogga a nuff-nuff - he's been south's best defender by a street in a season when they've hardly shipped goals. Maybe Andy Barron needs to be given more credit for his performance - he's one of a handful of strikers capable of running at defenders and I suggest that Cripps' 2010 season was a lot less successful than last year simply because he didnt have Barron regularly putting the frighteners up defences and creating space and time for him.

Don't know about that boofy mullet with half rat-tail hairdo though Andy!!

fashionista said...

BTW did Dale Itchens find a box hidden in the FFT offices since 1987 from which those referee tops were produced. I bet Kim Barker wore something similar in his playing hey day!

Anonymous said...

I think Walter has been remiss in not mentioning the outstanding performance of Sam Cannemela- an excellent game from a hard working young man.