Zebras sneak home to collect three points against the Lions

Photos (Top to Bottom): Zebras give the ball away in midfield; Twenty players squeeze into a narrow strip in midfield at a goal-kick; Kingborough's Tom McDonald is foiled in front of goal; Kingborough's Trent Pearce misses a chance; Kingborough's Marc Iseli heads over the bar from a corner; Kingborough's Trent Pearce is denied a goal; Zebras keeper Troy Kaden catches a corner; Kingborough's Marcello Marcioli wins the ball in midfield; Zebras' Ben Crosswell is thwarted inside the box; Zebras' Jayden Welch flashes the ball across the face of goal; Zebras' Ben Crosswell runs away after scoring, followed by happy team-mates Ricky Self, Kurt Engels and Fabian Lapolla

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TILFORD ZEBRAS 3-2 KINGBOROUGH LIONS UNITED
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This was not a game worthy of teams in the top four of the Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League.

Tilford Zebras did not look like league leaders, while Kingborough had no goalkeeping problems this time but fell down badly in attack.

Both sides squandered golden opportunities and that is why the match did not end up as the type of goal feast that has characterised the meetings between these sides in the league this season.

Still, five goals is a mini-feast, I suppose. But, there should have been many more.

Kingborough will be ruing their missed chances in the first half against a Zebras defence that was poor.

Time and again, Charles White, Tom McDonald and Trent Pearce were presented with fine openings but failed to capitalise.

Troy Kaden and Henry Fagg frequently saved the day through sheer good fortune rather than design and it looked very much like a comedy of errors.

I have often praised the talents of Kurt Engels and Jayden Walsh, the two Zebras wingmen. But, they both had poor games and could be feeling the pressure in the top flight now that Aaron Brazendale has left for overseas.

After missing several early chances, Kingborough hit the front in the 11th minute when White cut the ball back across the face of goal from the byline on the left and Trent Pearce was untroubled in side-footing home.

Ben Crosswell, who had earlier hit a post, equalised in the 20th minute with a fine curling shot from wide on the right, the ball lodging just inside David Leamey’s far right-hand post.

Fabian Lapolla also went close with a low drive that flashed just wide of the same post.

Crosswell put Zebras in front in the 54th minute when he was left unmarked beyond the far post at a corner from the right and looped a header back across goal and into the net.

A delightful pass by substitute Matt Hall in the 71st minute put Dwayne Walsh through the Lions’ defence and he finished clinically to make it 3-1.

White should have scored for the Lions in the 77th minute when he was unmarked close to goal, but he mis-timed his header badly from Michael Wells’s left-wing cross and put the ball high over the bar.

Marc Iseli did pull a goal back in the 89th minute with a header from a corner, but the Lions had used their extra lives by that stage and could not claw their way back.

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• Tilford Zebras coach, Nick Lapolla, said:

“In the end, it was three points. It’s as simple as that.

“Three points, and we’ve just got to keep winning.

“I was a ‘dirty’ win. We played good in patches, we played bad in patches, but it was three points.”

• Kingborough Lions United coach, Geoff Freeman, said:

“I was happy with the way we played in the first half, except for our finishing.

“We should have been probably 4-2 up at half-time.

“In the second half, we didn’t play with the same intensity and they came at us and probably deserved to be in front.

“But, late on, we battled and probably did enough maybe to have snuck a point.

“Disappointed with our finishing today. We created enough opportunities, and clear-cut opportunities, but we just didn’t take them and they took theirs.”

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Tilford Zebras: Kaden - Fagg, Telega, Smith, Pace - K Engels, Self, F Lapolla (Hall 67), Welch - Walsh, Crosswell (Substitutes not used: Connolly, Mainella)

Goals: Crosswell 20, 54, Walsh 71

Kingborough Lions United: Leamey - Palmer, Iseli, D Pearce, Wells - T Pearce (Bremner 85), Andrews, Marchioli, Hinkley (Bevan 63) - McDonald, White (Substitutes not used: McConnon, Voss)

Booked: Andrews 65

Goals: T Pearce 11, Iseli 89

Att: 90

Ref: P Galloway

Tasmanian Institute of Sport's Williams on fire for Australia

Tasmanian Jessie Williams has been having a marvellous tournament for the Australian under-14 women’s football team at the Asian Football Confederation tournament in Vietnam.

Williams, a member of the Tasmanian Institute of Sport women’s football team, has been a key player in Australia’s success.

She scored Australia’s goal in the 1-1 draw with China and also a goal in the 2-1 win over Guam.

Williams then hit five goals in Australia’s 9-0 win over Singapore on Monday.

Australia has also beaten Thailand 2-0 at the tournament being held in Ho Chi Minh City.

Knights and Eagles share the spoils

Photos (Top to Bottom): Eagles' coach, George Krambousanos, delivers the match balls; Knights' keeper, Alex Tatnell, takes a high cross; Eagles' Jacob Malakoff gets in a shot; Eagles' Alex Leszczynski heads clear; Eagles' Alex Gordon tangles with Knights' Jade Clay; Eagles' Adam McKeown shoots before Brodie Green can intercept; Knights' Alex Holmes clears from McKeown; Knights' scorer, Alex Holmes
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GLENORCHY KNIGHTS 1-1 NEW TOWN EAGLES
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Glenorchy Knights threw away the chance to go to the top of the Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League standings when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home at KGV Park by second-last New Town Eagles.

Eagles should have led in the first 5 minutes, but poor finishing through a packed goalmouth cost them dearly.

Cormac Collins, who started the match not fully fit limped off after just 18 minutes and was replaced by Jamie Vernon, who went on to have an eventful game. He was cautioned and also missed three good scoring chances.

Eagles took the lead in the 38th minute from a move they had rehearsed in the gymnasium during the week.

Alex Leszczynski took a short corner to Shane Kent, who found Jacob Malakoff on the corner of the box. Malakoff turned sharply and scored with a low drive inside Alex Tatnell’s near post.

It was not until the 75th minute that central defender Alex Holmes equalised. He pushed forward at a corner and, when Jade Clay floated the ball into the box, Holmes rose to head powerfully past Michael Soszynski.

Holmes did a lot of attacking in this game and was virtually playing like a libero. He was able to do so because 19-year-old Brodie Green, his partner in central defence, was able to hold the fort with a powerful and intelligent display.

Eagles’ Nick Ferrall did a wonderful job marking Amadu Koroma, who had few chances.

Soszynski came into his own in the closing stages of the game. In the 79th minute, he saved well from Clay, whose nippy foray got him into a shooting position.

In the 82nd minute, Soszynski again did well to deny Jackson Marsh after a corner.

With 6 minutes remaining, Soszynski earned his keep when he blocked at Koroma’s feet after the striker for once eluded Ferrall after a precision pass from Josh Fielding had released him.

The point lifted Eagles to third-last and Clarence United, who lost 3-1 at home to Hobart Olympic at Wentworth Park that evening, are now in second-last place.

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• Glenorchy Knights coach, Eamonn Kelly, said:

“It wasn’t a good game by any stretch of the imagination.

“I don’t know what it was like to watch. It was bad enough watching from down there [the bench].

“It was scrappy from both sides.

“I thought it was a fair result in the end. I don’t think either side deserved really to win.

“But, nobody deserved to lose, if that makes sense.

“There weren’t too many chances throughout the whole match.

“I suppose it’s two points dropped, but it’s better than dropping three.”

• New Town Eagles coach, George Krambousanos, said:

“We came here to win the game, but once again, we had a few lads who were injured.

“As you saw, Cormac Collins came off. It was better to start him and, if he was injured, he could come off and that gives us a better chance to get on with the game.

“I honestly thought we should have won the game.

“Maybe we should have had two penalties - at least one - but I just spoke to the referee and he explained his situation and I’ll go with that.

“I’m very proud of the boys. I am a bit upset that Mr Kelly didn’t walk towards me for a handshake, but, it doesn’t matter. That’s the way things go.”

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Glenorchy Knights: Tatnell - Marsh, Green, Holmes, Vavoulas (Paite 63) - Clay, Fielding, Hope, Sherman [Lawler 53 (Roberts 94)] - Smith, Koroma (Substitute not used: Peter)

Booked: Marsh

Goals: Holmes 75

New Town Eagles: Soszynski - Page, Wass, Ferrall, Clark - Malakoff, Kent, Gordon, Leszczynski - Collins (Vernon 18), McKeown (Substitutes not used: Shackcloth, Quan, Minty)

Booked: McKeown, Vernon

Goals: Malakoff 38

Att: 80

Ref: I Jozeljic

Zebras extend lead at top to 4 points

Photos (Top to Bottom): Match officials (L-R) Nino Mele, Patrick Galloway and Simon Natoli; Kingborough's Tom McDonald shoots into the side-netting; Zebras' Andrew Telega in hot pursuit of Charles White; Kingborough's Marcello Marchioli wins the ball in midfield; Kingborough's Trent Pearce (left) after scoring; Zebras' Fabian Lapolla shoots; Zebras' scorer Ben Crosswell with Charles White hot on his heels

Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League leaders Tilford Zebras were very lucky to beat fourth-placed Kingborough Lions United 3-2 at KGV Park today and extend their lead at the top to 4 points over second-placed Glenorchy Knights.

Kingborough squandered at least four excellent chances in the first half, while in stoppage time at the end of the second half, a goal-bound shot by Damien Pearce was blocked in the six-yard box by team-mate Charles White, the ball rebounding into the arms of a grateful Zebras keeper, Troy Kaden.

Zebras also had their chances, with Ben Crosswell hitting a post in the first half, Fabio Lapolla shooting just wide, and Kingborough goalkeeper David Leamey saving bravely at the feet of Kurt Engles, who had been put through by a splendid pass from Ricky Self.

Trent Pearce gave Kingborough the lead in the 11th minute, side-footing home White’s cut-back from the byline on the left.

Poor defending by Zebras gave Trent Pearce three other glorious chances, but he was either off target or allowed a defender to clear.

Crosswell equalised in the 20th minute with a marvellous left-foot strike from 25 metres on the right, the ball curling beyond Leamey and inside the far post.

Nine minutes into the second half, Crosswell made it 2-1 for the home side when he was left unmarked beyond the far post and headed home a corner from the right.

A superb through-ball by substitute Matt Hall enabled Dwayne Walsh to make it 3-1 for Zebras in the 71st minute with an excellent finish.

White missed a simple header from close range from Michael Wells’s left-wing cross in the77th minute as Kingborough continued to exploit the suspect Zebras defence.

A minute from the end, Marc Iseli headed home a corner to make it 3-2, but Zebras survived another late scare to collect the three points.

If Zebras continue to play like they did in this game, they could be in trouble against reigning champions and third-placed South Hobart at KGV Park on Wednesday.

In the reserves, goals by Iwao Shimizu, Thomas Kowaluk and Alex Beaumont gave Kingborough a 3-2 win over Zebras, who replied through Michael Connolly and Tommy Fotak.

Sunday results

Photos (Top to Bottom): Referee Patrick Galloway tosses the coin; Zebras keeper Troy Kaden catches a corner; Kingborough's Marc Iseli heads over the bar; Henry Fagg saves the day for Zebras

Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League

Tilford Zebras 3 (Crosswell 20, 54, Walsh 71) b Kingborough Lions United 2 (T Pearce 11, Iseli 89)

Reserves

Tilford Zebras 2 (Connolly, Fotak) lt Kingborough Lions United 3 (Shimizu, Kowaluk, Beaumont)

Clarence drop to second-last on Premier League ladder

Photos (Top to Bottom): Eagles' Jacob Malakoff about to shoot; Knights' Jackson Marsh about to tackle Eagles' Shane Kent; Jacob Malakoff gives Eagles the lead; Eagles' Jamie Vernon gets away from Jade Clay; Knights' Alex Holmes clears ahead of Eagles' Alex Gordon; Eagles' Alex Gordon about to take on Knights' Nektar Vavoulas;

Glenorchy Knights missed the opportunity to go to the top of the Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League ladder when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home at KGV Park by second-last New Town Eagles today.

Hobart Olympic moved up a place to fifth by beating Clarence United 3-1 away at Wentworth Park tonight.

Eagles gave a good account of themselves and should have led in the first five minutes, but they could not finish from inside the box against a packed Knights defence.

Cormac Collins, one of Eagles’ most potent attackers, limped off after a quarter of an hour and was replaced By Jamie Vernon, who went on to have at least three good scoring chances without finding the net.

Eagles hit the front in the 38th minute following a short corner by Alex Leszczynski, who played the ball to Shane Kent.

Kent knocked the ball into the edge of the box, where Jacob Malakoff scored after a lightning-fast turn that wrong-footed the Knights defence.

In the second half, Knights had the ball in the net after an error by goalkeeper Michael Soszynski, but the effort was ruled off-side, much to the relief of the keeper.

Alex Holmes, who, together with Brodie Green, was formidable in the centre of the Knights defence, headed the equaliser in the 75th minute from Jade Clay’s corner.

Eagles were denied a late penalty when Adam McKeown appeared to be sandwiched between two defenders and bundled over, but referee Ivan Jozeljic was unmoved.

Soszynski produced some fine saves in the closing stages, while Eagles defender Nick Ferrall did very well to contain the nippy Amadu Koroma for the entire 90 minutes.

It was the Knights’ first draw of the league season.

Michael Bulis put Olympic in front against Clarence with a penalty, but before the first half was over, he missed from another spot-kick.

He was on target again, however, to make it 2-0, while Adam Hedge added the third to send Olympic in 3-0 up at the break.

Luke Cripps pulled a goal back for Clarence early in the second half, but Olympic were well worth their win, their second in less than a week.

Clarence slipped two places to second-last on the ladder, level on 14 points with sixth-ranked Eagles, who have the same goal-difference but who have scored more goals than the Eastern Shore side.

In the Forestry Tasmania Northern Premier League, leaders Northern Rangers came unstuck when they went down 1-0 at home at the NTCA Ground to fourth-placed Somerset today.

A header by Tom Roach in the 26th minute settled the issue.

The win lifted Somerset a place to third on the ladder, but Rangers still hold a 4-point lead over second-placed Devonport City.

Ulverstone moved up a place to fifth by downing bottom-side Launceston United 5-0 at home at the Ulverstone Showgrounds.

Saturday results

Photos (Top to Bottom): Eagles in a huddle with coach George Krambousanos before the kick-off; Eagles' Adam McKeown nutmegs Knights' Alex Holmes; Knights' Jade Clay shadowed by Eagles' Alex Leszczynski; Jade Clay breaks clear with the ball from Knights' team-mate Brodie Green and Eagles' Alex Gordon

Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League

Glenorchy Knights 1 (Holmes 75) dw New Town Eagles 1 (Malakoff 18)
Clarence United 1 (Cripps) lt Hobart Olympic 3 (Bulis pen, A Hedge, Bulis)

Reserves

Glenorchy Knights 1 (Nowicki) b New Town Eagles 0
Clarence United 5-2 Hobart Olympic

Under-19s

Clarence United 10-0 Hobart Olympic

Forestry Tasmania Northern Premier League

Northern Rangers 0 lt Somerset 1 (Roach 26)
Ulverstone 5-0 Launceston United

FIFA Women's Under-14 Tournament in Ho Chi Minh City

Australia 2-1 Guam
(Tasmania's Jessie Williams scored one of Australia's goals to take her tally to two goals in two games)

Northern Rangers can extend their lead at the top

There are only two Forestry Tasmania Northern Premier League matches scheduled for Saturday.

The other two have been postponed because of poor ground conditions.

Northern Rangers can take the opportunity to move 7 points clear of second-placed Devonport City by beating fourth-placed Somerset at home at the NTCA Ground.

Sixth-ranked Ulverstone can move up the ladder, too, if they beat bottom-side Launceston United at the Ulverstone Showgrounds.

“Rangers are not at full strength this week and the boys know that Somerset are not going to make it easy for us,” said Rangers coach, Roslan Saad.

“In fact, after what they did against Glenorchy Knights, there are many who believe that they are the team that will beat Rangers.

“I’m looking forward to a very tight game and the hungrier team will win the game.

“My target is always full points at home and nothing less.”

Somerset showed last week that they can be a force to be reckoned with by beating the highly fancied Glenorchy Knights and, if Bobby Eaves is again in goal-scoring form, Rangers could have problems.

Ulverstone should have few problems against Launceston United.

“Our last game was two weeks ago as we had last weekend off because of the cup round,” said Ulverstone coach, Kim Rigby.

“Ben Foote has finished his three-week or three-game suspension and will come into calculation for selection.

“We have two or three players with colds and flu who haven’t trained so far this week, so will not know until just before the game if they are fit to play.

“Jason Singleton, who is only 15 or 16 years old, will also come into contention as he has got over a broken wrist and has performed well in the U18s and at training and is looking sharp.

“He is one of the four club players from Ulverstone who was in the State under-15 side last year, along with Brayden Mann and Joel Stone, who are playing regular senior soccer, and Jeremy Walker, who is at the TIS this year.

“We need to get a positive result against Launceston as we want to keep in touch with the top four and try to make the finals.

“As we have our local derby the following week away to Devonport, we hope to carry winning form into that game.”

Weather again plays havoc with fixtures in southern Tasmania

The results of the mid-week catch-up game has enlivened matters in the Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League competition at both ends of the ladder, and the weekend schedule of matches should stir the pot even more.

Second-placed Glenorchy Knights lost 2-0 to second-last Hobart Olympic on Wednesday night through goals by Hugh Richardson and Michael Bulis.

Olympic’s win lifted them up a place to sixth, where they replaced New Town Eagles, who dropped to second-last position, while the Knights’ loss gave leaders Tilford Zebras some valuable breathing space.

Zebras can make life at the top of the ladder a little bit easier by beating Kingborough at KGV Park on Sunday afternoon.

Zebras will miss Aaron Brazendale, who has gone overseas, but Andrew Telega returns to the defence and coach Nick Lapolla said there was no pressure at all on his side and all they had to do was keep winning and the title would be theirs.

There is a lot of pressure on Knights and Eagles, who meet at KGV Park on Saturday at the slightly earlier and strange time of 2pm.

Knights are 2 points adrift of leaders Zebras and will have played two more games than the leaders after this match and so a win is imperative if they are to keep their title hopes alive.

A win would put them top for at least 24 hours, and that would put pressure on Zebras.

Knights coach Eamonn Kelly will have several tricky selection problems ahead of this match.

He substituted Corey Smith on Wednesday night after he collected a yellow card after only eight minutes, while he has other players carrying injuries, including Brazilian Breno Bianchini Joviano Dos Santos.

The game is just as important for Eagles, who have made slow progress in recent weeks - some would say they have come to a shuddering halt - and they now find themselves sucked into the relegation battle as they are a mere 5 points ahead of the rapidly improving bottom-side University.

Eagles have some injury and illness clouds over Chris Wass, Alex Leszczynski, Michael Soszynski and Mark Page, but coach George Krambousanos is hoping they will pass muster.

“I think we’ll have a very good game against the Knights, especially on KGV Park,” said Krambousanos.

Olympic will be seeking to make it two wins in less than a week when they take on Clarence at Wentworth Park in a 6.30pm game on Saturday.

A win could lift Olympic up another place to fifth and this will be a huge incentive for the visitors, who should be at full strength and brimming with confidence.

Clarence can run hot and cold and will need to make better use of their opportunities if they are to win this game.

Clarence did beat University in the cup last weekend, but their players will still have memories of the previous weekend’s 6-0 hiding against South Hobart.

The University versus South Hobart game has been postponed, as have all Division One games this weekend.

Tasmanian stars in Ho Chi Minh City tournament

Tasmanian Institute of Sport player Jessie Williams has been selected in the Australian Under-14 girls’ national team to compete in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under 14 Girls’ Festival of Football which began in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, today and which will run until 30 June 2009.

National coach Jeff Hopkins selected the squad following the National Junior Championships which were held in Canberra in April.

“This festival has a few objectives,” said Hopkins. “It will be good preparation and give the squad an insight for future competitions in Asia.

"The team will experience differences both on and off the field in Vietnam which will no doubt be a great learning experience when travelling back to compete for opportunities such as qualifying for the AFC Women's Asian Cup and the FIFA Women's World Cup.

"This festival is not about winning but about developing as players and learning from the whole international travel experience.

“We are looking forward to the experience in the days ahead.”

Australia opened its campaign today with a 1-1 draw with China, and Williams scored the Australian goal.

“I am very impressed with her,” said TIS head coach, Vicki Linton. “She really impressed at the training camp prior to the selection of the squad.

“She is playing just behind the strikers in a 4-3-3 system, that is, as the number 10.”

* * * * *

Metro have officially responded to the news about the removal of Darrin Chaffey as their senior coach.

The club said that it and Chaffey had agreed when he was appointed that, should someone become available who was better qualified for the role of senior coach, then he could possibly be asked to step down.

The club also said that it wanted to give Chaffey "a chance to concentrate on playing for the remainder of the year and have a role with the exisiting staff in the senior group".

The statement went on to say that Chaffey has decided to take a break but that the club "wish to see him continue with the club as a player as we believe he has a lot to offer in [sic] current squad."

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.”