Tilford Zebras aim for eighth straight victory

Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League soccer leaders Tilford Zebras should make it eight wins in a row when they take on sixth-placed New Town Eagles away at Clare Street on Saturday at 2.30pm.

A victory could even extend Zebras’ lead at the top to 8 points, with half the league season gone.

Zebras may be without striker Ben Crosswell because of work commitments, but they should still have too much firepower for an Eagles side that will be missing the suspended Alex Leszczynski and the unavailable Jacob Malakoff.

Crosswell is trying to change his shift so that he can play.

Zebras goalkeeper Troy Kaden and defender Henry Fagg have been dropped for 'disciplinary reasons', according to coach Nick Lapolla, which means Frank Mainella takes over in goal.

The 'disciplinary reasons' turn out to be a 21st birthday party in Melbourne which they will be attending.

Eagles’ coach, George Krambousanos, is away in Melbourne for family reasons and Peter Wass will be in charge of the team.

Second-placed Glenorchy Knights entertain fifth-ranked Clarence United at KGV Park on Friday at 8pm and the Knights will be going for their fourth consecutive league win, and fifth win in a row overall.

James Hope may be fit to return for the Knights, but Clarence have several injury concerns, including goalkeeper Michael Moschogianis, defender Mattias Toghill, and strikers Andy Barron and Chris Hunt.

Ben Hamlett is unavailable and Toby Ling is injured, so there is a chance that Adam Knapek, Ben Phillips and David Hoppitt will get a run.

Knights coach, Eamonn Kelly, is aware that Clarence’s Luke Cripps scored his third hat-trick of the season last weekend, but he is adamant that Cripps will not be assigned a marker.

Third-placed and reigning champions South Hobart host second-last Hobart Olympic at South Hobart on Saturday at 2.30pm and will be seeking to end a run of three league losses and one cup defeat in succession.

South’s Liam Scott, Ricki Eaves and Daniel Brown missed training during the week because of injury.

It has almost become a cliché that South dominate possession but do not turn this into goals, but that is the stark fact facing coach Ken Morton and he must find a solution if South are to return to winning ways.

Morton is wary of an Olympic side that he says is starting to bounce back and whose fighting spirit is exemplified by striker Michael Bulis.

Olympic did not play well against Eagles last weekend but still won with clinical counter-attacks, and this scenario is exactly the one that has undone South Hobart in their past four games.

Bottom-side University entertain fourth-placed Kingborough Lions United at Olinda Grove at 2.30pm on Saturday and the Students face a difficult task with two key players missing.

Jonathon Merry and Julian Proud are injured, but Alexis Bull may have recovered from illness and may be ready to resume.

Nigel Blundell has returned from the USA, while Damien Bones and Oliver Venettacci have recovered from injury but must pass fitness tests before being considered.

“We feel that we are happy to be playing Kingborough Lions at home this week as they are one of the toughest teams to beat at their home ground, and their result last week against South Hobart is evidence of this,” said University’s president, Julian Proud.

Kingborough’s Damian Pearce and Charles White are doubtful after suffering knocks last weekend and will be replaced, if necessary, by Trent Pearce and Andrew Kerr.

“This is a dangerous game against University and we need more consistency in our play,” said Lions coach, Geoff Freeman.