South Hobart and Zebras looking to spoil the party this weekend

Photo:  Daniel Brown, South Hobart's assistant coach, may be called into action against Olympia tonight [PlessPix]

South Hobart assistant coach Daniel Brown may take the field tonight when his side travels to Warrior Park to meet second-placed Olympia Warriors in an important NPL Tasmania showdown at 8.15pm.

Brown is semi-retired as a player because of ongoing back problems, but he may make an appearance tonight and partner another experienced defender in Hugh Ludford.

This centre-back pairing would prove a formidable obstacle for Olympia’s main striker, centre-forward Jack Ryan, who scored both goals last week in Olympia’s 2-1 win over Glenorchy Knights.

South Hobart centre-back Oscar Thomas has been ill and will miss tonight’s game, leading to the possible pairing of Brown and Ludford in place of Jack Bowman and Thomas.

Olympia must win this game.  It would put them a point ahead of current leaders Devonport City, who would have two games in hand.

If Olympia do beat South Hobart, their stay at the top might be for less than two days as Devonport meet fourth-placed Hobart Zebras at KGV Park on Sunday and should win, given the respective form of the two teams.

The return to the Olympia attack of Joffrey N’Koso will provide more headaches for the South Hobart defense.  The tricky N’Koso has the speed and skills to worry Daniel Brown and Ludford so fullbacks Adam Gorrie and Tobias Herweynen might need to temper their forward forays and offer some help in defence to their centre-backs.

The revolving door in the goalkeeping department could be a concern for South Hobart.

Coach Ken Morton has been using Graeme Wright and Kieran Brown almost alternately and it will be interesting to see who dons the gloves between the posts tonight.

Daniel Brown said the two keepers get on well and work together harmoniously at training and alternating them does not present a problem.

It could be argued, however, that the goalkeeping position needs stability, and South Hobart certainly haven’t had this in this department.

South Hobart are, for all intents and purposes, out of the title race, but they can still play the role of ‘spoilers’ for the two title contenders.

If they beat Olympia tonight, they will have spoiled Olympia’s title hopes.

South Hobart also have one eye on the forthcoming FFA Cup game against Marconi Stallions and the possible pairing of the experienced Daniel Brown and Hugh Ludford could be an important rehearsal for that clash.

South have had a good record at Warrior Park in recent seasons, but the good run was ended on the opening day of this season when Olympia won 2-1.

Rob Clarke’s boys will be hoping for a repeat tonight.

There can be no other changes on the league standings this weekend.

Fifth-placed Kingborough Lions United host sixth-ranked Launceston City at Lightwood Park at 2.15pm tomorrow and even a City win will not enable them to overtake the Lions.

The interest in this game will revolve around the coaches.  Kingborough’s Jez Kenth coached City last year and is now in charge of the Lions.

It will be interesting to see if his knowledge of the City players enables him to come up with a winning formula.

Tactics may have changed with Lino Sciulli now at the helm, but knowledge of individual player strengths and weaknesses may help Kenth to come up with a winning strategy.

Hobart Zebras are almost in freefall and they are unlikely to come out on top against an in-form Devonport at KGV Park at 2.15pm on Sunday.

If, by some chance, they do beat the North-West Coast side, and if Olympia beat South Hobart, the cat will really have been set amongst the pigeons.

The remaining game of the round is at Windsor Park tomorrow at 2.3opm when second-last Riverside Olympic entertain bottom-side Clarence United.

There may not be much entertainment, unfortunately, and this is likely to be a dour contest with both teams hoping to avoid the wooden spoon.

NPL Tasmania (As at 14 July 2019)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Devonport City	16	14	1	1	62	12	43
Olympia Warriors	17	13	2	2	55	17	41
South Hobart	16	10	3	3	53	20	33
Hobart Zebras	17	8	5	4	51	34	29
Kingborough Lions	17	7	1	9	34	37	22
Launceston City	16	5	3	8	26	30	18
Glenorchy Knights	17	5	2	10	39	37	17
Riverside Olympic	15	2	1	12	13	46	7
Clarence United	17	1	0	16	5	114	3