Saturday, February 1, 2020

Jack Ryan delivers the goods for Olympia against Knights


Photo:  Knights keeper Lachlan Hart beats  Olympia's Ben Hamlett to the ball [PlessPix]

(NPL Tasmania Summer Cup, KGV Park, Friday, 31 January 2020)

Olympia Warriors 2 (J Ryan 23, 85)
Glenorchy Knights 1 (R Backhouse)

HT:  1-0   Att:  600   Ref:  B Madley

Olympia Warriors:  Randall  -  Pacey-Mayne, Vandermey, Curtis  -  Gorrie, Mearns, Feral, N’Koso, Khasif  -  Ryan, Hamlett  (Subs:  Hoysted, Juma, Kobayashi, Mwarabu, Wadawu)

Glenorchy Knights:  Hart  -  Bowman, Thomas, Hallaerd, Kupsch  -  Naden, Muller, Schmidt, Backhouse  -  A Bellini, Nowicki  (Subs:  Castaneda, Harrison, Smith, Aitken)

Photo:  Olympia's Jack Ryan gets a shot at goal despite an attempted block by Knights' Jack Kupsch [PlessPix]

Two goals by Jack Ryan, one in each half, gave Olympia Warriors a 2-1 win over Glenorchy Knights in the opening game of the 2020 season, an NPL Summer Cup match at KGV Park.

The game, refereed by former English Premier League referee Bobby Madley, was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of Ivan Nemet, the first president of Croatia Glenorchy, who passed away during the week.

Olympia started strongly and the speedy Jackson Khasif created constant danger down the left flank.  Once Knights fullback Jack Bowman got his measure, however, Khasif’s influence waned.

Olympia took the lead midway through the first half following a corner.  The Knights defence allowed the ball to bounce in the six-yard box and a poor clearance merely teed the ball up for the powerful Ryan to head home.

Photo:  Olympia's Ben Hamlett runs at goal [PlessPix]

The Knights forced their way back into the contest during the latter stages of the half but were unable to equalise.

Knights were unlucky to lose Alex Bellini through injury, while Olympia defender Ashton Pacey-Mayne was also taken off after being injured.

Knights were level in the opening couple of minutes of the second half.  Nick Naden raced down the right wing and sent over a perfect cross to the far post, where poor Olympia marking allowed Ryan Backhouse to nod home and easy equaliser.

Knights continued to create chances after that and the busy Mathew Nowicki might easily have netted twice from the chances that came his way.  He also set up Backhouse for a one-on-one with substitute keeper Elliot Hoysted, but Backhouse failed in his attempt to knock the ball past the keeper.

Photo:  Olympia's Joffrey N'Koso shields the ball from Knights' Jack Kupsch [PlessPix]

Olympia rallied and the Knights had several close shaves.  Knights goalkeeper Lachlan Hart was having trouble catching high balls and it was only poor Olympia finishing which prevented them from punishing the Knights.  A goal-line block by George Hallard also saved Knights on one occasion.

With the game edging ever closer to a penalty shoot-out, Ryan took advantage of a slip by Hallard to race towards goal and plant a firm drive past Hart and inside the far left-hand post for the winner with 5 minutes remaining.

Both teams have players to come into the squad, but on tonight’s display, they seemed pretty evenly matched.

Olympia gave a run to new Japanese signing, defender Kazuma Kobayashi, in the second half but he didn’t look one hundred per cent fit.

Photo:  The teams observe a minute's silence before the game in memory of Knights' first president Ivan Nemet [PlessPix]

Striker Ben Hamlett didn’t look as dangerous as he did for South Hobart, while defender Joseph Juma, signed from Hobart United, was an adequate replacement at right-back for the injured Pacey Mayne.

South Hobart entertain Victorian opponents Pascoe Vale at 2pm at South Hobart Oval on Saturday.

Pacoe Vale arrive at 10am and are expected to go straight to the venue for a bit of a familiarisation session on the ground.

With Tasmania’s referees engaged in a referees’ conference all day at the University of Tasmania, one of Pascoe Vale’s staff will referee the match.

South Hobart coach Ken Morton will restrict his squad to 15 or 16 players.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please can we have some new voices for the live feed's this season it's well overdue !!

Anonymous said...

9.07: Agree it is rather dole !!

Charles Calthrop said...

I think they do a decent job and inject a bit of humour to the whole thing...something that we could use more of on here!

Tamar Bens said...

Totally agree with you Charles they do a good job and actually know the game from playing not just Keyboard Foootball ,,

Anonymous said...

Young Hart needs to learn how to punch the ball Unless he has a great leap and unfortunately not after watching last night a good double fist would of done the job and maybe gave a couple of Warriors players a nice headache.

Anonymous said...

I would say other than the Laka Cup final this will be the biggest crowd for the year.

Anonymous said...

Rumor is there's a couple imports on there way for Knights. The need a GK Hart will not win them a title. There defence will be exposed vs pace. Midfield average. Front 3 Walter will give them some pace if can stay fit but apart from that Hansen is average and nowicki is a reserves player

Anonymous said...

Obviously haven’t watched this young keeper, one of the best talents coming through.

Anonymous said...

Thought Gorrie played well, seemed to cause a bit of headache for the knights.. I'm hoping the knights can improve a bit this season... Warriors look like they might be the yard stick this season

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah, they look like a real YARD STICK , when I can’t find anything hilarious to watch on tv I always come back to read these Blogs , thank you Walter your a Legend !

Anonymous said...

7.23pm. Olympia the yardstick ? You must be f...., joking.
On the money alone they have spent they should have spanked Knights.
Knights were poor and Olympia only really began dominating last 20.

Anonymous said...

7:23pm :

Well you make no logical sense. first game of the year. All clubs are still trialing and making choices about squads. Your comment is equally as stupid as the one before it suggesting any club can be considered the bench mark/yard stick after 1 game this year. To write any club off for being the yard stick is foolish and to suggest any one club is the yard stick also is in my opinion equally stupid.

Anonymous said...

The second goal was very poor defending. Why was Harrison running away? and where was the second CB. Lots of work for both teams. Devonport would still have to be favourites as they still have the majority from last year.

Anonymous said...

8.48 pm. Agree with you 100%.
Spot on.

The Phoenix said...

Port to go back to back.

Anonymous said...

Could be the worst State League standard since inception.
Devonport by a street and then the rest.

Anonymous said...

Standard is worse than 20 years ago. Think of the great teams of the early 2000s compared to know

Anonymous said...

At least this generation can spell

Anonymous said...

Olympia will lock this up before the seasons end. Not even close.

Anonymous said...

Gee who do we know posts here but can't spell mmmmmmmmm.

Anonymous said...

No they won't. I bet you they part company with their coach before seasons end.