Stoppage-time winner as Glenorchy Knights beat South Hobart 2-1

Photo:  Knights' Sam James (left) contests a header with South Hobart's new American import Martin Mitreski [PlessPix]

A goal in the second minute of stoppage time gave Glenorchy Knights a 2-1 win over South Hobart in an NPL Tasmania pre-season friendly at South Hobart Oval tonight.

Knights took the lead in the 9^th minute when centre-back Tom Young ventured forward at a corner and nodded the ball home.

South Hobart equalised just before the break through an own-goal.  A quick attack exposed the Knights defence and when Adam Gorrie sent over a cross from the right, Knights defender Teddy Kadisah turned the ball into his own net.

Photo:  Tom Young is congratulated by his Knights team-mates [PlessPix]

It was a truly awful game, with both sides unable to string more than a couple of passes together.  The technical quality was poor with any semblance of ball control in short supply.

South Hobart brought on their new American import early in the game.  Martin Mitreski, from Chicago, is a midfielder who only arrived in Tasmania this week.

Another American, goalkeeper Hunter Harrison, warmed up with the South Hobart squad but was not on the bench.  He came to Tasmania earlier this year and played practice games for Kingborough Lions United, who recently let him go.

Nick Naden missed a great chance to increase the Knights’ lead when he chipped goalkeeper Graham Wright, who had come way off his line, but the ball bounced just wide of the right-hand post.

Photo:  South Hobart's Martin Mitreski pursued by Knights' Jake Stuart [PlessPix]

Daniel Brown coached South Hobart in the absence of Ken Morton, who was busy with Morton Soccer Schools and South Hobart Academy.  Morton arrived at the ground late in the game.  On the way to the game, I drove past the Cornelian Bay sports grounds and, as far as the eye could see, there were hundreds of youngsters playing small-sided games as part of South Hobart’s junior development program.

In the second half, Declan Brown went close for Knights in the 53rd minute from Jake Stuart’s powerful, low right-wing cross.

A minute later, Knights’ Sam James was cautioned by referee Tony Peart for a tackle on Gilly Desouza.

Photo:  Knights' Sam James tackles South's Ben Hamlett [PlessPix]

South Hobart went close to taking the lead in the 82^nd minute when Ben Hamlett gained possession, but his shot flew just wide.

With a draw seemingly inevitable, Knights grabbed the winner in the 92^nd minute.  Gengar Mangar sent over a teasing cross from the right and South Hobart defender Adam Gorrie collided with his goalkeeper Kieran Brown as both attempted to get to the ball and Declan Brown was left to sweep the ball into the net from close range.

The squads

South Hobart:  Graham Wright, Adam Gorrie, Jack Bowman, Rasmus Phillipsen, Tobias Herweynen, Loic Feral, Gilly De Souza, Declan Foley, Alex Walter, Ben Hamlett, Nick Morton, Kieran Brown, Sam Tooze, Ewan Larby, Sam Berezansky, Hugh Ludford, Darcy Hall, Martin Mitreski

Photo:  The South Hobart bench [PlessPix]

Glenorchy Knights:  Trent Le Rossignol, Thomas Bellini, Dmitri Nester, Gengar Mangar, Jack Kupsch, Teddy Kadisha, Tom Young, Declan Graham, Alex Bellini, Sam James, Declan Brown, Rowan Heggie, Nick Naden, Jake Stuart, Jacob Herbert, Aaron Marney

Photo:  The Glenorchy Knights bench [PlessPix]

Incidentally, this game was live-streamed, but with a difference.  While the camera and camera operator were at the ground, the commentators and technician were in a lounge room at a house somewhere.

I guess the next step will be to have these people in a house somewhere as the VAR team!  

Meanwhile, at KGV Park, Hobart United came back from a 3-0 deficit at half-time to beat Glenorchy Knights’ Challenge League side 5-3.

And, in last night’s friendly between Olympia Warriors and Clarence United, which Olympia won 9-0, the game was stopped for a few minutes because of the presence of a drone over the ground.

Photo:  South Hobart's Nick Morton surrounded by Knights opponents [PlessPix]