Pennicott thrown in at the deep end

Photo: Jim Pennicott

Jim Pennicott, South Hobart’s 15-year-old defender, is quickly coming to grips with first-team football.

The club has had many injuries and Pennicott has been drafted into the side rather sooner than expected.

He came on as a substitute in the 4-0 league win over Glenorchy Knights two weeks ago, while last weekend, he started and finished against Kingborough Lions United in the 0-0 draw.

He made his senior debut this season in the Summer Cup against New Town Eagles, when South Hobart won 6-0.

That’s not bad for a player who could not get into the Tasmanian Institute of Sport programme.

Pennicott came through the Central Region junior development programme and then the State under-14 and under-15 teams.

“The only opportunity after that was the TIS, but I didn’t get in, so I decided to come to South Hobart,” said Pennicott, who is in Year 10 at Taroona High.

“I think I’m doing all right.

“The last game, I made some mistakes, but against Kingborough I felt more comfortable.

“I’d bring the ball down and have a look at the options up front.

“Last week, I didn’t realise I’d come on so early in the game, but David Cooper got injured and so I was it.

“I was really nervous and it took me a couple of minutes to realise I was on the pitch.”

Pennicott, whose father, Gary, was a notable player in the north and south of the State, began as a forward but was moved to the defence in the State squads.

He has thoughts of moving interstate when he is older and of making soccer a career.

“That’s what I want to do because I enjoy the game,” he said.

“I was anticipating sitting on the bench for much of this year, but with all the injuries we’ve had, I’m just going to seize the opportunities that come my way.

“I think South Hobart can retain the title this year, particularly with the quality of players we have.

“But, we can’t take things lightly because we won’t breeze through because there are lots of good teams.”

After Greg Downes broke his leg on Saturday, Pennicott may well be called upon again this coming weekend against Hobart Olympic.

It’s a game South Hobart must win to stay on top of the Forestry Tasmania Premier League ladder.

Kruijver now number one at South Hobart

Photos: (Top to Bottom) Sam Kruijver, South's number one keeper; Kruijver patrols his penalty area; Greg Downes being treated while his team-mates regroup; Downes suffered a broken leg and is stretchered off.

It’s taken Sam Kruijver a while, but he is now the number one goalkeeper at reigning Premier League soccer champion, South Hobart.

Kruijver was understudy to Mark Moncur for most of last season, but the 27-year-old has now established himself as coach Ken Morton’s number one choice in goal.

He has not let the side down and played a crucial role in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Kingborough Lions United.

In fact, Kruijver has kept a clean sheet in all three league games to date.

Kruijver made excellent saves against Tom McDonald, Marcello Marchioli and Charles White as the Lions threatened to score and steal the three points against the run of play.

“Things are going well and we’re on track to defend our title,” said Kruijver, the 183cm custodian.

“It’s taken me a while to become the number one choice, but Mark Moncur is hot on my heels.

“There’s good competition between the two of us.”

Kruijver underplayed his saves against the Lions.

“I didn’t really think about it, to be honest,” he said.

“I saw the ball coming and just sort of got myself there and was lucky enough to keep them out.”

Kruijver is impressed by South Hobart’s young talent coming through, but injuries are a problem.

Greg Downes, the club’s dynamic young midfielder who had trials last year with Sunderland and Walsall, broke his leg in Saturday’s game and will be out indefinitely.

“I think we’ve got a good chance of retaining our title, Kruijver said.

“We’ve got a good bunch of young guys coming through, including Jim Pennicott and Nick Di Falco.

“There’s plenty of young guys coming through to keep the team going.

“There’s strong competition from all teams now that there are only eight teams in the league.

“It’s going to be very close, but I hope we can continue without conceding goals.

“From my perspective, it was frustrating to see so many chances at the other end and we just couldn’t score. I was pulling my hair out.

“You have those days, but they also defended well.”

Pearce cementing place with new club Kingborough Lions United

Damien Pearce

Kingborough Lions United’s central defender, Damian Pearce, 21, is settling into his new club after signing from South Hobart.

The left-footed fullback has been moved into the centre of defence and is relishing the challenge.

And, there is plenty of work to do as the Lions have conceded seven goals in two games, although they have scored ten.

Pearce played with South Hobart from junior level and made the State under-19s when he was 18.

“I thought I’d have a change and so came down here to Kingborough,” he said after Saturday’s 6-3 win over New Town Eagles.

“I did play for Kingborough’s under-12s before moving to South Hobart, so I guess I’ve returned.

“I’m hoping to get a little bit more game time here, plus I live here and work here and there’s less travel.

“Since moving from left-back into the middle of the defence, I’ve got a lot to learn and a lot to do, but I’m enjoying it,” he said.

Pearce is studying for a Certificate IV in business and is employed by a local ship contractor.

He said it was good that the side scored plenty of goals against Eagles.

“It was good to get the goals in the back of the net,” he said.

“There’s still definitely room for improvement, though, and we’ve got to stop leaking silly goals.

“After that happens, we’ll be good, I reckon.

“I think, after the first goal, we started to lift.

“We were then able to play our game and we stopped them from dictating the play.”

Pearce’s brother, Trent, has also moved from South Hobart to Kingborough and is playing in central midfield in the reserves at the moment.

Minty passed test but is back at number two

Photo: The signing of Michael Soszynski (above) has relegated Craig Minty to number two again at Eagles now that Nathan Pitchford (top) and Andrew Savage (middle) are both injured.

Craig Minty was thrown in at the deep end on against Kingborough Lions United two weeks ago, but showed he has what it takes.

The 17-year-old is third-choice goalkeeper at New Town Eagles, but with first-choice Nathan Pitchford injured and out of action for the next few months, Minty was understudy to Andrew Savage for the Premier League match against Kingborough Lions United.

Three minutes before half-time, Savage snapped an Achilles tendon and was taken to hospital, where he underwent surgery on Sunday.

He had suffered a similar injury on the other leg two seasons ago.

Minty came on with Eagles 2-1 down, and he went on to concede four more goals as the Lions ran out 6-3 winners.

But, the young custodian pulled off two brilliant saves near the end to deny Greg Freeman, who had already netted a hat-trick at that stage.

“I felt pretty nervous when I came on,” said Minty, who stands at 188cm and whose father, Malcolm, was also a keeper.

“It was a good game and we didn’t lose out heads, but we did make silly mistakes in the back-line.”

Minty has been playing in the under-19s and reserves, but just when it looked as if he would be in the seniors for some time to come, Eagles signed goalkeeper Michael Soszynski, who kept a clean sheet in Sunday's 0-0 draw with Hobart Olympic.

Minty played school soccer with Dominic College until grade seven, when he joined Eagles, and he has now been with the club for three years.

Now that Eagles have signed Michael Soszynski, Minty has had to go back to being the number two keeper at the club.

Kanakaris had a hard time against Eagles in his first season in Tasmania

Photos: (Top) Kostas Kanakaris lies injured; (Bottom) Olympic's new midfielder, Kostas Kanakaris

Hobart Olympic’s new Greek midfielder, Kostas Kanakaris, has already had a positive impact on the local league after just four games.

His technical skills are good and he is a constructive playmaker in midfield for Olympic.

The 19-year-old was born in Australia, but his family returned to Greece when he was just three years old.

It took Olympic several weeks to arrange a clearance for Kanakaris from Greece, which meant he missed the club’s first two Summer Cup games.

He played in the third, which ended in a draw with South Hobart, but Olympic won the penalty shoot-out.

His first league match was the 0-0 draw with Clarence United and he caught the eye with his industry and skills on a slippery pitch in torrential rain.

“The pitch was very wet and it was difficult to play good soccer,” Kanakaris said.

“We’ll have to do better in our next game.”

Kanakaris said he had returned to Australia to play soccer.

In Greece, he played for a neighbourhood team in the city of Ilion.

“I like playing in midfield because it’s all about passing, or making assists,” he said.

“I work on the skills by myself, after training.

“The coach exhausts us physically at training, but I work on my skills afterwards.”

Kanakaris, who is working as a tiler, believes that Olympic has a great chance of winning the title this year.

“We are really concentrated on our training and we are working hard as a team,” he said.

“Greek soccer is slower than here. It’s much quicker and more physical here.

“Here, players are fitter and strong, but in Greece the players are more technical.”

Kanakaris thinks South Hobart and Zebras are the teams to beat in Hobart and that hard training by Olympic should see them triumph.

Olympic have not made the best of starts to the league season.

Sunday’s 1-0 loss to New Town Eagles dropped Olympic to second-last on the ladder.

Eagles win first league match

Photos: (Top to Bottom) The captains greet the match officials; Bulis and Wass battle for the ball; Eagles wish each other luck before the kick-off; John Muir and George Krambousanos watch the action; Andrew Clark and Robert Lebski battle it out in midfield; New Town Eagles squad

Forestry Tasmania Premier League, Clare Street, Sunday, 29 March 2009
________________________________________________

New Town Eagles 1 (Gordon 90)
Hobart Olympic 0

HT: 0-0 Att: 120 Ref: C Phillips
__________________________________________________
New Town Eagles: Soszynski - Page, Savage, Rybak (Anderson 85), Wass - Vernon (Gordon 74), Clark, Malakoff, Kavanagh - McKeown, Leszczynski [Substitutes not used: Ferrall, Minty] [Coach: G Krambousanos]

Hobart Olympic: Nester - Mohamad, P Tsakiris, Tsimiklis - Lebski, C Tsakiris, Mason, Larzabal (A Hedge 73), Kanakaris - Djekanovic (Kunwar 80), Bulis [Substitutes not used: Kaproulias, Plomaritis] [Coach: F Shaw]
________________________________________________________

Hobart Olympic have only themselves to blame for this defeat as they had the game in the bag in the first half but failed to score.

It was New Town Eagles’ first league win and it lifted them to sixth place on the ladder and dumped Olympic to seventh spot.

The relief on Eagles coach George Krambousanos’s face was there for all to see.

He had been devastated by the opening two defeats and he can now see a glimmer of hope on the horizon for his side.

The introduction of goalkeeper Michael Soszynski was a success. He did not have any difficult saves to make and he handled all the shots well.

The introduction of substitute Alex Gordon with 15 minutes remaining was a sensible move as he scored the winner with aplomb in the final minute.

The game should have been all over by then, however.

Olympic had some glorious chances in the first half.

In the 3rd minute, Kostas Kanakaris passed inside to Michael Bulis, whose shot was deflected for a corner.

From Danijel Djekanovic’s corner, Bulis had another shot deflected for yet another corner.

The best Eagles could muster was a long-range shot from the left by Jacob Kavanagh that cleared the crossbar.

Olympic should have scored in the 22nd minute when Bulis brushed aside the challenge of Chris Wass and advanced unchallenged on goal, but he somehow shot wide.

In the 33rd minute, Soszynski got down to a Bulis shot, which he handled with ease.

Another easy chance went begging in the 42nd minute when Kanakaris was presented with a clear shot at goal, but he lifted his effort high over the bar.

Midway through the second half, Eagles had their best chance when Leszczynski’s cross from the left found Jamie Vernon, but he contrived to head an easy chance over the bar.

In the final minute of normal time, Eagles counter-attacked through Andrew Clark down the right. He slipped the ball inside to Adam McKeown, who survived a fierce tackle and knocked the ball wide to Gordon on the left.

Gordon advanced on goal and coolly slotted the ball past the advancing Dmitri Nester and inside the far post for the winner.

_________________________________________________________

• New Town Eagles coach, George Krambousanos, said:

“As I said prior to the game, they’ve never beaten me as a coach.

“I honestly think the lads are just starting to come right, although we’ve still got four or five players out.

“It was a great effort. We made a few changes and they seemed to work.

“We’re playing in a happy way and we’re scoring goals, and that was good.”

• Hobart Olympic coach, Farrell Shaw, said:

“First half, all us. Second half, pretty even.

“They always looked as if they were going to pinch one.

“We missed far too many chances. I mean, the game should have been over six nil at half time.

“It’s ridiculous. You can’t miss those chances and win games.

“It’s very, very disappointing the way we played in the second half.”
___________________________________________________________

STATISTICS

NEW TOWN EAGLES HOBART OLYMPIC
8 Goal Attempts 13
1 Shots on Target 7
3 Corners 6
13 Fouls Committed 14
2 Off-Sides 1
1 (Leszczynski 10) Yellow Cards 2 (P Tsakiris 68, Djekanovic 71)
0 Red Cards 0

New Town Eagles:
PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Page 1 0
Kavanagh 2 0
Leszczynski 2 0
Vernon 2 0
Gordon 1 1

Hobart Olympic:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Mason 2 1
Bulis 5 3
Djekanovic 2 1
Kanakaris 2 1
Lebski 1 0
Hedge 1 1

New Town Eagles grab their first league win

Photos: (Top to Bottom) Danijel Djekanovic on the move; Well done, boys!; New Town Eagles starting XI;
Eagles' James Vernon (left) battles Olympic's Robert Lebski

Hobart Olympic will kick themselves after losing 1-0 to a last-minute goal against New Town Eagles at Clare Street today.

Olympic dominated the opening half and missed glorious chances that fell to Michael Bulis and Kostas Kanakaris.

Bulis squandered at least four good chances, none better than when he shrugged off a challenge by Chris Wass, only to shoot wide with the goal at his mercy.

The home side got back into the match in the second half and James Vernon should have put Eagles ahead in the 67th minute, but nodded Alex Leszczynski’s cross wide.

In the 90th minute, Eagles launched one last counter-attack and, when Adam McKeown slipped the ball wide to the left, substitute Alex Gordon kept his head and rolled the ball past Olympic goalkeeper Dmitri Nester and inside the far post for the winner.

Olympic brought on substitute Dipendra Kunwar with 10 minutes remaining, but it gave the speedy utility player little time to make things happen.

Two goals by Michael Anderson and one each by Adam Shackcloth and Josh Hadfield gave Eagles a 4-2 win over Olympic in the reserves, Matthew Hedge, with a penalty, and Akuel Guot replying for Olympic.

Goals by Alex Ayres and Jacob Klamp gave Eagles’ under-19s a 2-1 win over Olympic, which netted through Daniel Langdale.


FORESTRY TASMANIA PREMIER LEAGUE (As at 29 March 2009)

TEAM P W D L F A Pts
South Hobart 3 2 1 0 7 0 7
Clarence United 3 2 1 0 5 2 7
Glenorchy Knights 3 2 0 1 7 7 6
Kingborough Lions 3 1 2 0 10 7 5
Tilford Zebras 3 1 1 1 9 10 4
New Town Eagles 3 1 0 2 7 10 3
Hobart Olympic 3 0 1 2 3 5 1
University 3 0 0 3 1 8 0

[Detailed match report later.]

Sunday Results

Photos: (Top to Bottom) Chris Tsakiris clears the ball ahead of Jacob Kavanagh and Jacob Malakoff; Andrew Clark gets in a tackle on Chris Tsimiklis; Goalscorer and goal-saver...Eagles' Alex Gordon (left) and Michael Soszynski

Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League

New Town Eagles 1 (Gordon 90) b Hobart Olympic 0

Reserves

New Town Eagles 4 (Anderson 2, Shackcloth, Hadfield) b Hobart Olympic 2 (M Hedge pen, Guot)

Under-19s

New Town Eagles 2 (Ayres, Klamp) b Hobart Olympic 1 (Langdale)

Australia drop to second in Group A of Asian World Cup qualifying group

Japan beat Bahrain 1-0 last night in a World Cup qualifying match in Saitama, Japan.

The goal came from a Shunsuke Nakamura free-kick two minutes into the second period.

Nakamura plays for Celtic, of course, and is a free-kick specialist.

The win puts Japan on top of Group A with 11 points, one point ahead of second-placed Australia, who take on bottom-side Uzbekistan in Sydney next Wednesday.

Japan had three European-based players in their line-up.

North Korea moved to the top of Group B after downing the United Arab Emirates 2-0 in Pyongyang last night.

Disappointing South fail to use territorial advantage

Photo: South Hobart squad for the game aaginst Kingborough

Forestry Tasmania Premier League, South Hobart, Saturday, 28 March 2009
_______________________________________________________
South Hobart 0
Kingborough Lions United 0

HT: 0-0 Att: 100 Ref: I Jozeljic
________________________________________________________

South Hobart (4-2-3-1): Kruijver - Pennicott, Ludford, Cooper, Scott - Hickey, Downes (Di Falco 93) - Eaves, Ladic, Abbott (Wardle 76) - Ross [Substitutes not used: David, McGoldrick] [Coach: K Morton]

Kingborough Lions United (4-4-2): Voss - Palmer, D Pearce, Iseli, Wells - Schuth (Bevan 67), White, Marchioli, R Hinkley (T Pearce 81) - Greg Freeman, McDonald [Substitutes not used: Kerr, Leamey] [Coach: Geoff Freeman]
__________________________________________________________

South Hobart will rue the two lost points after this goalless draw with Kingborough Lions United.

South Hobart stayed on top of the ladder on goal-difference from Clarence United, who beat Tilford Zebras 3-1, while Kingborough dropped two places to fourth.

The home side had 24 chances, only eight of which were on target, while the visitors had just four goal attempts, three of which were on target and had to be saved by Sam Kruijver.

The fourth came after a good run by Tom McDonald, which ended with Kruijver bravely saving at his feet before the striker could shoot.

South were missing several key players. Gary Upton, the former Kingborough player, was at a wedding in Melbourne, captain Bart Beecroft and Josh Heerey were injured, while Matthew and Daniel Brown were unavailable and overseas and interstate, respectively.

In came 15-year-old Jim Pennicott at right-back and Julius Ross at striker, while David Abbott made his return from injury in midfield.

Jonathon Ladic had the first chance for South in the 6th minute when Abbott found him with a pass, but the midfielder swivelled and fell, his shot flying wide.

Five minutes later, South goalkeeper Sam Kruijver produced a superb save, getting down and clutching the ball as it threatened to elude him after McDonald had squeezed between Hugh Ludford and Pennicott.

In the 13th minute, Lions keeper Jason Voss did very well to turn Greg Downes’s shot to the far post wide for a corner.

Voss almost caused his side embarrassment in the 17th minute when he gave the ball away to Ladic, but the South midfielder blazed high over the bar.

Abbott missed a glorious chance on the half-hour when he got on to the end of a Ross cross from the right, only to head straight at a grateful Voss.

In the 38th minute, Voss managed to deal with an awkward shot from Abbott that threatened to bobble past him.

The first half ended with Kruijver turning an effort by Charles White wide for a corner.

Five minutes after the resumption came Kruijver’s save at McDonald’s feet.

In the 69th minute, Downes ran on to a pass from Ladic, after Ricky Eaves’s throw-in from the left, and advanced on goal. He beat three opponents on the way, but eventually lost control of the ball.

But, the ball rolled into Ross’s pass and he scared the life out of Voss as his curling shot just drifted wide of the far post.

In the 71st minute, a quick South counter-attack caught the Kingborough defence flat-footed and Abbott’s pass put Eaves free on the left and with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Voss was off his line in a flash, however, to narrow the angle and Marcello Marchioli saved the day by dispossessing Eaves, who hesitated and failed to get in a shot.

In the 90th minute, White’s shot was plucked out of the air by Kruijver, who dived to his left.

Downes was then injured in a tackle and required treatment for several minutes before being carried off on a stretcher.

At first, it was feared he might have broken his leg. Ambulance officers seemed to think he had not and advised him to have the injury X-rayed at a hospital on Sunday morning.

__________________________________________________________

• South Hobart coach, Ken Morton, said:

“Lots of possession, lots of territorial advantage.

“We didn’t take advantage of the wind in the first half and test Jason Voss enough, and the back-four.

“And obviously, second half again, even against the wind, we had a lot of possession, but then it became a bit scrappy and a lot of long stuff played instead of trying to go through them and around them.

“But, nil-nil. We went to win the game. They came and sat in and that’s the way football is.

“Good luck to them. They stayed organised, fought hard for each other and were good.”

• Kingborough Lions United coach, Geoff Freeman, said:

“Defensively, we were excellent today.

“We restricted them to long shots and they didn’t really manage to get in behind us.

“We created some good opportunities. We didn’t create many, but we did create some good opportunities.

“I was really pleased with the performance.

“We can play better, especially going forward, than we did today, but defensively, it was probably our best performance so far.”
_____________________________________________________________

STATISTICS

SOUTH HOBART KINGBOROUGH
24 Goal Attempts 4
8 Shots on Target 3
6 Corners 3
7 Fouls Committed 6
2 Off-Sides 1
1 (Abbott 64) Yellow Cards 2 (White 85, Marchioli 88)
0 Red Cards 0

South Hobart:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Ladic 6 0
Downes 6 4
Abbott 3 1
Ross 3 0
Pennicott 1 1
Scott 1 0
Ludford 1 0
Eaves 3 2

Kingborough Lions United:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
McDonald 1 1
White 2 1
Marchioli 1 1

South Hobart cling to top spot

Photo: (Top) Vitor Sobral of SBS Television at South Hobart preparing a show about Tasmanian soccer to screen on The World Game next Sunday
(Bottom) South Hobart players in a huddle as team-mate Greg Downes receives treatment

South Hobart clung to top spot on the Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League ladder on goal-difference despite drawing 0-0 with Kingborough Lions United at South Hobart today.

Clarence United are second after beating Tilford Zebras 3-1 at KGV Park today.

And, Glenorchy Knights are third following their 3-0 win over bottom-side University at KGV Park on Friday night.

South Hobart managed 24 scoring shots without success, while Kingborough had just four opportunities, all of which required fine saves by South keeper Sam Kruijver to deny Tom McDonald, twice, Charles White and Marcello Marchioli.

Greg Downes had a fine game in midfield for South, but the youngster was carried off on a stretcher near the end after sustaining a leg injury.

He will undergo precautionary X-rays on Sunday morning to rule out a break.

Downes, David Abbott, Ricky Eaves, and Julius Ross all went close for South, but a determined Lions outfit battled bravely for the draw.

McDonald did get the ball in the net for Kingborough, but the effort was ruled off-side.

A penalty by Luke Cripps and a goal by Ben Hamlett gave Clarence a 2-0 lead at half-time against Zebras, while Cripps finished clinically after a great run down the left by Chris Hunt to make it 3-0.

Jayden Welch pulled a goal back for the Zebras, who missed good openings that fell to Dwayne Walsh and Ben Crosswell.

The Clarence fans gave their former star striker, Dwayne Walsh, a hard time by mocking him every time he had a scoring chance and fluffed it.

University held the Knights to a goalless opening half, but only good goalkeeping by the Knights’ Ben Peter prevented Alexis Bull and Aaron Hindmarsh from scoring.

The Knights hit back through James Hope, Amadu Koroma, and Jade Clay, but good keeping by Rory McCallum and the woodwork kept them at bay.

Corey Smith put the Knights ahead in the 50th minute, clipping a shot just under the bar despite University goalkeeper McCallum getting his fingers to the ball.

Hope made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute following fine work on the left by Koroma and Will Roberts, while Tom Sherman netted the third eight minutes from the end when he headed home Josh Fielding’s cross.

Peter had to stretch to tip a Bull free-kick over the bar near the end, but the Knights had the final chance when Fielding hit the post.

Metro confirmed their status as Division One competition title favourites with a 5-2 win over Beachside at North Chigwell today.

Two goals by Scottish import Ricky Orr and one by Aaron Marney gave the home side a 3-0 lead at the break, while second-half strikes by Scottish import Colin Sweeney and Nathan Brown completed the tally.

Patrick Bigg and Colin Shepherd replied for the visitors.

Taroona easily disposed of DOSA Northern Suburbs 7-0 at home at Kelvedon Park, Marcus Atkinson netting twice and Ben Horgan, Sam Johnson, Hugo Luttmer, Toby Dove and Hamish Macgregor once each.

Nelson Eastern Suburbs downed Christian United 3-2 away at Sherburd Park in a match which saw Nelson miss a penalty and Christian have a player sent off.

Richard Flood, Luke Wallace and Andrew Gaskell netted for Nelson, while Wilson Lumago and Ash Page replied for Christian.

Wallace missed the penalty in the 55th minute, while John Manasseh was dismissed by referee Nino Mele for allegedly spitting at an opponent in the 73rd minute.

In the Reserve League, goals by Simon Burrett, Jai David and Travis Wailes gave South Hobart a 3-0 win over Kingborough Lions United, while two goals by Jayden Welch and one each by Alex Viney, Adam Young and Adrian Venettacci powered Tilford Zebras to a 5-0 win over Clarence United.

Glenorchy Knights beat University 4-1 through two goals by Shane Kent and one each by Jyeren Vienna-Hallam and Nektar Vavoulas, while Charles Cropp replied for University.

Saturday Football Results

Photos: Vitor Sobral of SBS was at South Hobart today (top) with a cameraman to film some of the action for a forthcoming SBS show

South Hobart defend a Lions corner (bottom)

Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League

South Hobart 0-0 Kingborough Lions United
Tilford Zebras 1-3 Clarence United

Reserves

South Hobart 3-0 Kingborough Lions United
Tilford Zebras 5-0 Clarence United

Under-19s

South Hobart 6-1 Kingborough Lions United
Tilford Zebras 0-2 Clarence United
Glenorchy Knights 1-6 University

Division Two

New Town Eagles 3-2 Tilford Zebras

Forestry Tasmania Northern Premier League

Burnie United 1-4 Northern Rangers
Devonport City 0-6 Prospect Knights
Riverside Olympic 7-0 Launceston United
Somerset 3-0 Ulverstone

Southern Division One

Taroona 7-0 DOSA
Metro 5-2 Beachside
Christian United 2-3 Nelson Eastern Suburbs

Glenorchy Knights move into second place on goal-difference

Forestry Tasmania Premier League, KGV Park, Friday, 27 March 2009
__________________________________________________________

Glenorchy Knights 3 (Smith 50, Hope 53, Sherman 82)
University 0

HT: 0-0 Att: 100 Ref: K Barker
___________________________________________________________

Glenorchy Knights (4-4-2): Peter - Wiggins, Grundy, Smith, Marsh (Kamba 85) - Clay, Dzelalija, Fielding, Roberts - Koroma (Sherman 71), Hope [Substitutes not used: Green, Tatnell] [Coach: E Kelly]

University (4-5-1): McCallum - Wilkinson, J Andrews, Merry, M Andrews (Opira 65) - Venettacci, Hindmarsh, Bones, Blundell (Teale 82), Burgess (Winter 55) - Bull [Substitute not used: Piesse] [Coach: S Gallacher]
___________________________________________________________

University might have embarrassed Glenorchy Knights if they had taken their chances in the first half.

The second half was a different story, with the Knights well on top and leading 2-0 after just 8 minutes.

The game was over by the time the Knights hit their third 8 minutes from the end.

Knights’ goalkeeper Ben Peter was back to his best form. He had obviously heeded the words of his coach, Eamonn Kelly, that his place was up for grabs and that Alex Tatnell was waiting in the wings.

Peter saved superbly from Alexis Bull, on two occasions, and from Aaron Hindmarsh, all in the first half, while late in the match he produced another fine save from a Bull free-kick.

His opposite number, Rory McCallum, was no slouch either. He pulled off good saves against Amadu Koroma and substitute Tom Sherman.

In the 11th minute, a great ball by Hindmarsh put Bull through on the left of the box, but his rather weak shot was still well saved by Peter.

In the 13th minute, James Hope missed a glorious chance for the Knights, heading a cross tamely straight at McCallum from 5 metres.

In the 25th minute, Koroma broke through on the left, but in a one-on-one situation, McCallum blocked the striker’s shot.

Peter pulled off a magnificent reflex save in the 29th minute when he somehow tipped Hindmarsh’s scorching close-range shot over the bar.

In the 31st minute, Josh Fielding’s excellent diagonal ball put Jade Clay away on the right and he cut inside but fired against the near post.

University were unlucky in the 38th minute when Damien Bones miscued a shot, but the ball fell to Bull, whose effort was saved by Peter with his feet.

Five minutes after the resumption, the Knights took the lead.

Corey Smith foraged forward and, after being knocked flat in a scrimmage, rose to his feet, advanced on goal and clipped a great shot in under the bar, despite McCallum getting his hands to the ball.

In the 53rd minute, it was 2-0. Koroma’s fine touch put Will Roberts through on the left and his low cross was turned home by Hope.

Midway through the half, Koroma skipped past a couple of opponents inside the box, but his shot was deflected by John Andrews for a corner.

Substitute Sherman had an effort saved by McCallum in the 76th minute, but six minutes later, he was luckier, heading home Fielding’s cross from the right to make it 3-0.

Two minutes into stoppage time, Peter did well to turn Bull’s free-kick over the bar for a corner, but the Knights were not finished.

In the 94th minute, Fielding fired against a post.

It had taken the Knights a long time to assert their superiority, but they were well worth their win in the end, which took them level on 6 points with league-leaders South Hobart.

____________________________________________________________

• Glenorchy Knights coach, Eamonn Kelly, said:

“We started off in a blaze of glory for ten or fifteen minutes, but then we just seemed to lose concentration.

“We took them in at half-time and gave them a good talking to. Fishy [Fielding] addressed them, I addressed them, and we came out and we were a different team.

“We played football. We kept the ball on the ground, we knocked it about, we moved it, we supported one another.

“A tribute to James Hope tonight. He had a great game.

“Jade Clay. There’s not many people that I can’t run through that didn’t really play a good game.

“We fall down when we start to play as individuals, trying to do too much, instead of just keeping it simple. When we play simple football, we look good.”

• University coach, Scott Gallacher, said:

“A bit of a disappointing end, I thought.

“Our fitness is a problem, obviously.

“We’re a few weeks behind everybody else. If we can get fit, which I think we will, we’ll get there.

“I thought we outplayed them in the first half. If we’d knocked a couple of goals in then, it might have been a different story.

“We just ran out of puff.

“From being a 60-minute team, we’ve become a 40-minute one.”
______________________________________________________________

STATISTICS

GLENORCHY KNIGHTS UNIVERSITY
25 Goal Attempts 9
7 Shots on Target 6
5 Corners 2
8 Fouls Committed 10
1 Off-Sides 2
0 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0

Glenorchy Knights:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Fielding 5 1
Koroma 3 1
Hope 5 2
Dzelalija 1 0
Wiggins 1 0
Clay 5 1
Smith 2 1
Marsh 1 0
Sherman 1 1
Roberts 1 0

University:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Bull 4 3
Hindmarsh 3 2
Bones 1 1
Opira 1 0

Knights beat University to draw level with South Hobart

Forestry Tasmania Premier League, Friday, 27 March 2009

Glenorchy Knights 3 (Smith 50, Hope 53, Sherman 82) b University 0
[HT: 0-0]

Reserves

Glenorchy Knights 4 (Kent 2, Vienna-Hallam, Vavoulas) b University 1 (Cropp)
[HT: 2-0]

[Detailed match report up by midnight.]

Metro and Taroona expected to win on opening day of Division One

The Division One league season begins on Saturday with three matches.

Hobart United have the bye.

___________________________________________
METRO V BEACHSIDE
____________________________________________

Saturday, 2.30pm, North Chigwell

Beachside beat Metro 2-1 in a pre-season friendly, but Metro then turned the tables and easily accounted for Beachside 4-0 in the semi-finals of the Summer Cup.

This is an important showdown, therefore, for two of the three sides expected to fight out the title, Taroona being the other.

“We got off to a flyer against Beachside in the semi final of the summer cup a couple of weeks ago, which set the game up for us,” said Metro coach, Darrin Chaffey.

“We’re well aware that this is unlikely to happen again and therefore won’t be thinking that this game is a given.

“Beachside have some experienced players in Nathan Robinson, Colin Shepherd and Bernhard Klasen, and some very good youngsters coming through also.

“I’m sure they’ll be out to make amends for that result.”

Martin Cairns, Terry Kent and Wayne Jackson have returned to training this week after extended breaks and holidays.

Youngsters Danny Cowen and Wade Hawkins have had excellent starts to the pre-season and will star in this match.

Darrin Chaffey (stress fractures of the foot) and Ricky Orr (hamstring) are unlikely to feature in this match.

Beachside will miss Klasen and Luke Atkins, who are unavailable, and Ben Davies, who has a groin injury.

Sebastian Milford, David Long, and Liam Brown will come in to the side.

“We’ve certainly got a younger more athletic team, and I think that’s important,” said Beachside coach, Nathan Robinson.

“Pace was a factor in their favour last time, so we need to counter that and we’ve got the team to do that.

“We certainly need to defend better. There’s no doubt about that.

“They were quite efficient and impressive up front in an attacking sense.

“It wasn’t just their strikers, but their midfielders as well.

“Jason Dawes and their existing players seem to have got a boost from these other guys from Scotland coming in, so they’ve lifted.

“They’re a danger. They’re favourites for the Division One title, and rightfully so.

“We think, when you’ve got guys like Colin Shepherd and Colin Wain and Kurt De Jong in an attacking sense in our team, we’re always a chance.

“We need to make sure that we defend properly and we’ll see how Metro cope with the tag of favouritism now.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge. It’ll be a good game and a good test for us.

“The weather forecast is good and the ground should be in good nick at this time of the year, so it’ll be a good run for everybody, hopefully.”

Prediction: Metro

_____________________________________________
TAROONA V DOSA
______________________________________________

Saturday, 2.30pm, Kelvedon Park

DOSA will begin its 2009 season away to Taroona.

DOSA has several new signings who will be making their debuts.

These are Daniel Chisolm, from Metro under-19s, Dave Visentin, from University, Joel Richardson, from Glenorchy Knights, and Steve Swift.

Richard Korn is unavailable as his brother is getting married.

Aaron McGurk is still out due to an ankle injury sustained during the Summer Cup.

16-year-old Zak Alumbulwa showed some promise in the summer cup and will possibly be given an opportunity to make his senior league debut. He has been named on the bench.

Taroona will field a formidable line-up, similar to the one that played in the northern Steve Hudson Cup competition.

“Darragh Carey and Llewyn Tubb will make their first senior league starts at left- and right-back respectively after their outstanding performances throughout the pre-season,” said Taroona’s assistant coach, Ben Horgan.

“They’ve both been really impressive in making the step up from under-19s last year, and they give us a lot of drive coming out from the back as they are both quick and confident on the ball and solid defensively.

Up front, Hugo Luttmer seems to have gotten over his hamstring problems, but Chris Cox is away, unfortunately, so we’ll have to change things slightly.

“Cian Carey is always dangerous in front of goal and Toby Dove has looked really sharp in training the last couple of weeks and he will worry teams with his pace and movement, so we’ve got a few options.

“We haven’t played DOSA for a few years, so I don’t know too much about them, but I expect they’ll be pretty pumped up for their return to Division One.

“We need to make sure we build on the form we showed in patches through the Steve Hudson Cup and really start to take control of games and finish teams off.

“But, overall, I’m very happy with the way our pre-season has gone and I expect a good first-up performance from our guys.”

Prediction: Taroona

______________________________________________
CHRISTIAN UNITED V NELSON EASTERN SUBURBS
_______________________________________________

Saturday, 2.30pm, Sherburd Park

Nelson Eastern Suburbs should start as favourites against last season’s Division One Knock-out Cup winners, Christian United.

Craig Stockdale comes into the Nelson line-up for his debut in the league after sitting out the Summer Cup because of cricket commitments.

Stockdale has Premier League experience with South Hobart and University and should find this league well within his capabilities.

Tom Gordon returns from a hamstring injury sustained in the opening minutes of the last Summer Cup match against Metro.

Also back after missing the Summer Cup and most of last season is striker Luke Wallace, while two members of the under-19 team, midfielder Cody Flynn and striker Andrew Gaskell, are named on the bench and will definitely come on in the second half.

“This is the strongest team we have available at the moment, with just a couple of guys out injured, and we have a fair bit of firepower up front,” said Nelson coach, Michael Roach.

“I'm also interested to see how the two guys from our under-19s go.

“They are terrific young players, and are quick and skilful.

“We're hoping for a win first up, but we won't be underestimating Christian United either.”

Prediction: Nelson Eastern Suburbs

South Hobart should extend lead at the top of Forestry Tasmania Premier League

__________________________________________
GLENORCHY KNIGHTS V UNIVERSITY
__________________________________________

KGV Park, Friday, 27 March 2009, 8.30pm

Glenorchy Knights will try and put the disappointment of last week’s loss to South Hobart behind them when they take on bottom-side University.

But, the Knights will have to put in a solid 90-minute performance against the Students, who are gradually assembling their first-choice squad.

The Knights were reasonable in the first half last weekend but fell away badly in the second.

The rather soft goal they conceded just before the interval seemed to hit them for six and they never recovered.

“Nothing of any real significance has come out of the weekend in regards to when we trained on Tuesday,” said Knights coach, Eamonn Kelly.

“Everyone is fit, but everybody was a little disappointed with our second half, but that doesn’t win games.

“I think it’ll be a very interesting game. They’re [University] getting themselves back to full strength.

“I’ll go into the game with..let me just say, it’s worrying times.

“If we perform like we performed last week, we’ll probably get the same result again.

“So, it’s up to us to make sure that that doesn’t happen.

“I’ve got every confidence in the squad of players that it won’t happen again.

“I think they’ve got the belief. Had we not played South Hobart and had we played someone else and won, it would have been hard to try and keep the lid on them.

“So, it’s a sort of Catch-22 situation, where you’ve won one and you’ve lost one.

“We’ll just soldier on this week and see what happens. We won’t be taking it lightly.”

Kelly is considering a change of goalkeeper. Ben Peter’s position is in danger from his understudy, Alex Tatnell.

The Knights signed Tatnell from Clarence and he was in the State under-21 squad which played the four games against A-League youth teams.

“I don’t think you can possibly be happy with the keeper when you look back on the Summer Cup performance and what we’ve done in two league games and, you know, the amount of goals the goalkeeper has cost us,” Kelly said.

“Maybe that’s one of the things we’ll address. It all depends on our final training session, and on how people perform.

“If his [Tatnell] opportunity should arise this weekend, I’m sure he’ll grasp it with both hands.

“There’s probably two or three people who should be sitting on tenterhooks until after our last training session.”

University have some very experienced players in their squad and will make the Knights work hard for the points.

Nigel Blundell, Damien Bones, Brook Teale, Julian Proud and John Merry have many games under their belts and would probably earn a place in the Knights side.

Aaron Hindmarsh and Andrew Wilson are fast and versatile and will keep the Knights' rearguard on its toes.

Current Standings:

5. Glenorchy Knights P 2 W 1 D 0 L 1 F 4 A 7 Pts 3
8. University P 2 W 0 D 0 L 2 F 1 A 5 Pts 0

Likely squads:

Glenorchy Knights: Peter, Tatnell, Smith, Dzelalija, Grundy, Kamba, Fielding, Roberts, Koroma, Sherman, Hope, Wiggins, Vavoulas, Clay, Paite

University: McCallum, Piesse, Bones, Merry, Bull, O Venettacci, Proud, A Wilson, Wilkinson, Opira, Besley, Blundell, Teale, Andrews, Madden, Hindmarsh

Prediction: Glenorchy Knights

___________________________________________
SOUTH HOBART V KINGBOROUGH LIONS UNITED
___________________________________________

South Hobart, Saturday, 28 March 2009, 2.30pm

South Hobart can extend their lead at the top of the Forestry Tasmania Premier League by beating second-placed Kingborough Lions United.

South Hobart will still be without captain and midfielder Bart Beecroft, who is recovering from nose surgery.

Defender David Cooper is doubtful because of an ankle injury, while Josh Heerey is also doubtful with the same type of complaint.

Gary Upton is unavailable against his former club because he has a wedding to attend, while Daniel Brown will also be away.

“Ned Clarke, Nick Di Falco and Jim Pennicott could be on the bench," said South Hobart coach, Ken Morton. "Pennicott might play if Cooper is not right.

“The only other change we’ll make is if David Abbott comes through fit and then he’ll make the forward-line selection. He looks pretty lethal, but if he’s not right, I cannot play him.

“I’ve got Olympic and Zebras to come and, if I can get him up for those two games, it’s better than losing him again now when he’s not fully right.

“He’s been doing his bit, but he’s kept coming back because he feels all right. We’ll give him a proper test, where he has to do squats and leaps. That’ll test him. If there’s no reaction, then he’ll be right to take his place.

“We’re in a good vein of football at the moment.

“We played a training game on Tuesday night and the team was, because of Cooper being out, Jimmy Pennicott, Ned Clark, Hugh Ludford and Liam Scott, Gary Upton and Greg Downes, and again [Ricky] Eaves, [Jonathon] Ladic and [Shae] Hickey, with [Julius] Ross up front.

“It was devastating. It was different class. But, it’s all right saying that because it was a training run.

“Now we’ve got to transfer everything into game situations.

“I saw Kingborough play Eagles and I thought the game was very much even in the first half and then Brett Andrews got a great goal from a flicked header from a good set-piece, a corner.

“And, the same with the second goal. A good reverse pass to the back post and Charlie White ghosted in and scored with a good header.

“But, there were only set-plays in it in the first half. In the second half, I thought they [Kingborough] opened up and started to get in behind them [Eagles] easily.

“The bottom line is we’ve scored seven goals and conceded none and created a lot more in the two games that we’ve played and dominated the game.

“We have to have a confidence and a belief in ourselves, but a total respect for Kingborough.

“I think we’ll do that. We’ve trained well, we’ve got a good spirit, but that spirit has got to go over into the game.

“We see weaknesses there that we should attack and exploit them[weaknesses].”

Kingborough will be without midfielder Brett Andrews, who damaged a knee in a tackle against Eagles and had to be substituted.

He has been examined and no structural damage to the knee has been sustained. The knee is still bruised and Andrews will be rested.

Midfielder Ross Hinkley has asthma but may be fit in time to play.

Kingborough coach, Geoff Freeman, said: “I’m not sure who’s going to come in.

“South are a good side, so it’ll be a tough game.

“We’ve got away to as good a start as we could have hoped for, but this will be big test this week.

“Having said that, they’ve got the pressure on them.

“We’re not expected to win.

“I’m not saying we’re going in not confident, but they’re certainly expected to beat us, so any result we can get will be pleasing.”

Current standings:

1. South Hobart P 2 W 2 D 0 L 0 F 7 A 0 Pts 6
2. Kingborough Lions P 2 W 1 D 1 L 0 F 10 A 7 Pts 4

Likely squads:

South Hobart: Kruijver, Pennicott, Ludford, Scott, Hickey, Ladic, Downes, Ross, Clark, Di Falco, Bladel

Kingborough Lions United: Voss, Leamey, Iseli, White, Schuth, McDonald, Marchioli, D Pearce, T Pearce, Palmer, Wells, Freeman, Bevan, Bremner, R Hinkley

Prediction: South Hobart

____________________________________________
TILFORD ZEBRAS V CLARENCE UNITED
____________________________________________

KGV Park, Saturday, 28 March 2009, 4pm

Tilford Zebras welcome back striker Ben Crosswell from suspension. He served one week and had the other two weeks suspended on appeal.

But, Ricky Self is unavailable and coach Nick Lapolla will be in Melbourne. Romeo Frediani will be in charge in Lapolla’s absence.

This is a replay of the Summer Cup final, which Zebras won 4-3.

The start at 4pm is a little inconvenient for those supporters and the media who would have liked to have watched the South Hobart versus Kingborough game at South Hobart first and then this one afterwards.

With the South Hobart match finishing at about 4.15pm, one would expect to miss the first half of the Zebras versus Clarence game. Last week, Zebras played Olympic at 6pm, which enabled people to get there after watching Kingborough versus Eagles at Lightwood Park.

I believe this game had originally been scheduled as Clarence’s home game at Wentworth Park, but the lights will not be ready until after Easter, so it was switched to KGV Park.

“I think last week we played better overall in patches,” said Zebras coach, Nick Lapolla.

“Obviously, there’s a few little defensive things we’ve got to sort out, which we’ve been doing.

“But, overall, young Brayden Pace in the middle did all right last week, and up front, Walshie ran his butt off last week.

“If they continue doing that this week, we’ll be okay. I think we’ve learned from the final what to expect. I think, overall, we’ve probably tightened up a bit, even though we’ve let a few goals in.”

Clarence United skipper and striker Luke Cripps trained this week and may return after a hamstring strain.

Julian McMahon has been away working in Queensland all week, but should be back on Friday evening in time for the Saturday game.

“No other changes are contemplated as all players are fit and well,” said coach Andrew Brown.

Current standings:

3. Tilford Zebras P 2 W 1 D 1 L 0 F 8 A 7 Pts 4
4. Clarence United P 2 W 1 D 1 L 0 F 2 A 1 Pts 4

Likely squads:

Tilford Zebras: Kaden, Pace, Fagg, Smith, Connolly, Telega, F Lapolla, D Lapolla, K Engels, Thorpe, Crosswell, Brazendale, Walsh, Hall, Welch

Clarence United: Moschogianis, Cannamela, Ling, Parker, J Huigsloot, Hoppitt, Chapman, McMahon, Hunt, Hamlett, Barron, Toghill, Lewis, Sparks

Prediction: Tilford Zebras

______________________________________________
NEW TOWN EAGLES V HOBART OLYMPIC
______________________________________________

Clare Street, Sunday, 29 March 2009, 2.30pm

Eagles have signed ‘have-gloves-will-travel’ goalkeeper Michael Soszynski because the club’s first- and second-choice keepers are injured.

Cormac Collins is unavailable for Eagles, but Jacob Kavanagh and Ben Whitehall return.

Olympic have doubts about Chris Tsimiklis and Hugh Richardson, who both have the flu.

Eagles coach, George Krambousanos, said: “Without being rude, we’re the only team that beat them in the Summer Cup.

“It’s been a long time since they’ve beaten me.

“If we start to work the way we should be working on the park, we should be okay, I think.

“Olympic are an exciting team. They’re very good, but they seem to find us hard no matter when or what.

“At the moment, I don’t think our ground gives us much of an advantage.

‘The ground is looking good, although the cricket pitch in the middle is hard.

“We’ve only had one training session on it and so haven’t really done anything, but we will have a training session on Saturday when we can use the ground and become aware of it.

“Really and truly, we haven’t had a good, good session on it, so at the moment, I don’t think it’s an advantage.”

Hobart Olympic coach, Farrel Shaw, said: “After last week’s game, I’m hoping for a better performance.

“We’re up against an Eagles side that has been our bogey side the last few times we’ve played them.

“They seem to lift their game against us.”

Olympic might do well to start Dipendra Kunwar in attack with Michael Bulis.

Kunwar is very fast and fearless and he could cause terror in the Eagles rearguard.

Current standings:

6. Hobart Olympic P 2 W 0 D 1 L 1 F 3 A 4 Pts 1
7. New Town Eagles P 2 W 0 D 0 L 2 F 6 A 10 Pts 0

Likely squads:

New Town Eagles: Soszynski, Minty, Clark, Wass, Leszczynski, McKeown, Malakoff, Westland, Vernon, Rybak, Page, Gordon, Ferrall, Grabek, Anderson

Hobart Olympic: Nester, Plomaritis, Lebski, Tsimiklis, P Tsakiris, C Tsakiris, Y Mohamad, K Kanakaris, Larzabal, Mason, Guot, Bulis, A Hedge, Kunwar, Richardson

Prediction: Hobart Olympic

South Hobart beat Knights to go top of the ladder

Photo: Knights defend a corner against South

Forestry Tasmania Premier League, South Hobart, Sunday, 22 March 2009
________________________________________________________

South Hobart 4 (Ludford 41, Ladic 66, Downes 71, 79)
Glenorchy Knights 0

HT: 1-0 Att: 140 Ref: S Collins
_________________________________________________________

South Hobart (4-4-2): Kruijver - Cooper (Pennicott 29), Ludford, D Brown, Scott - Downes, Upton (Bladel 80), Ladic, Hickey - Ross (Wardle 72), Eaves [Substitute not used: Moncur] [Coach: K Morton]

Glenorchy Knights (3-5-2): Peter - Wiggins, Grundy, Smith (Vavoulas 67) - Koroma, Fielding, Kamba (Clay 56), Dzelalija (Paite 70), Roberts - Hope, Sherman [Substitute not used: Tatnell] [Coach: E Kelly]
___________________________________________________________

Glenorchy Knights had no answers to counter a resolute South Hobart in this top-of-the-table clash.

Knights left Jade Clay on the bench until the second half and they played Amadu Koroma wide on the right, where he was often left isolated.

Cosmos Paite also started on the bench and did not make an appearance until the 70-minute mark.

The Knights did not have a shot on target in the first half, while in the second, they had two chances, one of which fell to William Roberts but was turned over for a corner by Sam Kruijver.

The Knights also tried to mix it physically with South and came off second best, although South were lucky late in the match to finish with eleven players after a scuffle in the Knights penalty area saw a Knights player wrestled to the ground.

South introduced 16-year-old Jim Pennicott and 15-year-old Hugo Bladel as substitutes and both youngsters did reasonably well against much more experienced opponents.

South are far from full-strength, but with newcomers like these two making their way through, the future looks bright.

It was ironic that two former Knights players were at the heart of South’s victory.

Shae Hicky had an excellent game in midfield, while Jonathon Ladic scored South’s second goal direct from a free-kick to effectively end the game as a contest.

Youngster Greg Downes was also in fine form. He scored two goals and went close on several other occasions.

He even had the confidence to attempt an audacious first-time volley from a cross from the right in the second half. This time, he screwed the ball up and over the bar, but the time will surely come when he hits those into the back of the net like a rocket.

South went close as early as the 12th minute when Downes put Ricky Eaves through, but the striker shot over the bar.

On the half-hour, Knights had a chance but settled for a corner when Liam Scott’s attempted clearance was blocked by James Hope.

A minute later, Hickey almost embarrassed Knights goalkeeper Ben Peter, who had fluffed a clearance, but the Knights got away with it.

In the 37th minute, Hope’s cross from the right found Koroma, but he was slow in controlling the ball at the far post and Kruijver was able to smother the ball.

Four minutes before the interval, a corner from the right by Ladic found Hugh Ludford unmarked on the edge of the box. The centre-back swivelled and drove home a low right-footed shot that lacked pace, but found its way into the net through a crowded goal-mouth to give South the lead.

South had one more chance before the break, but Scott shot straight at the goalkeeper.

Five minutes after the break, the Knights had their best chance of the game when Pennicott gave away possession to Roberts, following Mynonge Kamba’s diagonal pass to the left, but Kruijver was up to it and tipped a fierce drive over the bar for a corner.

In the 54th minute, Kamba inadvertently headed the ball straight into the path of Downes, but he headed wide and let Knights off the hook.

In the 61st minute, Koroma’s back-pass was a little too soft and Peter lost possession to Hickey, who clipped the top of the crossbar with his shot from a difficult angle.

Five minutes later, Ladic made it 2-0 with a free-kick from just outside the left corner of the box, the ball going over the wall and beyond the diving Peter and into the far corner of the net.

In the 71st minute, it was 3-0 as Eaves’s long throw-in from the right was flicked on by Hickey and Downes headed home.

South’s fourth, in the 79th minute, was started by Hickey’s clever ball with the outside of his foot down the line on the right for Upton, whose chip over Peter came back into play off the far post. The on-rushing Downes made no mistake with his controlled and accurate shot.

Downes might have completed his hat-trick five minutes from the end when Hickey fed Nathan Wardle on the right. Peter got to the cross but could only punch it to Downes, who hit the post with his shot.

Knights went close in the 92nd minute when Josh Fielding shot just wide of the left-hand upright, but South had the last say when Ladic crossed from the right, only to see Downes put his attempt over the bar.

The win leaves South alone at the top of the ladder after two rounds and with no goals conceded and seven in the bag.

____________________________________________________________

• South Hobart coach, Ken Morton, said:

“It was a good win. The first 20 minutes were physical. They obviously came and did some man marking jobs and applied a lot of pressure on us.

“But, once we started to get the ball down and played around them a little bit, the spaces started to come and, obviously, in the second half, the chances started to come as well.

“We were solid at the back. I mean, maybe they’ve had two chances in 90 minutes, and we’ve had a few.

“Some good finishing by young Downes, great free-kick from Johnny Ladic, we’ve got to be happy with that.

“You know, four nil against the Knights, who’ll be there or thereabouts come the end of the year.”

• Glenorchy Knights coach, Eamonn Kelly, said:

“I think it was a good game of football spoiled by three officials.

“But, apart from that, yeah, we got what we deserved.

“The first half I thought we were in it, but the goal just before half-time sort of broke our back.

“We never recovered after that.

“But, we played some good football in the first half. We took it to them and I thought we were in with a sniff, but the silly goal we gave away at the wrong time and it cost us dearly.

“I still don’t think that we played that bad that we should have lost four nil, but that’s football, and we did.”

_______________________________________________________________

STATISTICS

SOUTH HOBART GLENORCHY KNIGHTS
15 Goal Attempts 8
8 Shots on Target 2
6 Corners 3
12 Fouls Committed 12
1 Off-Sides 2
4 (D Brown 6, Upton 81, Bladel 81, Hickey 87) Yellow Cards 3 (Smith 58, Dzelelija 54, Grundy 68)
0 Red Cards 0
South Hobart:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Eaves 1 0
Hickey 2 1
Downes 7 4
Ludford 1 1
Scott 1 1
Ross 1 0
Wardle 1 0
Upton 1 1

Glenorchy Knights:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Fielding 3 0
Hope 1 0
Roberts 2 1
Sherman 1 1
Koroma 1 0

Zebras just squeeze home against Olympic

Photo: Hobart Olympic (v Tilford Zebras)

Forestry Tasmania Premier League, KGV Park, Saturday, 21 March 2009
____________________________________________________

Hobart Olympic 3 (Kanakaris 26, Bulis 46, Kunwar 87)
Tilford Zebras 4 (Walsh 46, 48, Brazendale 59, F Lapolla 61)

HT: 1-2 Att: 140 Ref: I Colhoun
_____________________________________________________

Hobart Olympic (4-4-2): Nester - Mohamad, Richardson, P Tsakiris, Tsimiklis - Lebski (Kunwar 80), Mason (Guot 66), C Tsakiris, Kanakaris - Bulis, Larzabal (A Hedge 62) [Substitute not used: Plomaritis] [Coach: F Shaw]

Tilford Zebras (3-5-2): Kaden - Telega, Smith, Connolly - Self (Hall 90), Fagg, Pace, F Lapolla (Engels 80), Brazendale - Walsh, Thorpe (Welch 84) [Coach: N Lapolla]
_______________________________________________________

This was one of the traditional derbies in Tasmanian football and playing it at 6pm on a perfect evening was certainly a good idea.

After the initial skirmishes in which no side looked superior, a terrible defensive error gave Olympic the lead in the 26th minute.

Chris Tsakiris crossed from the right and confusion between Henry Fagg and Troy Kaden left Kostas Kanakaris to stab the ball home.

It was not until stoppage time at the end of the first half that Zebras scored twice to lead 2-1 at the break.

In the 46th minute, Aaron Brazendale’s corner from the right was nodded down by Ryan Smith for Dwayne Walsh to head home.

And then, in the 48th minute, Smith and Brayden Pace both hit the woodwork following a corner and Walsh was third time lucky from close range, smashing the ball into the roof of the net.

Olympic were level within a minute of the re-start as Kaden could only palm a left-wing cross wide to Robert Lebski, who controlled the ball and slipped it inside for Michael Bulis to hammer home.

Brazendale’s speed in a diagonal run in the 59th minute enabled him to latch on to Josh Thorpe’s pass before the Olympic defenders could react and he swept the ball over the advancing Dmitri Nester and into an empty net to give Zebras a 3-2 lead.

Two minutes later it was 4-2 as Pace had his shot blocked and the ball fell to Fabian Lapolla, who skipped past a defender on the edge of the box to make himself a shooting angle and fired home past Nester.

Kaden was at his best in the 79th minute, saving brilliantly from Bulis’s header after a deep cross from the right by Youssef Mohamad.

Four minutes later, Kaden was at it again, denying Akuel Guot, whose fierce header from Kanakaris’s left-wing cross, seemed a certain goal.

A fracas then broke out in the Zebras’ box and Kanakaris and Tsimiklis were very fortunate not to be sent off. Brazendale went down, but Mr Colhoun saw nothing. He consulted both his assistants, but no action ensued.

Three minutes from the end, Bulis played a marvellous through-ball for the speedy Kunwar to race on to and he beat the advancing Kaden to stick the ball in the net and make it one goal the difference.

Zebras were still dangerous, however, and in the 4th minute of stoppage time, Walsh almost scored, but his shot flew just wide of the far post.

_________________________________________________________

• Hobart Olympic coach, Farrell Shaw, said:

“Technically, it wasn’t the best game for both teams.

“A lot of passion.

“Their late two goals in the first half are basically what killed the game off, but we came back at them and tried our best.

“Some good inclusions. Young Dipendra [Kunwar] came on and showed a bit of speed, which he’s got, and a nice finish. Good to see.

“There was a lot of passion, but maybe it was the wrong choice of ref. Things were going on for too long and then he tried to stop them and he couldn’t stop them.

“There was gamesmanship going on and both teams were doing it. I’m not saying against us. It was both teams.

“Perhaps a senior referee might have calmed things down a bit earlier on.”

• Tilford Zebras coach, Nick Lapolla, said:

“It was a game we had to win.

“Full credit to the boys for their determination and the way they stuck it out.

“We spoke about a lot of things during the week about self belief and getting back to winning ways.

“Yeah, I’m proud of the boys.

“They did what they had to do and really got stuck in.”

___________________________________________________________

STATISTICS

HOBART OLYMPIC TILFORD ZEBRAS
10 Goal Attempts 13
5 Shots on Target 8
3 Corners 7
11 Fouls Committed 19
6 Off-Sides 2
2 (Mohamad 55, Hedge 90) Yellow Cards 1 (Pace 71)
0 Red Cards 0

Hobart Olympic:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Tsimiklis 1 0
Bulis 2 2
Kanakaris 3 2
C Tsakiris 1 0
Larzabal 1 0
Kunwar 1 1
Mason 1 0

Tilford Zebras:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Walsh 4 2
Brazendale 4 3
Self 1 0
Telega 1 1
Thorpe 2 1
Smith 1 1