Hobart United have easy ride into Lakoseljac Cup Round-of-16

Southern Championship side Hobart United go straight into the Round-of-16 of the Lakoseljac Cup competition, which eases new coach Andrew Brown into the job.

United received the bye when the draw for the preliminary round of the competition was made recently and they join the NPL Tasmania big guns in going straight into the Round-of-16.

The preliminary round draw has thrown up some interesting pairings and these games will be played on Monday, 11 March 2019.

Beachside, one of the favourites for the Southern Championship league title this season, will host North-West Coast outfit Ulverstone.

Ulverstone won the equivalent competition, the State-wide Knock-out Cup, back in 1982 when they beat Hobart Juventus in a penalty shoot-out after the match ended at 1-1 after extra-time.  It had been goalless in the regulation 90 minutes.

In another South versus North clash, Metro will welcome Launceston United to North Chigwell.

Launceston United represented Tasmania in the Australia Cup, the precursor to the current FFA Cup, in 1967 and 1968.

They lost 2-1 to Melbourne at Olympia Park in 1967 before a crowd of 2,500, while the following year, they lost 1-0 to Hakoah at Olympia Park in front of 2,000 fans.

Life became difficult for them in later years, but I guess one can say they have pedigree in cup football.

Only one southern side has to travel north.  Taroona travel to Launceston to take on North Launceston Eagles, who are competing in this competition for the first time.

Burnie meet Somerset in a North-West Coast derby which should be hard fought.

Somerset actually reached the final of the State-wide Knock-out Cup in 2007, when they lost 2-0 to Launceston City.

There are two all-southern affairs, with New Town Eagles at home to University and Nelson taking on newcomers to the Southern Championship, South East United from Sorell.

New Town Eagles have won the State-wide Cup no less than four times in their illustrious history.

The preliminary-round draw for the 2019 Lakoseljac Cup is:

Beachside v Ulverstone

Burnie v Somerset

Metro v Launceston United

Nelson v South East United

New Town Eagles v University

North Launceston Eagles v Taroona