Glenorchy Knights regained top spot on the NPL Tasmania standings with a 4-0 home win over bottom-side Launceston United after previous leader South Hobart were held to a 3-3 draw at home by third-placed Kingborough Lions United.
The top-four are probably the only sides capable of winning the league.
The x in the equation, however, is Launceston City, who beat Riverside Olympic 1-0 away on Friday night and actually drew level on points with fourth-placed and reigning champions Devonport City for 24 hours.
Launceston City are unlikely to win the crown, but they may well play a role in determining its destination.
Launceston City’s leading marksman, Thierry Swaby, grabbed the only goal of the game when Riverside’s goalkeeper, Indigo Sharp, making his debut in place of the suspended Daniel Nash, could only parry a powerful shot and Swaby was on hand to force the ball home.
South Hobart needed to win to retain top spot but could only manage a 3-3 draw with a late goal.
Nick Morton fired them to a 2-0 lead in just under half an hour and they seemed on their way.
The Lions clawed their way back into contention when former South Hobart player Kobe Kemp pulled a goal back in the 37th minute.
They were definitely in the hunt when Noah Mies made it 2-2 midway through the second half.
Otto Schwarz gave the visitors the lead with just over 20 minutes left.
An excellent goal by Bradley Lakoseljac 2 minutes from the end ensured the home side of a share of the points.
Lakoseljac was returning from injury and his goal must have delighted his father, Brendan Lakoseljac, a former star of the game in Tasmania, who had come down from Gladstone in Queensland.
Devonport City righted their stricken ship by downing Clarence Zebras 4-0 away at Wentworth Park and regained third place.
Clarence Zebras were not disgraced but have defensive problems to sort out if they are to right their ship.
Dairai Mahachi put Devonport in front in the 28th minute and led 1-0 at the break.
Riku Ichimura, who was busy all over the park and at the end of some fierce tackling, calmed Devonport nerves when he made it 2-0 7 minutes after the resumption.
Nick Lanau-Atkinson made the game safe with a third goal just short of the hour mark, while Brody Denehey’s superb strike with 16 minutes left completed an important win for the visitors, especially in the absence of the injured midfield dynamo Charles Bidwell.
Glenorchy Knights earned a solid 4-0 win over Launceston United, who never gave up but were outclassed.
It took Knights more than half and hour to score and the shot by Dimitris Theodorou was helped in by a wicked deflection.
Knights led by that goal at the interval but were never in any danger and they scored three more times in the second half to seal the win.
Joshua Redfearn made it 2-0 three minutes after the resumption and Stefan Cordwell added the third with a free-kick that took a significant deflection on its way into the net.
Henry Bain completed the scoring from a cut-back by Cordwell.
Joshua Cauteruccio received a nasty lower leg injury from a tackle by a Launceston opponent but after treatment was able to continue.
NPL Tasmania
South Hobart 3 (Nick Morton 15, 28, Bradley Lakoseljac 88) drew with Kingborough Lions United 3 (Kobe Kemp 37, Noah Mies 64, Otto Schwarz 69)
Clarence Zebras 0 lost to Devonport City 4 (Dairai Mahachi 28, Riku Ichimura 52, Nick Lanau-Atkinson 58, Brody Denehey 74)
Glenorchy Knights 4 (Dimitris Theodorou 34, Joshua Redfearn 48, Stefan Cordwell 66, Henry Bain 73)
.JPG)
NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 24 May 2024)
|
TEAM |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
Glenorchy Knights |
8 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
31 |
6 |
18 |
|
South Hobart |
8 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
21 |
10 |
18 |
|
Devonport City |
8 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
20 |
7 |
16 |
|
Kingborough Lions |
8 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
27 |
12 |
15 |
|
Launceston City |
8 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
14 |
9 |
13 |
|
Clarence Zebras |
8 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
13 |
22 |
6 |
|
Riverside Olympic |
8 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
9 |
33 |
3 |
|
Launceston United |
8 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
7 |
43 |
0 |
.JPG)
Photo: Devonport's Taylor Last takes a tumble under challenge from Clarence Zebras' Sam Tooze. [PlessPix]
I'm happy to be corrected here but if I'm reading correctly, the renovations to KGV was towards the headquarters and not the change rooms, grand stand, lights or scoreboard?
ReplyDeleteI was probably it was dilapidated but surely other things needed fixing before the FFT headquarters?
No wonder they want to move the cup finals to Kingborough instead
Glenorchy Knights own the club rooms now .
DeleteFT moved to rugby park near cornelian bay last year, knights purchased the building from FT and have renovated it as a new clubroom, council have built a new change room which will be operating in next few weeks (maybe) then they will renovate the grandstand and change rooms below, once all is done KGV will be a better venue for all, happy days
DeleteFFT HQ is not at KGV anymore. GK bought the building from them and have renovated. The grand stand and change rooms are not in the control of GK. They are being renovated and or rebuilt by G.C.C. The new club rooms have been gutted and completely changed throughout. There are new kitchen facilities and as soon as practicable there will be a good range of food available with an external serving window.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately City have been underperforming again. Many in and around the club know why
ReplyDeleteWith?
DeleteNew address?
ReplyDeleteCool, thanks for the clarification
ReplyDeleteI think the Knights will have a great future youth teams coming through and a lot of them.
ReplyDeleteZebras were stupid to give up that Hobart High recruitment area .
Rubbish. Knights have always just bought their teams. They have zero idea about developing youth. Just look at this current team as an example. They have purchased every player in their senior squad and developed not a single one of them. They are all just $$$$ mercenaries.
DeleteNo different to South then ,how many people from their academy go on to play seniors.
DeleteBusiness not a game up there.
Pretty much the same as football all over the world.
ReplyDeleteAn absurd post below by a very low iq individual.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Rubbish. Knights have always just bought their teams. They have zero idea about developing youth. Just look at this current team as an example. They have purchased every player in their senior squad and developed not a single one of them. They are all just $$$$ mercenaries.
May 30, 2024 at 9:51 PM
In the context of answering something else that was posted it wasnt absurd at all. The only one with the low IQ is you as compression is obviously something you struggle with.
Delete