Devonport Strikers remain 4 points clear at the top of the NPL Tasmanian standings after Round 9 of the NPL Tasmania competition last weekend.
The Strikers easily accounted for bottom side Launceston United 4-0 at Valley Road through two goals by Brody Denehey and one each by Roberto Garrido and Nick Lanau-Atkinson.
Glenorchy Knights remain second and look like being the obly serious challengers to Devonport.
Knights beat third-placed Launceston City 1-0 at KGV Park under a near full moon, the goal coming from a Daniel Sagno free-kick (conceded by City captain Joel Stone) in the 2nd minute of stoppage time. Sagno sent his free-kick over the wall and inside the right-hand post. City keeper Lachlan Clark got a hand to the ball but couldn’t keep it out. Winning goal in stoppage time seem almost obligatory when these sides meet as this has been the third time in three meetings that the game has been decided in this way. On the previous two occasions, City had won.
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Knights coach, James Sherman, was in Sydney doing am A Licence coaching course and Marcello Marchioli, his assistant, was in charge.
At a press conference on Monday, Sherman paid tribute to his players and their resolve and he also announced a new signing, Canadian Marco Favaro.
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Nick Naden would also be back from injury for the next game, so Knights should stay close on Devonport’s heels.
Fourth-placed South Hobart virtually bowed out of the title race when they went down 5-4 away to fifth-ranked Clarence Zebras at Wentworth Park on Saturday.
Clarence Zebras led 4-1 at one stage and it was only a hat-trick by Nick Morton that kept South in contention.
The defending by both sides was woeful, but at least both teams knew how to score and this made for a thrilling encounter.
Clarence Zebras have tended to throw away leads recently and collapse at the end, so the fact that they were able to hang on and win this one was a relief to their supporters, let alone their coaching staff.
Riley Dillon, with two goals, Sam Tooze and Xuan Cappellino were their marksmen.
What can one say about Riverside Olympic? They were put to the sword by Kingborough Lions United to the tune of 10-0 at South Hobart Oval.
Kingborough led 3-0 at the interval and piled on seven more goals after the break.
Simon Vivarelli, Declan Taylor, Ahmad Othman and Noah Mies all scored braces, while Kobe Kemp and Tom Prince scored a goal apiece.
For the statistically minded, local football statistician Ben Smith has provided me with some interesting information.
This was Kingborough Lions United’s biggest win in this latest iteration of a State League, namely the NPL Tasmania competition, and it was Riverside Olympic’s heaviest defeat.
It is only the second time that four or more players have scored multiple goals in an NPL game.
It was Glenorchy Knights’ seventh clean sheet this season.
Devonport Strikers have gone 28 games unbeaten now.
South Hobart’s Nick Morton is only the third player to score successive hat-tricks.
I don’t know what I’d do without your input, Ben. Football owes you a debt of gratitude. Keep up the good work.
And, Matt Rhodes, get well soon. All football fans wish you a speedy recovery.
NPL Tasmania weekend results:
Kingborough Lions United 10 (Simon Vivarelli 12, 62, Declan Taylor 29, 47, Tom Prince 35, Kobe Kemp 50, Noah Mies 71,86, Ahmad Othman 63, 73) beat Riverside Olympic 0
Clarence Zebras 5 (Riley Dillon 16, 57, Samuel Tooze 37, Pritchard Adjei 49, Xuan Cappellino 68) beat South Hobart 4 (Nick Morton 45+2, 58, 63, Iskander Van Doorne 77)
Glenorchy Knights 1 (Daniel Sagno 90+2) beat Launceston City 0
Devonport Strikers 4 (Brody Denehey 33, 56, Roberto Garrido 59, Nick Lanau-Atkinson 65)
NPL Tasmania (As at 3 June 2023)
|
TEAM |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
Devonport Strikers |
9 |
8 |
1 |
0 |
29 |
7 |
25 |
|
Glenorchy Knights |
9 |
7 |
0 |
2 |
16 |
3 |
21 |
|
Launceston City |
9 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
16 |
10 |
16 |
|
South Hobart |
9 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
22 |
16 |
14 |
|
Clarence Zebras |
9 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
22 |
18 |
14 |
|
Kingborough Lions |
9 |
4 |
0 |
5 |
33 |
19 |
12 |
|
Riverside Olympic |
9 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
4 |
40 |
3 |
|
Launceston United |
9 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
6 |
35 |
0 |
2 comments:
Pretty interesting that Knights have only had 3 goals against in the league? Gardner has been a very big pickup for them.
Dev are still the firm favourites, but they might have an outside chance if they can take points off them in the reverse fixture.
I don't think you will find anyone who would put money on any team other than Devonport to be premiers. It has been that way since day 1.
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