Morton satisfied with performance against Riverside

Photo:  South Hobart coach Ken Morton at today's media conference [PlessPix]

South Hobart coach Ken Morton said he was very happy with his side’s 3-0 win over Riverside Olympic on Sunday.

“We’ve had some difficult games against Riverside and they’ve pushed us very hard,” said Morton at today’s media conference at Football House in Glenorchy.

“It was a similar game up north a few weeks back where we struggled to score and missed a penalty, so it was nice in the end to get that goal and to get a breakthrough and get the right result.

“I was quite happy with the performance and I thought we played quite well.”

Morton admitted there was some frustration before South Hobart got their first goal midway through the second half.

“It’s sometimes difficult to see where the goal is going to come from,” he said.

“We’d hit the post, we’d hit the crossbar and their keeper brought off some big saves and we missed a few chances, so it’s always good to get that breakthrough.

“We’re very happy as it keeps us fighting for second position.

“It’s going to be difficult, but that’s our aim, to try and finish as high up the table as we possibly can and keep going.”

Morton said the latter stages of the season were always important, but that Devonport had been a very strong side that hadn’t faltered and had kept their winning streak going.

“They’ve done really well, but between ourselves. Olympia, Zebras, Knights and Kingborough, it’s been nip and tuck all year, so hopefully we can keep going and pinch that second position.”

Photo:  Ken Morton (pictured) will be eager for his team to beat Kingborough Lions United on Wednesday as they strive for a second-pace finish [PlessPix]

Morton said at half-time he had simply told his players to keep going and, in the end, they got the required result.

Morton was disappointed with the attendance of about 90 at Sunday’s game, which is many fewer than South Hobart usually attract.

He said it might be partly attributed to the fact the team was third rather than first and not challenging for the title.

He also thought that live-streaming games was affecting attendances, although Sunday’s game was not streamed live.

He said that on Saturday he had chosen to watch the live stream of the Olympia versus Kingborough game, which kicked off at 5pm, rather than attend Warrior Park, which he would normally have done.

“I chose to put the feet up and watch it on live stream, whereas normally I would have been there until just after half-time, probably,” Morton said.

“Given the weather, I reckon a few people may have chosen to do that.”

Earlier in the afternoon, Morton did attend the Hobart Zebras versus Glenorchy Knights game at KGV Park, where the curtain-raiser was the Challenge League game between Zebras and South Hobart.

Third-placed South Hobart play sixth-ranked Kingborough Lions United at KGV Park at 7.30pm on Wednesday in a game that was re-scheduled from earlier in the season.