South Hobart do Glenorchy Knights a huge favour

Photo:  Kobe Kemp of Kingborough suffered a head injury (clearly visible in this photo) and will require surgery.  He will miss the rest of the season. [PlessPix] 

Devonport Strikers stepped on a banana skin on Saturday.

They lost 3-1 to the visiting South Hobart at Valley Road and their lead at the top of the NPL Tasmania standings has been cut to 4 points.

For a team that appeared to be racing away with the 2023 title, they are now vulnerable and second-placed Glenorchy Knights are breathing down their necks.

The Knights easily accounted for 6^th-placed Kingborough Lions United at KGV Park on Friday night, winning 4-0 in the rain.

The Strikers were without captain and central defender Kieran Mulraney and this must have played a part in their defeat.

They are also still without star winger Ali Dulleh, who was injured in the 1-0 win over South Hobart in the Lakoseljac Cup Final on 10 May.

Iskander Van Doorne fired the visitors ahead in the 9^th minute, but Brody Denehey cut through the South Hobart defence like a hot knife through butter to equalise midway through the half.

Sam Berezansky restored South Hobart’s lead 2 minutes after the resumption, while Nick Morton made the game safe with the southerners’ third goal in the 72^nd minute.

South Hobart coach Ken Morton said it was a close game, with both sides enjoying periods of dominance, but his team’s ability to finish made the difference.

Photo:  Daniel Sagno (right) was in outstanding form for the Knights. [PlessPix] 

Glenorchy Knights’ Canadian import Daniel Sagno was excellent in their win over Kingborough Lions United, scoring twice and being a continual thorn in the side of the Lions.

He headed home a deep cross from the left in the 39^th minute to give Knights the lead and then made it 2-0 in the 56^th minute, working his way across the face of goal and beating three defenders and the goalkeeper before firing home.

Fullback Mathew Brkic smashed home the Knights’ third in the 79^th minute, while substitute Kyle Vincent, who had only been on for 11 minutes, hit the fourth in the last minute of the game.

Photo:  Mathew Brkic shoots and scores. [PlessPix] 

In a bottom-of-the-table clash on Friday night, second-last Riverside Olympic bear bottom-side Launceston United 4-1 through goals by Gediminas Krusa (18^th minute), Liam Poulson (28^th) Henry Cook (30^th) and Austin Marshall (39^th).

Almost inevitably, Angelo Amato netted United’s consolation goal midway through the second half.

Clarence Zebras came back to earth with a thud when they were beaten 3-1 away by Launceston City in the ‘Italian derby’ in Launceston on Saturday.

Clarence Zebras missed central defender, import Pritchard Adjei, because of injury, and their new Canadian import, Ryely Wishart, netted his fourth goal in two games.

But, that wasn’t enough and two goals by Toby Simeoni and one by William Humphrey sank the southern visitors, who had thrashed Launceston United 9-1 last weekend to give their fans hope for the season.

Launceston City had lost their past two games and badly needed this win.

Photo:  Knights' third Canadian import, Marco Favaro, waltzes through the Kingborough Lions midfield. [PlessPix] 

 NPL Tasmania (As at 1 July 2023)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Devonport Strikers	12	10	1	1	40	11	31
Glenorchy Knights	12	9	0	3	29	8	27
South Hobart	12	7	2	3	35	21	23
Clarence Zebras	12	6	2	4	34	23	20
Launceston City	12	6	1	5	20	21	19
Kingborough Lions	12	5	0	7	36	25	15
Riverside Olympic	12	2	0	10	9	49	6
Launceston United	12	0	0	12	9	54	0