Knights set the pace in opening round league action

Photos (Top to Bottom): Olympia's Jayden Wiggins fights for possession: That ball should be there any second now!; South Hobart's Daniel Brown in possession; Zebras' Henry Fagg clears with his head as South;s Jonathon Lo moves in [PlessPix]

Glenorchy Knights began their league campaign in style with a 5-1 thrashing of Clarence United at KGV Park on Friday evening.

And, the enfant terrible of Tasmanian football, Corey Smith, grabbed a hat-trick in the process.

Jade Clay and James Sherman were also on target for the Knights, while Chris Hunt replied for Clarence.

The biggest shock of the opening round came on Saturday afternoon when newly promoted Taroona downed Olympia Warriors 3-1 at home at Kelvedon Park.

Olympia opened the scoring in the 11^th minute when Adam Powell played a sweeping pass out of defence to the right to Nick Meredith, whose cross was not dealt with by Taroona.

The ball fell to Fletcher Tracy, who hammered it past Taroona keeper Richard Nettlefold to give the visitors the lead.

Taroona refused to be cowered by the set-back, however, and midfielder Duncan Carey put them level in the 21^st minute when he cut in from the right and placed a shot inside the far top corner of the net.

This inspired the home side and their vocal supporters and it came as no surprise when veteran Hugo Luttmer put Taroona in front six minute later.

Garry Hamilton worked his way into the Olympia penalty area and was upended, but Luttmer struck home the loose ball, negating the need for the referee, Ivan Jozeljic, to make a decision about a penalty.

Four minutes before the interval, Toby Dove added the third after the ball cannoned off the goalkeeper as he tried to block a pass and fell perfectly for the Taroona midfielder to stroke it into the net.

The Saturday evening game was at KGV Park, where reigning southern champion South Hobart took on Tilford Zebras.

A minute’s silence was observed before the game in honour of Luciano Longo, father of former Young Socceroo, Dominic Longo.

South Hobart dominated the early possession without being able to score and it was the Zebras who took a shock lead midway through the opening half when they were awarded a penalty by Kim Barker for Garry Upton’s trip on Jayden Welch.

South Hobart keeper Sam Kruijver blocked Ben Crosswell’s spot-kick, but the Zebras midfielder got to the rebound and scored.

Kostas Kanakaris and Jim Pennicott had missed chances for South earlier, but they were now up against a stubborn Zebras outfit that were determined to protect their lead.

It did not last long, however, and the sides were level in the 32^nd minute. Kanakaris played a long ball from the left to the right, where the advancing fullback, Josh Heerey, gained possession.

Heerey cut the ball inside to Jonathon Lo, who controlled, turned and fired into the roof of the net to make it 1-1.

South could smell Zebras blood now, but try as they might, they were unable to find a winner.

Zebras keeper Troy Kaden turned a Kanakaris effort over the bar before the end, and South substitute David Abbott forced Kaden to get down to his near post to concede a fruitless corner.

Zebras also tested the South defence on a couple of occasions as Kruijver blocked at the feet of Welch and the same player also drove narrowly over the bar.

South's Liam Scott went off in stoppage time and has a suspected fractured elbow.