Knights can go to top of NPL with away win over Devonport

Photo:  Nathan Pitchford will play his 50th game for Devonport Ciy tomorrow [PlessPix]

Second-placed Glenorchy Knights will go to the top of the NPL Tasmania ladder if they beat current leaders Devonport City away at Valley Road at 2.15pm tomorrow.

Devonport have a 3-point lead over the Knights going into Round 6, but the visitors have a better goal-difference so a win will put the Knights on top.

Devonport have a perfect record to date and a win could see them open up a 5-point lead (if Kingborough win).

Devonport goalkeeper Nathan Pitchford will be making his 50^th appearance for the club and although his form has been outstanding, he is till looking to improve.

“I am pleased with my form this season, but there are still areas of my game I am looking to improve and I’ve been working hard on them over the last few weeks to ensure I can continue to contribute in a positive way to our team’s performances,” Pitchford said.

“Against the Knights, the whole group is confident  that we will put forward a strong performance.

“So far this season we haven’t fully ‘clicked’ as a group, but we have definitely been improving each week and showing the ability to grind out results.

“It’s exciting to feel like we can still improve, despite being in a good position on the ladder at this stage of the season.

“Knights are an exciting attacking team and deserve the success they have had so far this season, so our whole group is looking forward to the match and the contest and we are certainly not taking them lightly.

“Morale is high but I would describe it as more of a real hunger for continued improvement and the chance of success.

“Much like myself, personally, the group still feels like our best football is ahead of us and, whilst in good spirits, we are pushing ourselves and each other hard to achieve as much as we can in 2020.”

Photo:  Knights coach James Sherman has his side firing on all cylinders [PlessPix]

Knights will have much the same squad as last week.

“We are really looking forward to tomorrow,“ said Knights coach, James Sherman.

“As a side we don’t know yet what we are really capable of and tomorrow is as good a way of finding out as any.

“Devonport away is the most difficult fixture of the season and it provides us with the perfect opportunity to find out our potential.

“I'm happy with how we've been playing.  The games come at a perfect time.

“It's going to need a committed and confident 90 minutes as they're a very talented team littered with experience.

“With belief and trust amongst ourselves, I can see us playing well tomorrow.”

Third-placed Kingborough Lions United travel to Warrior Park tomorrow to face fifth-ranked Olympia Warriors at 4.30pm in the only NPL game to be played in the south of the State.

Kingborough will have James Hall back after he missed last weekend’s embarrassing 5-0 loss to South Hobart, but they will again be without Shane Cartwright, one of their best players.

Kingborough coach Jes Kenth said Cartwright is still carrying an injury and would not be risked on the artificial pitch at Warrior Park.

Kenth said the players were hurting after last week’s loss but they will be out to redeem themselves against a side that has picked up on form and is starting to make strides.

“I don’t think last week’s performance was too bad and there were just a couple of moments that swung the pendulum,” Kenth said.

“We’ve been competitive in every game and you mustn’t take one game in isolation.

“It’ll be a big challenge tomorrow, but the boys are up for it.”

Photo:  Danny Cowen is a key player at the heart of defence for the Lions [PlessPix]

Kingborough Lions United captain Danny Cowen is a key defender and is happy with his own form.

“I’m fairly happy with how I’ve started off the season,” Cowen said.

“It has been good to hit the ground running and get some good results, but there are still things I can work on to help the team and my own performances.

“I have a great deal of confidence in our team and abilities to get the job done.  There is a certain belief in the squad which is great.

“Morale is good.  We know we weren’t good enough last weekend but we’ve had a good week on the track and we are keen to continue on with our good start and build more momentum.”

Olympia may have striker Ben Hamlett back after missing last weekend’s game.

He became a father this week and will be on a high and, if he does play, he will be out to impress.

The Tasmanian ‘Italian derby’ is scheduled for Buckby Land Rover Park in Launceston at 4.30pm tomorrow when hosts Launceston City welcome Clarence Zebras.

Photo:  Matthew Oh is confident Launceston City can improve [PlessPix]

Launceston City defender Matthew Oh believes that he can improve his own form and that the team can rise from the foot of the table.

“My form is not where I want it to be, but I am learning from each game and applying new knowledge of the game to each training session and each game, with the help from my coach and the players around me,” Oh said.

“Clarence Zebras will put up a good fight, but we have identified what we need to do to get the win this weekend.

“We have had a rocky start to the season, but I am confident in my team and that we have got what it takes to get the win.

“This season has been difficult for us so far.  We haven't been able to showcase what we are capable of as a team and it is very frustrating.

“We work hard week in, week out, to improve and adapt our style to the best we can.  I believe if we keep working hard, believe in ourselves and back each other. we will be on the way up.”

Clarence Zebras have been in poor form and they desperately need to win this game to re-establish self-belief and salvage something from the season.

Clarence Zebras captain, Jayden Hey, believes it’s been a tough campaign so far.

Photo:  Clarence Zebras captain Jayden Hey at a media conference [PlessPix]

“I believe this has been the most competitive NPL season from top to bottom we have had,” Hey said.

“It seems anybody can beat anyone on their day and we are no exception.

“Unfortunately, results haven’t fallen our way yet but we have been in every game and the results will come once we start finishing our chances, which is all I feel that’s missing.”

Hey has been reasonably pleased with his own form but is still looking for improvement.

“I’m reasonably happy with my performances to date but feel I’m yet to hit my stride,” he said.

“Like everyone else, when COVID brought everything to a standstill, I feel I lost all momentum for the season and going through it all again hasn’t been easy, both physically and mentally, for all.”

Riverside Olympic’s Aaron Campbell will play his 150^th NPL Tasmania game when his team take on South Hobart at Windsor Park tomorrow at 2.15pm.

Riverside are sixth and South Hobart are fourth in the standings.

Photo:  South Hobart's Nick Morton has come back from a badly broken leg [PlessPix]

South Hobart’s Nick Morton is one of their key players and he is in fine form after coming back from a serious injury (broken leg) last season.

“Overall, I am happy with how I’ve come back,” Nick Morton said.  “I’ve put in a lot of work to try and get the body right for competition but maybe only within the last week or two have I felt that the old me was coming back into play.

“So, I’m happy that I’ve come this far considering where I was 11 or 12 months ago and watching the final games from the sideline.

“I expect a difficult game on Saturday.  Riverside have a good young squad and will be hungry for a win, so we will have to make sure we are on top of our game to come away with 3 points.

“We want to close the gap at the top and still be a title threat.”

NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 16 August 2020)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Devonport City	5	5	0	0	9	3	15
Glenorchy Knights	5	4	0	1	13	6	12
Kingborough Lions	5	3	1	1	9	9	10
South Hobart	5	3	0	2	10	6	9
Olympia Warriors	5	2	0	3	10	9	6
Riverside Olympic	5	1	1	3	7	13	4
Clarence Zebras	5	1	0	4	4	10	3
Launceston City	5	0	0	5	5	11	0