Devonport Strikers are edging ever closer to retaining their NPL Tasmania title.
On Saturday, they easily overcame Clarence Zebras 5-1 at home at Valley Road.
Toby Barton fired them ahead in the 14th minute.
Benhamin Tilley, who has missed about three games recently, equalised for the visitors in the 33rd minute.
Roberto Garrido netted a penalty in the 37th minute to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage at half-time.
It was all Devonport in the second half and goals by Taylor Last (63rd minute), Luke Bennett (68th) and Brody Denehey (69th) completed the victory.
The loss prompted the resignation of Clarence Zebras coach, Brett Pullen.
Glenorchy Knights beat bottom-side Launceston United 5-0 at home at KGV Park, but it was a costly win as the Knights lost star import Daniel Sagno early in the game with what looked like a nasty knee injury.
The Canadian attempted to play on after treatment but the knee gave way and he was reported to have gone for scans after the game.
Knights’ Rowan Pitt had a ‘goal’ somewhat harshly disallowed in the opening minute for an alleged foul on the keeper and the home side made hard work of the rest of the opening half.
Two minutes before the break, skipper Eli Luttmer came to the rescue - as he did so often last season - by throwing himself into danger and heading home a right-wing cross to give his side the lead.
Nick Mearns struck twice after the break and the Knights led 3-0 with just over an hour gone.
Launceston United had had barely two shots by that stage, both of which were easily handled by Knights keeper Jackson Gardner.
An own-goal by Tom McTigue in the 76th minute made it 4-0 for the Knights.
Adam Gorrie completed the scoring 6 minutes from the end.
On this display, it’s difficult to see where Launceston United are going to get any points.
David Owusu was missing for United, which reduced their chances even more in this encounter.
On Sunday, Kingborough Lions United beat South Hobart 2-1 away at South Hobart Oval in an upset.
Local statistician Ben Smith informs me that it was only Kingborough’s second win against South Hobart in 32 NPL meetings since 2013.
It was their first win, Ben tells me, at South Hobart Oval against South Hobart since a Southern Premier League victory in 2006.
One can only describe South Hobart’s performance as sloppy.
They missed enough clear chances to have won, and they were porous at the back, enabling Kingborough to score the two goals for victory.
Nick Morton gave South Hobart the lead in the 11th minute, but Jack Bowman turned Eli Wright’s left-wing cross into his own net to make it 1-1.
Noah Mies scored the winner at the back post from Alfred Hess’s right-wing cross on the stroke of half-time.
Kingborough survived a torrid final 15 minutes, clearing desperately off the line at one point and watching a South Hobart header from close range sail over the bar.
The Lions will be thankful for the 3 points and will put it down to taking their chances and defending stoutly at the back.
Declan Taylor had several good openings in attack but inexplicably fired over the bar each time when he should have worked the keeper.
Although both keepers did well at times, just as often they mishandled easy balls which could have led to disaster.
The accuracy of passing was not as good as it should be in the top flight and both teams at times tried to play out from the back when a long ball forward might have been a better option.
South Hobart will be terribly disappointed at this loss as it has seriously dented their prospects of finishing second.
One of their former youngsters, Eli Wright, played very well for Kingborough in only his second senior appearance.
He is the grandson of former Olympia and Caledonians star, Tommy Wright, who was at the game to see the performance.
The Riverside Olympic versus Launceston City game scheduled for the Friday night was postponed because of poor ground conditions.
NPL Tasmania (As at 30 July 2023)
|
TEAM |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
Devonport Strikers |
15 |
13 |
1 |
1 |
49 |
13 |
40 |
|
Glenorchy Knights |
15 |
11 |
0 |
4 |
39 |
13 |
33 |
|
South Hobart |
15 |
9 |
2 |
4 |
39 |
24 |
29 |
|
Launceston City |
14 |
7 |
1 |
6 |
21 |
22 |
22 |
|
Kingborough Lions |
15 |
7 |
0 |
8 |
44 |
28 |
21 |
|
Clarence Zebras |
15 |
6 |
2 |
7 |
39 |
35 |
20 |
|
Riverside Olympic |
14 |
3 |
0 |
11 |
13 |
53 |
9 |
|
Launceston United |
15 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
10 |
66 |
0 |
Photo: Knights' captain Eli Luttmer risks life and limb to stoop and head home the opening goal. [PlessPix]
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