Vale Tom Ballantyne (1 June 1930 - 28 April 2023)

Photo:  Tom Ballantyne at Olinda Grove in 2015. [PlessPix] 

Tom Ballantyne, a passionate and long-serving stalwart of the University Soccer Club, has passed away in Hobart aged 92.

Tom was born in Craigneuk, Scotland, was an avid supporter of Motherwell.

He played for University from 1969 until 1984 and appeared in about 269 games for the club.

He was a fierce defender but managed something like 5 goals in his career.

Tom was an institution at the University Soccer Club and was also an employee for many years of the University of Tasmania in their maintenance and cleaning department.

After his playing days were over, Tom was actively involved in the soccer club and served on the club’s committee for many years.

Photo:  Tom Ballantyne (back row, second from left) at a University veterans game at Olinda Grove in 2009 in honour of his friend and emeritus club president. Fred Joughin (seated in front row). [PlessPix] 

He also coached some of University’s many teams below the top flight.

Tom was always supportive of younger players and was noted for his dry humour and passion for the club and the game.

After training and games he could be found in the clubrooms serving behind the bar.

I first met Tom when I was senior coach of University from 1977-79, when he was already a Life Member of the club, and always valued his knowledge and wisdom about the game.

I had actually played against him several times before I joined University.

Even in recent years, he was a regular at Olinda Grove, University’s home ground.

Tom was made a Life Member of the University Soccer Club as long ago as 1976, and a Merit Bar was added to his Life Membership badge in 1996.

My condolences go to Tom’s wife, Glennis, and all his family and friends.

He was a loyal servant of the club and will be sorely missed.

Photo:  Tom Ballantyne (right) at a game at South Hobart Oval in 2020, with his good friend and University stalwart Rod Miller (left). [PlessPix]

Semi-finalists decided in Lakoseljac Cup

Photo:  Iskander Van Doorne smashes home his second goal in the cup-tie against Glenorchy Knights on Sunday. [PlessPix] 

Devonport Strikers, South Hobart, Clarence Zebras and Hobart United are in the semi-finals of the Lakoseljac Cup after winning their quarterfinal ties on the weekend.

Hobart United are the only second-tier side left and they have done well in winning their two previous games away from home.

On Saturday, they overcame NPL opponents Riverside Olympic 1-0 in Launceston through a goal by Abel Berhane in the 54^th minute.

United also missed twice-taken penalty kicks.

The match started at the earlier than usual time of noon so United travelled to Launceston on Friday and stayed overnight so that they would be fresh for the game.  The preparation obviously worked and was worth the expense.  They are now full of confidence and must have a chance of reaching the final.  The semi-final draw will be conducted on Wednesday.

Photo:  Hobart United on the defensive against Riverside Olympic on Saturday.  [Photo courtesy of Romilton Amaral and Moses Kangogo] 

Clarence Zebras beat Launceston City 2-1 for the second time in a week, the first time being in last week’s league match.

City were at home this time in the cup quarterfinal at Buckby Motors Park and Mason Smith gave them the lead after 16 minutes.

Riley Dillon equalised 4 minutes later, while Xuan Cappellino hit the winner 3 minutes into the second half.

Clarence Zebras’ fortunes seem to be on the rise and will be a formidable opponent in the semi-finals.

Import Pritchard Adjei was back from injury and was superb in defence for Clarence Zebras.

Photo:  Devonport's Roberto Garrido (left) thanks team-mate Ali Dulleh for the assist for his goal.  In the background, referee Mr Stratos Plomaritis notes the goal while Kingtborough's Keenan Douce reprimands his defenders. [PlessPix] 

Devonport Strikers, the cup holders, accounted for Kingborough Lions United 2-1 away at KGV Park.

Roberto Garrido opened the scoring from Ali Dulleh’s pass in the 24^th minute, while Dulleh hit the second 3 minutes before the break.

Dulleh’s inclusion was controversial as he had been sent off the previous week in the league win over South Hobart.

There has been debate about whether a league send-off excludes a player from the next game even if it is a cup game, or whether the player is suspended only for the next league match.  In this case, the referee apparently rescinded the red card a few days later and so Dulleh was free to play.

Photo:  Kingborough goalkeeper Roan Gillam flaps at a cross. [PlessPix] 

Kingborough pulled back a goal through a penalty 5 minutes form time, but Devonport held on for the win.

Kingborough surprisingly took off Declan Taylor with 20 minutes left as he had been one of their most dangerous players and had hit the crossbar.  They brought on Toby Moss with 10 minutes remaining and he was a constant source of danger down the right flank, which made one wonder why he had not come on earlier.

Kingborough coach, Alfred Hess, was reticent in commenting on the match.

“I’ll have to reflect on it later,” Hess said:  “It’s all pretty raw at the moment.

“We came home a bit strong but it was not to be for us.”

Hess agreed that his side played better in the second half and carried out their strategies better than in the first half.

Photo:  Devonport's Ali Dulleh is stopped in his tracks by Kingborough's Tom Prince. [PlessPix] 

Devonport coach Tom Ballantyne was pleased to get through to the semi-finals.

“First half, I thought we were really good,” Ballantyne said.  “We probably should have had a couple more in the first half as I thought we dealt with their press very well and we played through them and created good opportunities.

“In the second half we came out and started too slowly and we still have probably three really good opportunities.

“We created a couple of good opportunities for Robbie [Garrido] and then after that we kind of just let it drift.

“We took our foot off the gas and let it drift.

Photo:  Kingborough's Greg Downes tangles with Devonport's Ali Dulleh while Kingborough's Declan Taylor awaits the outcome. [PlessPix] 

“They scored a penalty and I can’t for the life of me work out what it was for.  It could have been a foul for us;  then it could have been a penalty for them; and then there was a foul on the goalkeeper.

“I’ll have to watch it back on the replay and see what it’s been given for.  And even then, after the penalty, we should have scored another one.

“The important things is we are through and the cup is still in our trophy cabinet and we’ll take that from here.”

Photo:  It's been a while since I've seen a queue at the entrance to the South Hobart ground.  The match had already stated and people were still queuing up to come in. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Part of the excellent crowd behind the goal at South Hobart.  The attendance was estimated at about 400, which was very good.  It shows the popularity of top-flight men's football on a Sunday, and it would be interesting to know if the good attendance was also due to the fact the game was not live-streamed. [PlessPix]

 On Sunday, Glenorchy Knights’ world came crashing down around them when they were crushed 7-2 by South Hobart at South Hobart Oval.

All the pieces came together at last for South Hobart, who led 3-0 midway through the first half and 4-1 at the interval.

Iskander Van Doorne, Nick Morton and Sam Berezansky all scored braces, while Jackson Dent netted once.

Van Doorne opened the scoring after just 3 minutes when Knights failed to deal with a corner, and Nick Morton lobbed goalkeeper Jackson Gardner in the 12^th minute to make it 2-0.

Dent chipped the third, again over the keeper from the right, to make it 3-0 in the 22^nd minute and effectively end the contest.

Photo:  A clash between Knights' Rowan Pitt (left) and South Hobart's Jack Bowman. [PlessPix] 

Daniel Sagno reduced the arrears with a penalty in the 35^th minute, but Knights were clearly shell-shocked and struggling.

Van Doorne made it 5-1 a minute after the resumption and Berezansky added South’s sixth in the 58^th minute.

Kyle Vincent netted Knights’ second on the hour after Lucas Dzalakowski’s chip against the right-hand post deflected into the path of Vincent on the left of the box.

Morton rounded off the victory in the 81^st minute with his second goal of the match.

Knights were humiliated after some narrow league victories recently, including a 1-0 win over South Hobart.

Knights had their goalkeeper, Jackson Gardner to thank for their recent league wins, but he was unable to save them this time.

Photo:  South Hobart's Sam Berezansky (left) tangles with Glenorchy Knights' Nick Mearns, [PlessPix]

Photo:  Knights' Adam Gorrie (left) tries to play a wall-pass off the head of South Hobart's Lachlan Semmler. [PlessPix]