It rained goals on the final day of the NPL Tasmania season

Photo:  Devonport's Eli Wilson (left) and Charles Bidwell deal with Knights' Marco Favaro. [PlessPix] 

 The final day of the NPL Tasmania league season produced a glut of goals in the 4 games.

There were 23 in all.

It was raining goals at Clennett’s Lightwood Park.

Kingborough Lions United trailed 2-0 to visitors Launceston United as Joel Digney and Aiden Rigby netted for the bottom-side in the opening 6 minutes.

The Lions then came to the realisation that this game was for real and struck back through Noah Mies, twice, Ahmad Otman and Keenan Douce in the space of 26 minutes to give them a 4-2 lead at half-time.

United regrouped at half-time and started the second half as they had the first.

Goals in the opening 5 minutes by Jaeden Mercure and David Owusu incredibly made it 4-4 with 40 minutes still to play.

Kingborough’s player-coach, Alfred Hess, then decided to one again lead by example and he restored his side’s lead with a goal in the 56^th minute.

Otman grabbed his second and Kingborough’s sixth midway through the half and the Lions had the scent of their prey once again and wouldn’t let go.

Othman completed his hat-trick 8 minutes from the end, while Declan Taylor completed the amazing 8-4 scoreline in the 3^rd minute of stoppage time to bring the show to a close.

Those that were there certainly got their two bob’s worth and saw Kingborough sew up fourth spot and a top-four showdown with champions Devonport Strikers away at Valley Road next week.

Photo:  Devonport's Toby Barton shoots for goal despite the proximity of Knights' Nick Naden. [PlessPix] 

Clarence Zebras secured fifth place but a long way from the top-four with a 5-2 win over second-last Riverside Olympic at Wentworth Park.

The home side were without imports Pritchard Adjei and Ryely Wishart after their fisticuffs at training during the week, but they didn’t need them.

Nicholas Pechenyi put the visitors in front in the 6^th minute, but Sam Tooze levelled for Clarence Zebras in the 38^th minute.

Henry Cook restored the visitors’ lead within a minute and led 2-1 at the interval.

Curtis Miley’s goal in the 53^rd minute made it 2-2, while Xuan Cappellino put Clarence Zebras’ noses in front in the 57^th minute.

Two goals by substitute Cade Smith late in the game saw the home side over the line.

Photo:  Knights' goalkeeper Jackson Gardner shows his bravery in stopping Devonport's Roberto Garrido and Brody Denehy as Knights' skipper Eli Luttmer comes in to sort things out. [PlessPix] 

South Hobart only managed a 1-1 draw at home to Launceston City, but it was enough to give them second place on goal-difference.

Nick Morton put them ahead in the 4^th minute, but American import Mason Smith grabbed the equaliser midway through the half.

There were no more goals in the second half but South Hobart had done enough to secure second place as Glenorchy Knights lost 2-0 to champions Devonport Strikers at KGV Park.

The Knights looked threatening in the first half as Nick Naden and Jaxon Richardson tested Devonport’s keeper Keegan Smith, but they couldn’t find a goal.

Richardson, who had shown glimpses of an ability to shoot powerfully, was injured in a tackle just before the break and saw no more action.

Photo:  Devonport's leading marksman, Roberto Fernandez-Garrido, on the attack. [PlessPix 

The Knights’ frustration was clearly evident as assistant coach Marcello Marchioli was booked in stoppage time, while senior coach James Sherman followed him into Mr Kopra’s ‘book’ a minute later.

Devonport came out for the second half full of life and with their speed and mobility soon had the home side on the back foot.

Luke Bennett scored their first 2 minutes after the resumption, while Nick Lanau Atkinson added the second in the 53^rd minute.

Both goals came from intricate and fast team play, with players changing position quickly and effectively to perplex the Knights midfield and defence.

The loss through injury of Nick Mearns midway through the half was a set-back for the Knights.

Shane Cartwright replaced him, but he should probably have been introduced much earlier.

Photo:  The acrobatic Shane Cartwright was introduced too late. [PlessPix]. 

Knights finished third and will now meet South Hobart in the semi-finals of the final-four series on Saturday at 10am at South Hobart Oval.

Yes, you read it correctly.  At 10am!

This is an NPL Tasmania encounter, folks, not a primary school game.

If South Hobart couldn’t arrange a 2.30pm or 2pm kick-off because of other games, why not play it on Sunday when a better crowd could surely be expected?

I give up.

Photo:  Devonport's Toby Barton eludes Knights' Jaxon Richardson. [PlessPix] 

NPL Tasmania

Kingborough Lions United 8-4 Launceston United

Glenorchy Knights 0-2 Devonport Strikers

South Hobart 1-1 Launceston City

Clarence Zebras 5-2 Riverside Olympic

Photo:  Knights Adam Gorrie, a former Devonport players, gets to the ball ahead of Luke Bennett. [PlessPix]

NPL Tasmania Final Standings (9 September 2023)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Devonport Strikers	21	18	1	2	68	17	55
South Hobart	21	13	3	5	60	30	40
Glenorchy Knights	21	13	1	7	48	20	40
Kingborough Lions	21	13	0	8	70	40	39
Clarence Zebras	21	9	2	10	52	53	29
Launceston City	21	8	3	10	26	33	27
Riverside Olympic	21	4	1	16	21	79	13
Launceston United	21	0	2	19	18	91	2

Photo:  Glenorchy Knights survive a Devonport attack. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Knights' Jaxon Richardson in a contest with Devonport's Luke Bennett. [PlessPix]