Lions devour Riverside in friendly

Photo:  Kingborough's Tom McDonald slide tackles Riverside's Jasper King [PlessPix]

Kingborough Lions United beat Riverside Olympic 4-0 in a hot conditions at Lightwood Park this afternoon in an NPL Tasmania pre-season friendly.

The teams had drink breaks midway through both halves.

The Lions scored twice in each half and were awarded two penalties, but scored only from one.

Danny Cowen came on as a substitute for Kingborough 2 minutes before the interval and scored from a penalty with his first touch of the match.

Photo:  Riverside's Michael Monticchio gets the ball away from Kingborough's Dominic Easton [PlessPix]

The second penalty, late in the match, was taken by Conor Bastock, but Riverside’s substitute keeper, Reef Murfett, saved.

Kingborough had their new American keeper, Hunter Harrison, on view.  He had a fine, confident game and even registered an assist 5 minutes from the end when his long kick flew straight to Keenan Douce, who lobbed the keeper to score and make it 4-0.

Nick Cuthbertson was back with the Lions after a spell with Beachside and played in his usual position of centre-back, where he partnered Joel Schuth.

Tom McDonald was also a returnee from Beachside and played in the Lions attack.

Photo:  Kingborough's Brentyn Muir (right) pressures Riverside's Aaron Campbell [PlessPix]

Kieran Biggar and Brentyn Muir were two other former Beachside player to have joined the Lions and both started on the bench.

Riverside had former Launceston City striker Aaron Campbell in their line-up.  He could have had a hat-trick, but his shooting was off target and on one occasion he was foiled by a brilliant piece of goalkeeping by Harrison.

Michael Monticchio has also joined Riverside from Northern Rangers and he played in midfield.  The American import is also running Riverside’s development academy.

Kingborough almost hit the front after just 2 minutes, but Riverside keeper Jarrod Hill did well to turn Vince Turner’s shot from the right wide of the far post.

Photo:  Riverside's Mitch Jones tackles Kingborough's Nick Cuthbertson [PlessPix]

In the 12^th minute, an under-hit back pass by Kingborough fullback Nic Zammit allowed Campbell in on goal, but his low drive crept narrowly past the far left-hand post.

The Lions took the lead in the 34^th minute when a corner from the right carried to the far side of the box and Turner chipped the ball back into the danger zone and over Hill and inside the far post.

Cowen netted a penalty in the 43^rd minute to make it 2-0 after Jasper King and Mitch Roberts combined to bring down James Hall on the right of the box.

In the 65^th minute, Bastock squandered a marvellous opportunity when Riverside’s substitute keeper, Murfett, came out of his area and tried to head the ball clear.  It fell to Bastock, who lobbed at goal, but the ball drifted wide of the gaping goal.

Photo:  Kingborough's Keenan Douce (left) pits pressure on Riverside's Aaron Campbell [PlessPix]

Five minutes later, Cowen grabbed his second goal of the game, controlling a cross on his chest before firing home from the edge of the box to give the Lions a 3-0 lead.

In the 83^rd minute, Campbell broke through and found himself in a one-on-one with Harrison, but the keeper produced a splendid reaction save to deny the Riverside attacker.

In the 8^5th minute, Harrison launched a long kick up-field which found Douce, who controlled the ball before lobbing over Murfett and into the net to make it 4-0 for the home side.

Two minutes from the end, Roberts brought down Bastock, who took the penalty himself, but Murfett beat out the spot-kick to keep the score at 4-0.

Photo:  Kingborough coach Greg Calvert issues instructions [PlessPix]

Kingborough still have players, including Chris Downes, to come back, which must be pleasing for coach Greg Calvert.

Riverside coach Alex Gaetani has a lot of work to do with his young squad, particularly at the back.  The visitors had a very young back-line.

Photo:  Riverside Olympic's coach, Alex Gaetani [PlessPix]

Kingborough Lions United:  Harrison  -  Douce, Cuthbertson, Schuth, Zammit  -  Hall, Easton, Joe Davis, Kantzos  -  Vince Turner, McDonald  (Interchange:  Cowen, Bastock, Biggar, Nugent, Muir)

Riverside Olympic:  Hill  -  Jago, Prince, King, Roberts  -  Gilmore, Humphries, Monticchio  -  Jones, Campbell, Harvey  (Interchange:  Murfett, Coert, Lucas, Sykes, William Neilson, Kingslow, Wakeford, Kidman)

Photo:  Kingborough's Vince Turner gets the ball ahead of Riverside's Jasper King [PlessPix] 

Photo:  Kingborough's Vince Turner wins a header [PlessPix] 

Photo:  Riverside's Mitch Jones shields the ball from Kingborough's Keenan Douce [PlessPix]

Lions to emerge from their den tomorrow

Kingborough Lions United will be in action tomorrow (Monday) in a pre-season friendly.

The Lions, under new coach Greg Calvert, will take on Riverside Olympic at 2pm at Lightwood Park.

Riverside are one of two new clubs that will compete in the NPL Tasmania top-flight competition this coming season.

They, and Glenorchy Knights, were promoted to the NPL Tasmania competition as part of the planned increase to 10 teams.

The withdrawal of Northern Rangers, however, has meant that the top-flight league will comprise 9 teams.

This will necessitate a bye each round.

Kingborough have been flying under the radar as the new season approaches so it will be interesting to see what they have in their armoury.

Glenorchy Knights score $1 million Federal Government grant

Photo (L-R):  Tyler Harrison, the Knights captain, Bob Gordon, FFT president, Tony Bacic, Knights president, Sam James, Knights player, Andrew Wilkie MP, and Declan Brown, Knights player [PlessPix]

The Federal Government will give $1 million to NPL Tasmania club Glenorchy Knights to provide a permanent club room for Knights at KGV Park.

The grant was announced today by Andrew Wilkie MHR, the Independent Member for Denison, and Knights president, Tony Bacic, at a media conference at KGV Park.

Bacic thanked Mr Wilkie for enabling the Federal Government grant.

“Andrew’s support for Tasmanian football is inspiring and to make this happen for our club is a dream come true,” Mr Bacic said.

“This project will involve the construction of a new viewing area for all football spectators to enjoy, a function room, office space, as well as a fully upgraded kitchen, kiosk and bar facilities.

“Over time, we will also look to upgrade the facilities at our grounds at Prince of Wales Bay, which are used by our youth teams and development programs.

Photo:  Knights president Tony Bacic points out some details to Andrew Wilkie MP [PlessPix]

“These new facilities will not only provide Glenorchy Knights with the infrastructure we require to meet the needs of our ever expanding player and supporter base, it also represents a much needed upgrade to the ageing facilities at KGV to the benefit of all Tasmanian football lovers.

“In that regard, this initial investment will form the first part of an overall investment strategy for the redevelopment of the facilities at KGV, including the much needed expansion of the change rooms as well as the upgrade of other facilities.

“We are very excited that this will truly make KGV the contemporary headquarters for Football Federation Tasmania and directly benefit thousands of players, coaches, referees and volunteers each year.

“Glenorchy Knights will work closely with Football Federation Tasmania to ensure that an efficient, coordinated approach is taken to realising this exciting overall redevelopment vision for KGV Football Park.”

Photo:  Senior and junior Glenorchy Knights players with club president Tony Bacic and Federal Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie [PlessPix]

Mr Wilkie said he was a strong advocate for Government support for sports and sporting infrastructure.

“Children, in particular, need access to healthy sports in safe environments run by good role models,” Mr Wilkie said.

“Clubs like the Glenorchy Knights are the lifeblood of communities and it’s so important that they have a permanent home with the highest standard of facilities.

“The Glenorchy Knights are a great club and have been an important part of the greater Hobart community for over 60 years.

“That’s why it’s excellent news that the Federal Government has committed $1 million to transform the existing Football Federation Tasmania facility at KGV into a multi-purpose facility with vibrant new clubrooms.

“The redevelopment will also mean that Football Federation Tasmania can relocate to elsewhere on the site as well as build other infrastructure, including new change rooms.”

Glenorchy Knights have been readmitted to the 2019 NPL Tasmania competition, the top-flight league in the State, after winning the second-tier Southern Championship league title for the past three years in a row.

Photo:  Andrew Wilkie MP and Knights president Tony Bacic shake on it [PlessPix]

Vale James 'Jimmy' Roy Hunter (1933 - 2019)

Photo:  Jimmy Hunter (extreme left) walks towards the ball to take a free-kick during a game between Rangers and Olympia at South Hobart in about 1960 [PlessPix]

The death occurred in Hobart this week of former State representative player Jimmy Hunter, aged in his late 80s.

Hunter came from Dumfries in Scotland and arrived in Tasmania in 1958 after a spell in Hong Kong.

Hunter was one of five players from the UK who arrived in Tasmania that year to join Rangers.  The others were Dan Rawlins, Billy MacMillan, Walter Worsey and Bob Ferguson.

All five were cleared from Rangers to Caledonians after a handful of games for Rangers.

Hunter was a centre-half and was famous for his well-timed sliding tackles.

He spent his career with Rangers and Caledonians in Hobart and coached Taroona for a couple of seasons after retiring as a player in the late 1960s.

He represented Tasmania on a tour of South Australia in 1961 in which Tasmania lost 2-0 to a South Australia Country XI and 2-1 to South Australia.

He played against Victoria twice in Hobart that same year, Tasmania drawing the first game 3-3 and losing the second 3-0.

Hunter’s career was ended when he broke a leg for the second time in a couple of seasons.

Photo (L-R):  Dan Rawlins, Billy MacMillan, Jim Hunter, Walter Worsey and Bob Ferguson watching a cricket match in Adelaide during Tasmania's two-game tour of that State in 1961 [Photo courtesy of Walter Worsey]