Thursday, July 2, 2020

South Hobart maintain course, while Olympia's Amazons down Students


South Hobart beat Kingborough Lions United 3-0 in an NPL Tasmania pre-season friendly at Lightwood Park tonight.

Bradley Lakoseljac netted a brace and Kasper Hallam scored once for South, who led 2-0 at half-time.

Kobe Kemp had a penalty saved by the Kingborough goalkeeper, Jake Hayers.

South Hobart’s new signing from Clarence Zebras, goalkeeper Nathan Reid, played in the second half, taking the place of veteran keeper Mark Moncur at half-time.

South Hobart’s former American goalkeeper, Chase Webert, who returned home after the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, wants to return but this seems highly unlikely to occur.

South Hobart also introduced Marcus Eugster at centre-back.  He is a Tasmanian who has been living and playing in Switzerland in recent years.

Kingborough, without Shane Cartwright, offered little in attack and the visitors won comfortably.

“The game got a bit scrappy in the second half, but we dominated possession,” said South Hobart coach, Ken Morton.

“We had three or four chances to put it beyond doubt, but we controlled it all right.  It wasn’t a great game, but it was a good hit-out for us.

“They looked patchy, but their centre-back is a good player.  He ran the ball out of defence well, but they had little penetration up front.

“Our new keeper, Nathan Reid, didn’t have much to do, but what he did do, he did well.

“Mark Moncur, our veteran keeper, has done very well for us.

“Chase Webert wants to come back but it’s not going to happen and we just wanted a bit of cover in the goalkeeping position.”

In tonight’s Women’s Super League pre-season friendly at Warrior Park, Olympia Warriors downed University 4-0 through two goals by Bonnie Davies and one each by Hanna Johnson and Olivia Bomford.

Olympia led 1-0 at half-time.

“I was really happy,” said Olympia Warriors coach, Alastair Russell.  “We had really nice control of the game.

“We passed the ball around really nicely in the two 40-minute halves.

“There was interchange so we had lots and lots of changes and it was the perfect hit-out, which is what you always want at this time near the start of the season.”

Maddie Black is back from college in America and Olivia Bomford has returned from interstate and both played tonight for Olympia.

Olympia were missing Zoe Haralampopoulos, who had been working in Tasmania as a dentist but who had to return home to South Australia.

“We just wanted to get a game in before we start playing properly and I’m very happy,” Russell added.

“We had an intra-club game on the weekend, but it’s nice to get a proper opponent.

“Uni did well and fought pretty hard and it’s nice to have them back in the Super League.”

University were coached by Brad Judge, who has been coaching junior teams at University for the past nine seasons.

Judge said it wasn’t a bad result for a team that was back in the Super League and which had lost players.

“Losing 4-0 at Olympia’s home isn’t the worst result,” Judge said.

“In the Championship last season, this Uni team didn’t lose a game, but we’ve actually lost quite a few really good players since we were last in the Super League.

“We’ve brought a few younger players up and we know it’s going to be a very difficult season, but we’ve got a three-year window where Football Tasmania have said we won’t face the threat of relegation until the third year.

“So, my mindset is to see how players go.

“There was a lot of gelling tonight and the performance has to improve.

“I’m happy tonight, but if I see the same thing in three months, it’s a completely different conversation and things will need to change.”

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