Saturday, February 29, 2020

Saturday results - 29 February 2020


Photo: Olympia's new signing from New South Wales, left-back Lachlan O'Connor, wins a header.  O'Connor had a fine debut for the Warriors. [PlessPix]

NPL Tasmania Summer Cup

Glenorchy Knights 0 lost to South Hobart 2 (Jacob Lancaster 78, Noah Gardner 80)

Olympia Warriors 3 (Jack Ryan 59 pen, 69, Callum Brown 76) beat Clarence Zebras 1 (Luke Huigsloot 27)

Photo:  Knights' Jordan Muller gets a pass away against South Hobart [PlessPix]

Lakoseljac Cup (Preliminary Round)

South East United 0- 8 Hobart United

Photo:  South East United's Harkirat Singh (right) in pursuit of Hobart United's Nyan Kon [PlessPix]

Photo:  Olympia's Lachlan O'Connor tangles with Clarence Zebras' Luke Huigsloot and Clarence Zebras' Jayden Hey comes away with the ball.  Hey was concussed late in the game and was replaced. [PlessPix] 

Photo:  Knights' Nick Naden tries to elude South Hobart's Ewan Larby [PlessPix]

Photo:  Hobart United's Nyan Kon clears the ball [PlessPix]

Friday, February 28, 2020

Busy weekend of Lakoseljac Cup and Summer Cup football


Photo:  South Hobart coach Ken Morton [PlessPix]

The preliminary round of the Lakoseljac Cup will be conducted on Saturday with one game in southern Tasmania and one in the north of the State.

Southern Championship winner in 2019, Hobart United, travel to Sorell to take on home side South East United at Pembroke Park at 2pm.

In the other game, Northern Rangers meet Ulverstone at Valley Road 2 at 2pm.

Hobart United and Northern Rangers are the two likely winners to progress to the first-round proper of this State-wide knockout cup competition.

Meanwhile, an NPL Summer Cup double-header is scheduled for KGV Park on Saturday evening.

At 6pm, Glenorchy Knights play South Hobart, while at 8.15pm, Olympia Warriors meet Clarence Zebras.

Gate takings will be for the bushfire appeal.

Knights face a real test against South Hobart, given they have recruited several new players, including three South Hobart players in Connor Schmidt, Oscar Thomas and Alex Walter.

Although it’s early days, a Knights defeat would be unacceptable for their fans, who have high hopes for the club this season.

South Hobart have lost most of their players from last season and are in a serious rebuilding phase.

They have American imports in goalkeeper Chase Webert and centre-back Patrick Kibler, but coach Ken Morton is relying on academy youngsters and other youth players rising to the occasion.

“It’s not easy to replace eight players,” said Morton.  “That’s the hard part.

“But, the young boys have stepped up and stepped in and done a great job and we’re really proud of the way they’re going.”

Morton did not rule out the return to action of experienced centre-back Hugh Ludford at some stage of the season.

He also defended the robust play of Declan Foley, who has been criticised in some quarters for an over-physical and aggressive style of play.

“He’s a good footballer,” Morton said.  He outs his body on the line and tackles ferociously and I don’t think there’s any malice in his body whatsoever.

“He’s a hard player and he’s a strong player and he’s very competitive and we’ll stick by him.

“He gives us 100 per cent.  He’s courageous and he hurts himself sometimes in the way he tackles.  He may not be a polished defender and the cleanest of tacklers but he’s robust and he does a good job for us.”

Olympia Warriors are in the Summer Cup Final after three wins and they look too good for a Clarence Zebras side that is still finding its feet after the merger.

Olympia may give their new American goalkeeper, Davis Smith, his debut, while Declan and Callum Brown are back from overseas but may not be fit enough yet to earn a place in the side.

Zebras will be without the injured Luke Huigsloot and Jeremy Price.  Huigsloot may have broken a rib in the game against South Hobart in midweek, while Price appears to have strained a knee ligament.

Jayden Hey may have a slight nose injury but is likely to play.

*****

Photo:  Action from tonight's Metro versus DOSA game at North Chigwell [PlessPix]

In tonight’s Social Summer Cup at North Chigwell, Metro beat DOSA 4-1 and Beachside won 2-1 against Phoenix.

Photo:  DOSA's Eugene Rosenzweig in possession against Metro [PlessPix] 

Photo:  A DOSA player comes away with the ball in the game against Metro [PlessPix]

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

South Hobart beat Clarence Zebras 2-0 in Summer Cup


Photo:  Siyar Kurdistan (No.16) is congratulated bu his South Hobart team-mates after scoring the opening goal against Clarence Zebras [PlessPix]

A goal in each half gave South Hobart a 2-0 win over Clarence Zebras in the NPL section of the Summer Cup at South Hobart Oval tonight.

Siyar Kurdistan gave South Hobart the lead in the 37th minute when he smashed the loose ball home from close range after Clarence Zebras keeper Nathan Reid was unable to hold a cross from the left.

Clarence Zebras had their chances in the opening half, but were unable to beat South Hobart keeper Chase Webert, even in one-on-one situations.

Photo:  Clarence Zebras keeper Nathan Reid punches clear [PlessPix]

Cody Snell had three one-on-ones with the keeper without being able to score, but as coach David Smith said, he at least got into the positions each time.

South Hobart’s 16-year-old Sam Berazansky made it 2-0 in the 75th minute to kill off the game.

Clarence Zebras were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Declan Foley grabbed and pulled down Riley Dillon in what looked like a clear foul.

Clarence Zebras’ Luke Huigsloot suffered a suspected broken rib after a tackle by Declan Foley, while Jeremy Price also went off injured early in the game.

Photo:  South Hobart successfully defend their goal [PlessPix]

“We learnt a bit more about ourselves,” Smith said.

“We created enough chances at the start but didn’t get into it enough.  Our midfield was slow, but it was better when Jayden Hey came on.

“It’s about finding out where we are, and we learned a lot more about ourselves tonight.

“We know how much more hard work we have to do.”

Photo:  Clarence Zebras' Quinton Parant holds off South Hobart's Tobias Herweynen [PlessPix]

South Hobart coach Ken Morton was pleased with his team’s performance, especially given the fact he fielded a few 16-year-olds.

“I’m very pleased, not so much with the win, but with the performance and the way the players worked at how we wanted to play,” Morton said.

“It was very encouraging at this stage of the season.  I wish it could have been for league points.

“They did have little snippets, and Luke Huigsloot was a real threat with his height, but realistically, I think we were super competitive tonight and I’m very pleased.”

Photo:  South Hobart players congratulate Sam Berezansky after he scored his side's second goal [PlessPix]

Photo:  South Hobart's Patrick Kibler clears the ball [PlessPix]

Photo:  Clarence Zebras' Dwayne Walsh watches as South Hobart's two American imports, centre-back Patrick Kibler and goalkeeper Chase Webert, snuff out the danger [PlessPix]