Zebras hold South Hobart to draw

Photos (Top to Bottom): A minute's silence was observed in memory of the late Luciano Longo, a former Juventus captain in the early 1960s who passed away last week aged 69; South Hobart's Jonathon Ladic (right) about to take on Henry Fagg; Zebras keeper Troy Kaden foils South's Jonathon Lo; Zebras' Jayden Welch chasing shadows, and Garry Upton; South's Jim Pennicott shields the ball from Henry Fagg; Troy Kaden takes a cross before Jonathon Lo can reach it; Zebras' Ben Crosswell has Garry Upton, Bart Beecroft and Jonathon Lo mesmerised; Ben Crosswell produced some magic in this match [PlessPix]

Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League (KGV Park, Saturday, 13 March 2010)

___________________________________________________

Tilford Zebras 1 (B Crosswell 22)

South Hobart 1 (J Lo 32)

HT: 1-1 Att: 120 Ref: K Barker

Tilford Zebras: Kaden - Fagg, Smith, Telega, K Engels - D Cox, Self (D Lapolla 82), Crosswell (L Engels 85), Hall - Walsh (Young 71), Welch [Substitute not used: Voss] [Coach: Romeo Frediani]

South Hobart: Kruijver - Heerey (Roach 54), Ludford, D Brown, Scott - Pennicott, Upton (Abbott 67), Ladic (Downes 71), Beecroft - Kanakaris, Lo [Substitute not used: M Brown] [Coach: Ken Morton]

______________________________________________________

A minute's silence was observed before the start of this match in memory of the late Luciano Longo, a former captain of Juventus in the early 1960s and father of former Joey, Young Socceroo and Olyroo Dominic Longo.

South Hobart played their usual game of possession football and were unlucky on a couple of occasions not to score.

In the 20^th minute, Kostas Kanakaris beat Zebras goalkeeper Troy Kaden to Jim Pennicott’s cross but knocked the ball narrowly wide.

A minute later, Pennicott scooped an effort over the crossbar.

Zebras relied on largely ineffectual counter-attacks and South Hobart goalkeeper Sam Kruijver was having a quiet match.

The cat was set amongst the pigeons in the 22^nd minute, however, when Garry Upton was adjudged to have clipped the heels of Jayden Welch and Mr Barker awarded a penalty.

Kruijver beat out Ben Crosswell’s spot-kick, but the ball came back to Crosswell, who scored to give the Zebras the lead.

South Hobart were level in the 32^nd minute when Kanakaris knocked a long ball from the left to the right wing and the advancing Josh Heerey.

Heerey played the ball inside to Jonathon Lo, who found a way around his marker and shot into the roof of the net from just inside the box.

Four minutes later, Kaden produced an excellent save to turn a Kanakaris shot over the bar.

Eight minutes after the resumption, Kruijver saved at the feet of Welch, who had broken clear down the inside-right channel.

Tom Roach replaced Heerey in the 54^th minute. Heerey had been excellent and one of South Hobart’s best performers, but he was injured in a crunching tackle. He played on for a while, but when engaged in another fierce challenge, had to go off with a leg injury.

Zebras created a great opening in the 65^th minute when three attackers faced just two defenders, but the resultant shot was blocked and, when the ball rebounded to Welch he put his shot over the bar.

David Abbott came on for Garry Upton in the 67^th minute and showed some fine skills and clever touches.

In the 75^th minute, Greg Downes found Abbott on the right and he cut inside and forced Kaden to produce an excellent save down low at his near post to concede a corner.

Crosswell showed some skilful touches but was wasted in midfield. He showed what he was capable of in one move where he toyed with the ball before slipping between two defenders and accelerating away. If he did that in the final third rather than in midfield, he might have been rewarded.

Liam Scott had to be helped off in stoppage time, having suffered a broken elbow when he fell awkwardly after a tackle.

Another interesting incident occurred midway through the first half when Mr Barker held up play as South Hobart goalkeeper Sam Kruijver left the field for a toilet break.

Zebras were probably more satisfied with the point than South Hobart, but there is a long way to go and the draw did neither side irreparable damage.

_______________________________________________________

· Tilford Zebras coach, Romeo Frediani, said:

“I’m happy. I think the boys played well.

“Like I said to Kenny, it was a good slog-out between two sides which I, personally, think so far, will be at the top.

“Very happy with a one-all result.”

· South Hobart coach, Ken Morton, said:

“I’m disappointed because we had enough possession to win the football match.

“We should have won the football match but we didn’t create enough chances and weren’t positive enough in the front third.

“We took too long to make the passes that would have split the defence.

“I thought Zebras battled well and, as always, with Crosswell, Ricky Self, Walsh, Welch and them in the side, they’re always going to be dangerous on the break and that’s the way the game was.”