Olympic win lifts them up a place to sixth on the ladder

Photos: Olympic's goalscorers, Hugh Richardson (top) and Michael Bulis
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HOBART OLYMPIC 2-0 GLENORCHY KNIGHTS
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This 2-0 win lifted Hobart Olympic up a place to sixth on the ladder, a point ahead of New Town Eagles and six ahead of bottom-side University.

Eagles are now in second-last place and are in danger of being overtaken by University, who are just five points behind them.

If Glenorchy Knights had been a little luckier - they hit the Olympic woodwork three times in the first half - and if they had been more clinical in their finishing - they missed three other gilt-edged chances in the course of the 90 minutes - they would have won easily.

But, Olympic rode their luck, fought hard, never surrendered, and in the end, won the match with two superbly taken goals.

Chris Tsimiklis almost embarrassed the Knights in the opening seconds when he fired narrowly wide of Ben Peter’s right-hand post. Peter was back in goal in place of the injured Alex Tatnell.

In the 3rd minute, however, Tom Sherman rattled the Olympic crossbar with a magnificent shot from the left, the ball bouncing down and back into play.

In the 7th minute, Corey Smith flicked Jade Clay’s cross on for Amadu Koroma, but he also hit the crossbar.

As the ball rebounded into play, Smith clattered clumsily into Youssef Mohamad, who went down as if he had been pole-axed.

Mr Barker had no hesitation in brandishing the yellow card at Smith. Knights coach, Eamonn Kelly, immediately substituted Smith as he probably thought he would certainly collect a second yellow during the match. Jackson Marsh came on as the replacement.

Olympic took the lead out of the blue in the 19th minute when Hugh Richardson scored with a half-volley from 25 metres that flew into the far right-hand corner of the net past the diving Peter.

Josh Fielding missed a great chance to equalise on the half-hour. He found himself in possession on the right and inside the box but pulled his shot well wide of the near post.

Olympic created another good chance in the 33rd minute, but Michael Bulis’s shot from an acute angle on the right was blocked by Peter and the ball was cleared.

Two minutes before the interval, a deep cross from the right by Jade Clay was headed at goal by Koroma, but Dmitri Nester’s agility enabled him to turn the ball against the bar.

It rebounded to James Hope, whose goal-bound header was cleared off the line by Chris Tsakiris.

Kelly was furious with his players at the break and, after voicing his feelings, stormed out of the dressing room and sat in the stand for the second half.

Fielding also let his team-mates know what he thought at the half-time break.

Dipendra Kunwar came on for Richardson in the 59th minute and it took him just ten minutes to create the second goal for Olympic when he slipped the ball expertly through for Bulis to run on to and score from inside the box.

The Knights’ final chance came gift-wrapped in the 86th minute, but they squandered it.

Clay’s deep cross from the right went to Carl Larzabal, who, in attempting to clear, succeeded only in passing the ball to Hope on the edge of the box, but with time and space, he blazed wide.

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• Hobart Olympic coach, Farrell Shaw, said:

“Probably one of the best team performances we’ve played all year.

“Knights were unlucky. I mean, they hit the crossbar three times in the first half.

“But, then Hugh Richardson scored a screamer from about 20 odd, 25 yards, out which sort of lifted the lads.

“It’s something we’ve been lacking.

“The second half was very even. Dippa [Dipendra Kunwar] came on and did what Dippa does. He runs at players, puts panic in the back-line and created the chance for us.

“We basically then held out. We held out strongly and there weren’t too many chances, which is good. I'm happy with the lads.”

• Glenorchy Knights coach, Eamonn Kelly, said:

“Absolutely woeful. It’s just like taking three steps forward and four steps back.

“The attitude that we came back away from Somerset with was the start of the rot.

“I’ve just said that to them in there. Anybody would think that we had won on Saturday coming back on the bus.

“You know, there’s just no pride. There’s no pride, there’s no commitment and until they find that pride and commitment, this is all that’ll happen week in and week out.

“You can’t have seven chances in the first half and not take them.

“There’s not much point in hitting the crossbar and hitting the post and missing by three inches.

“Goals win games, and if you don’t put it in the back of the net, that’s the result you end up with tonight.”

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Hobart Olympic: Nester - Lebski, Mohamad (Percy 73), P Tsakiris, Tsimiklis - Larzabal. Richardson (Kunwar 59), Mason, C Tsakiris - A Hedge, Bulis (Substitutes not used: Banks, Plomaritis)

Goals: Richardson 19, Bulis 69

Glenorchy Knights: Peter - Lawler, Holmes, Green, Wiggins (Roberts 70) - Clay, Fielding, Hope, Sherman - Smith (Marsh 8), Koroma (Substitute not used: Vavoulas)

Booked: Smith, Wiggins, Sherman

Att: 100

Ref: K Barker

Wednesday night results

Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League

Hobart Olympic 2 (Richardson 19, Bulis 69) b Glenorchy Knights 0

Asian Champions League

Pohang Steelers 6-0 Newcastle Jets

Chaffey no longer at the helm of Metro

Photo: Darrin Chaffey...asked out of the blue to step down as Metro coach

Metro, the Division One leaders, have parted company with player-coach Darrin Chaffey.

Chaffey was asked to step down as senior coach last night prior to the club's training session at North Chigwell.

Chaffey agreed and Bob Nicholson took the session and will be in charge for the rest of the season.

The move comes as a surprise as Metro are top of the league and favourites to gain promotion to the Premier League next season.

Chaffey was, understandably, disillusioned by the club's decision to dispense with his services.

* * * * *

The draw has been made for the semi-finals of the Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy state-wide competition.

Somerset are at home at Cardigan Street to Northern Rangers, while Clarence United will host Tilford Zebras at Wentworth Park, thus ensuring a north versus south final.

The semi-finals will be played either on Saturday 18 July, or on Saturday 25 July. The FFT website lists both dates in different sections of the home page, so I hope someone decides which is the correct date.

The final is scheduled for 29 August.

Meanwhile, in the Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League, Hobart Olympic will meet Glenorchy Knights at KGV Park this evening at 8pm, while tomorrow, Clarence United take on Kingborough Lions United at Wentworth Park at 7pm.

Englishman a boost for University

Photo: University's new midfielder, Englishman Andrew King

University’s new 22-year-old midfielder from England, Andrew King, has already caught the eye after just two games for the last-placed Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League club.

His speed, vision, touch and reading of the game are very good, but he has also received two yellow cards - one in each game.

“I think maybe it’s a little bit different in England,” King said.

“I think you can get away with things a little bit more over there, but I’ll learn.”

University has beaten New Town Eagles 2-1 in the league and lost 2-0 to Clarence United in the State-wide Cup in King’s two games to date.

“We did well in the first half against Clarence on Saturday and I think we can move on from there,” King said.

“In the second half, we dropped a bit.

“I think if we had better fitness, we can be there and definitely avoid relegation.

“We’ve got the spirit and, if we can beat the teams around us, we can do it.”

King grew up in Surrey in England and has played at a semi-professional level.

His last club was Westfield FC in the Combined Counties League, which is four levels below professional level and of a similar standard to here.

“The tempo over there is a bit quicker than here, but I think the fitness levels here are higher,” he said.

King has a one-year visa and he came to Tasmania to work and play football and it was his friendship with University coach Scott Gallacher - both are involved in the construction industry - which led to him joining University.

He is playing as a wide midfielder and bears an uncanny resemblance in looks and playing style to former University player, Raymond Benson.

He can also play in the middle, or as a striker, but is happy with his current role.

“He’s fantastic,” said University coach, Scott Gallacher. “He had to perform a few roles against Clarence and did it well.

“His switch of play is excellent, and he’s good with both feet.

“I guess we just aren’t getting the ball to him enough, I suppose.”

If University manage to do that, the goals should flow from the Englishman and the club will be well on the way to avoiding relegation.

Goalscoring goalkeeper on fire for Students

Photo: University's goalkeeper-turned-striker, Rory Mccallum

Three goals in four games is not a bad tally for a goalkeeper-turned-striker in the Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League competition.

That is what University’s Rory Mccallum has achieved since being moved from goalkeeper to the outfield.

The 18-year-old Elizabeth College student has helped turn University around and the club are now close to moving off the foot of the ladder, where they face the prospect of relegation.

University are now only three points adrift of second-last Hobart Olympic and two wins in three games has been a huge morale booster for the Students.

Mccallum played youth soccer through to the under-19s for South Hobart but transferred to University this season.

He scored both goals in University’s 2-1 win over New Town Eagles last Saturday.

“I’ve come to University to get some first-team games and it’s been going well,” Mccallum said.

“There was a bit of a kafuffle about that second goal on Saturday.

“Eagles didn’t quite know the ruling on that one, but I knew the ruling because I’m a keeper.”

Mccallum said he enjoyed playing in the outfield because he has the fitness to do it.

“The coach saw me at training kicking a few balls and he thought I was pretty good up front so he just gave me a go and I scored,” Mccallum said.

“Hamish Peacock has come here as a goalkeeper and we had Julian Proud and a few other first-team players out so I was put at striker to see what could happen.”

Mccallum was in the under-19s at South Hobart but his desire for senior games prompted his move to University.

“It’s very hard to get Premier League or reserve football at South because they’ve got such good players,” he said.

“It’s hard as a goalkeeper to get in ahead of Sam Kruijver and Mark Moncur, so I managed to get first-team football at University.”

McCallum believes University can avoid the automatic drop to Division One, which is the fate awaiting the last-placed Premier League team this season.

“We’ve been playing really well and have got two wins in the past week,” he said.

“If we beat Olympic and New Town the next time, we surely will avoid the drop.”

Uni keeper also excells in javelin throwing

Photos: University goalkeeper Hamish Peacock

University’s 18-year-old goalkeeper, Hamish Peacock, can throw the ball from his own penalty area way beyond the half-way line - and accurately, too.

It’s the sort of throw one sees from professional goalkeepers, and his throws send his team into attack instantly.

Peacock, an engineering student at the University of Tasmania, just also happens to be ranked at number one in Australia in the junior age group for javelin throwing, which explains it all.

He is ranked number 6 or number 7 in Australia in the open age group.

International javelin tournaments generally mean he can play only four or five games of soccer towards the end of each season, in whichever team University needs him.

“For the last couple of years, athletics commitments have been my main priority,” Peacock said.

“But, I love playing football because it’s just so much fun.

“This year, I don’t have any big international competitions so I’ll be able to play out the season.

“It’s fun and I love it.”

University are currently bottom of the Premier League, but are closing in fast on second-last Hobart Olympic.

“We’re only three points behind Olympic, so I don’t see why we can’t avoid relegation,” Peacock said.

“We’ve had two wins in the last week [2-0 against Olympic and 2-1 against New Town Eagles] and we can just forget about last week’s loss to Zebras [8-2].

“The team is looking really positive, and against Eagles, with most of the first-team missing, we looked really good and won.”

Peacock deserves considerable credit for that win as it was his goal-kick that led to the winning goal by Rory Mccallum, ironically, University’s other goalkeeper who has been converted to a striker.

And, Peacock pulled off a brilliant save from a terrific shot by Eagles’ Alex Gordon to keep his side in the game.

“I thought we played a lot better against Eagles than we did against Zebras,” Peacock said.

“It was an improved performance, but we’ve still got plenty more to improve upon.

“We slacken off at times.

“We play good possession football and then, in patches, we don’t, so we must be more consistent.”

Peacock can also play in the outfield, but at the moment, coach Scott Gallacher can be thankful that his two senior goalkeepers are doing all the right things at opposite ends of the pitch.

Shai Maynard is a unique footballer

Photos (Top to Bottom): Shai Maynard goes through his paces; The players listen to coach Dane Hudson; Hudson demonstrates juggling skills; Hudson explains a point during training; Tasmania's coach, Dane Hudson, also coaches Prospect Knights in the Forestry Tasmania Northern Premier League; Shai Maynard...a unique young footballer

There would not be many young association football players who travel to training by light aircraft.

Shai Maynard, 15, a member of Tasmania’s representative youth indigenous soccer team is one.

Maynard lives and goes to school on Cape Barren Island and must travel by light aircraft each week to the mainland before attending state training in either Launceston or Hobart.

He is in grade 9 at the small school on the island and his soccer activities are encouraged and supported by teacher Judy Hunter.

Maynard is looking forward to an even longer trip by commercial jet early next month when the Tasmanian indigenous team travels to Townsville for the inaugural national Indigenous festival of football, which will be held from the 4th to the 10th of July.

“I’ve played soccer for the school before, but this is the first time I’ll have played for Tasmania,” Maynard said at State training at the Showgrounds in Derwent Park on Sunday.

“It’s a good game and we have a kick around at school.

“I can’t wait to go to Townsville for the tournament because it’s going to be fun.”

Maynard would love to become a professional soccer player and follows the progress of two of Australia’s leading A-League indigenous players, Jade North and Travis Dodds.

Coach of the Tasmanian indigenous team, Dane Hudson, 47, of Launceston, is pleased with the way preparations are going.

“Training is going really well,” said Hudson, who coaches Prospect Knights in the northern Premier League.

“Each one of the boys has turned up consistently over the weeks so it’s just a matter now of becoming a team and making sure the boys get to know each other well enough.

“Each boy has a twinkle in his eye and they’re all keen to do well.

“As a senior club coach, I can see a pathway now developing for these boys, even though some of them haven’t yet become a part of football in Tassie.

“I’m sure that those who are already involved in football will continue on.”

Hudson said the team will fly out on 3 July and, apart from the actual games, there will also be coaching sessions for all the teams.

“Hopefully, I’ll be able to tap into some coaching up there and see what is being done at a junior level.’ Hudson said.

“There’ll also be some time away from the games for the boys just to relax a little bit and enjoy each other’s company outside the game.”