Spoils shared in a thriller that warmed the heart

Photo:  A North American challenge.  South Hobart's Canadian Iskander Van Doorne (left) tries to get past Olympia's American Bay Kurtz, who had his finest game for the club yet [PlessPix]

(NPL Tasmania, South Hobart Oval, Sunday, 5 May 2019)

South Hobart 3 (Hamlett 14, Thomas 41, Van Doorne 56)

Olympia Warriors 3 (Vandermey 24, N’Kose 49, Scott 91)

HT:  2-1  Att:  305   Ref:  T Peart

South Hobart:  Wright  -  Gorrie, Thomas, Ludford, Herweynen  -  Lakoseljac, Larby (Hallam 61), Feral, Morton  -  Hamlett (Berezansky 89), Van Doorne  (Subs not used:  Bowman, K Brown, Leszczynski)

Olympia Warriors:  McDonald  -  Vandermey, Hill, Stevens, Kurtz  -  Ladic, Scott, Mearns (Thompson 65)  -  Wadawu (Cook 65), Ryan, N’Koso  (Subs not used:  Randall, Yost, Leaman)

Photo:  Olympia's Jack Ryan found it hard to get breathing space.  Here he is handled by South Hobart's Loic Feral and Hugh Ludford.  Whenever he escaped from them, Oscar Thomas was usually waiting. [PlessPix]

I left South Hobart Oval today with that warm, happy feeling that one has after seeing an exciting and skilful football match played between teams that gave it everything.  Such moments are, unfortunately, few and far between these days.

I was filled with optimism for our game.  The teams involved today are second and third on the standings and both are strong contenders for this year’s title.

It was wonderful to see some precocious talent on view, as well as skilful experienced campaigners.

South Hobart coach Ken Morton has the knack of thrusting promising youngsters into the heat of battle, and they rarely let him down.  That was the case today.  Bradley Lakoseljac and Ewan Larby are just 18 and 16, respectively, and they more than held their own against experienced opponents such as Jonathon Ladic, Nick Mearns and Jordan Scott.

Photo:  South Hobart youngsters Bradley Lakoseljac (left) and Kasper Hallam come up against former team-mate Ryan Cook, who is now with Olympia [PlessPix]

When Morton brought on 16-year-old Kasper Hallam, one could feel the sense of excitement.  The young winger fulfilled the expectations, taking on two and three opponents at times to threaten the Olympia defence.  Olympia skipper Lucas Hill brought Hallam down at one point and earned a yellow card, which was to prove crucial later in the match.

Morton used Graham Wright in goal in place of youngster Kieran Brown because of his greater experience, but it may not be too harsh a judgement to say that Wright should have done better for all three goals.

Jordan Scott had another eventful and influential game for Olympia.  It was his foul that gave away the free-kick from which Ben Hamlett headed South Hobart into the lead.  He received a yellow card for his troubles.  He has only just returned from suspension after accumulating five yellow cards.  But, it was also his excellent pass that enabled Jake Vandermey to equalise.

And, it was Scott who scored the late equaliser with a marvellous shot after Ryan Cook’s short free-kick wide on the left.

Photo:  South's Ewan Larby evades a tackle from Olympia's Jonathon Ladic, but Jordan Scott was waiting [PlessPix]

Bay Kurtz, Olympia’s American import, had an excellent game and is coming into form after injury restricted his impact earlier in the season.

Centre-forward Jack Ryan fought hard all day but was well shackled by Hugh Ludford, Oscar Thomas and Loic Feral.  Ryan might have had a hat-trick with a bit of luck in the first half, but his shooting lacked power and precision.

All the statistics favoured South Hobart and they will be annoyed at having dropped two points, which is how coach Morton viewed the outcome.

Olympia coach Rob Clarke was disappointed at the goals his side conceded.

Both men acknowledged that the draw keeps their team in the title race and were pleased that leaders Devonport could only draw on Saturday.

Photo:  The fearless Kasper Hallam challenges Olympia's Jake Thompson as team-mate Bradley Lakoseljac moves in.  Hallam has only recently returned after a broken collarbone suffered in a pre-season friendly. [PlessPix]

Ryan had the first real chance of the match, in the 10^th minute, but his powerful low shot was turned wide of the post, resulting in a fruitless corner.

South Hobart took the lead in the 14^th minute after Scott’s foul.  Nick Morton floated the free-kick into the box and the unmarked Ben Hamlett headed home.

In the 23^rd minute, Ryan had only keeper Graham Wright to beat, but his gentle lob was easily saved.

A minute later, Scott put Jake Vandermey through on the right and he rounded a hesitant Wright deep inside the penalty area and hammered the ball home from a seemingly impossible angle to make it 1-1.

In the 29^th minute, Olympia goalkeeper Kyle McDonald produced a brilliant save, diving to his left to deny Hamlett, whose stinging shot seemed destined for the back of the net.

Photo:  South Hobart skipper Hugh Ludford pressures Olympia's Jack Ryan [PlessPix] 

Photo:  Space was at a premium for Olympia's Jack Ryan.  Here he faces South's Hugh Ludford and Loic Feral. [PlessPix]

Ryan had the ball in the net for Olympia in the 32^nd minute, but the assistant referee’s flag was raised for off-side.

South Hobart regained the lead in the 41^st minute after forcing two corners in quick succession and taken by Morton from the left.  McDonald was only able to parry the second of these and the ball fell to Oscar Thomas, who drove it home through a crowded box.

Olympia were level again four minutes after the resumption when a long, high  ball forward found South Hobart fullback Tobias Herweynen in two minds.  His attempted back-pass to his keeper was under-hit and a cool-headed Joffrey N’Koso knocked it around keeper Wright and collected the ball again and rolled it into an empty net to make it 2-2.

Photo:  South Hobart's Tobias Herweynen is tackled by Olympia skipper Lucas Hill [PlessPix]

Herweynen redeemed himself in the 56^th minute when he collected a pass wide on the left from Adam Gorrie and cut the ball inside to Iskander Van Doorne, who took one touch to set the ball up for a low strike from the edge of the box past McDonald to give his side a 3-2 lead.

Vandermey should have levelled on the hour when presented with a chance, but he placed what looked like an easy header wide after Wright parried N’Koso’s cross from the left straight to him.

Four minutes from the end, Hill suffered a sudden rush of blood to the head as he launched a studs-high tackle on Lakoseljac in midfield.  It was dangerous and completely unnecessary and earned the Olympia skipper a second yellow and automatic red card.

Sam Berezansky, South Hobart’s promising 16-year-old attacker, came on for Hamlett with a minute of normal time remaining, but if the change was to use up time, it backfired.

In the 91^st minute, Olympia earned a free-kick wide on the left.  Substitute Ryan Cook, who had joined Olympia from South Hobart at the start of the season, played the ball short for Scott, who rifled it into the top far-right corner of the net to make it 3-3 and salvage a point for his side and ensure they stayed in second place.

Photo:  South's Oscar Thomas outjumps Olympia's Jake Vandermey to win a header [PlessPix]
Match Statistics:

South Hobart		Olympia Warriors
17	Goal Attempts	10
12	Shots on Target	6
13	Corners	5
12	Fouls Committed	13
2	Off-Sides	2
1	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	1

Photo:  South's Ewan Larby is confronted by Olympia's Lucas Hill [PlessPix]