Saturday, October 31, 2020

Saturday results - 31 October 2020

Photo:  Glenorchy Knights' Jordan Muller wins a header against South Hobart [PlessPix]
 

Lakoseljac Cup semi-final

Glenorchy Knights 3 ((J N’Koso 11, T Young 19, 71) beat South Hobart 2 (K Kemp 23, N Morton 62)

Photo:  Clarence Zebras' Danielle Kannegiesser wins a header against Kingborough Lions United [PlessPix]
 

Women’s State-wide Cup semi-final

Clarence Zebras 3 (A Berry 48, 69, D Kannegiesser 66) beat Kingborough Lions United 0

Men’s State-wide Under-20s Cup

Somerset 2-5 Glenorchy Knights

Riverside Olympic 1-2 Olympia Warriors

Photo:  University's Emma Cazaly and Ulverstone's Mikalha George in pursuit of the ball [PlessPix]
 

Women’s Super League

University 2-2 Ulverstone

Photo:  A University player rises above everyone else to head the ball in the game against Beachside today [PlessPix]
 

Men’s Southern Championship

University 3 (S Platts 2, H Undy) drew with Beachside 3 (B Andrews 3)

South Hobart 2-0 Kingborough Lions United

Taroona 0-2 Hobart United

South East United 1-1 Clarence Zebras [Friday night]

Men’s Southern Championship 1

University 3 (Z Flanagan, T Ottavi, J Undy) beat Beachside 0

Photo:  Knights' Jack Bowman slide-tackles South Hobart's Guilherme de Souza [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  University's Nadia Dandolo (left) in a race with Ulverstone's Courtney Hingston [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Kingborough's Amy Ollington (right) tries to counter Clarence Zebras' Bronte Gadon [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Action from the Championship game between University and Beachside [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Knights' Alex Bellini runs to congratulate team-mate Joffrey N'Koso for his opening goal against South Hobart [PlessPix]
 

The usual suspects should qualify for the Women's State-wide Cup Final

Photo:  Three players who will have a huge influence on the semi-finals this weekend are (L-R) Madison Chambers and Bonnie Davies of Olympia, and Georgia Burt of Clarence Zebras [PlessPix]
 

The semi-finals of the Women’s State-wide Cup will be played this weekend, with one game on Saturday and one on Sunday.

It looks like another showdown between the two top teams, Olympia Warriors and Clarence Zebras, in the final next weekend.

On Saturday, Clarence Zebras take on Kingborough Lions United at 4pm at KGV Park in one semi-final and these two teams must be getting sick of the sight of each other.

They played each other on Wednesday night at Lightwood Park and drew 2-2, which was a shock for Clarence Zebras, who generally have the edge over the Lions.

This is a cup match and there could be another surprise, but Clarence Zebras will be better prepared this time and should win.

Coach Chris Hey missed Wednesday’s game but should be back at the helm for this semi-final.

Clarence Zebras had beaten the Lions 5-1 and 4-0 (the latter, just over a week ago) in the Women’s Super League before drawing 2-2 in that competition last Wednesday, so it could be argued that the Lions are starting to get the measure of Clarence Zebras.

Laura Davis provides the greatest threat to Clarence Zebras but the latter’s defence should be up to the task this time.

Photo:  Olympia's Bonnie Davies (left) is the top scorer in the Women's Super League, while Bronte Gadon is a huge force in midfield for Clarence Zebras [PlessPix]
 

The other semi-final is at Warrior Park at 4.3opm on Sunday, when Olympia Warriors host South Hobart.

South Hobart are a rapidly improving team, but home-ground advantage and greater experience should see the Warriors win the battle to qualify for the cup final.

Olympia have won the league encounters between the sides 1-0, 3-0 and 7-2, so that is a good indication of the way this game should go.

Both semi-finals in the Men’s State-wide Under-20 Cup will be played in the north of the State.

Somerset host Glenorchy Knights at Cardigan Street on Saturday at 2pm, while Riverside Olympic entertain Olympia Warriors at Windsor Park the same day and at the same time.

Home-ground advantage could be crucial in these two semi-finals, although Olympia could be the more likely away winner.

 

Friday, October 30, 2020

Anything can happen in Lakoseljac Cup semi-finals

Photo:  Knights' Alex Bellini (left) and South Hobart coach ken Morton at today's media conference [PlessPix]
 

Glenorchy Knights, South Hobart, Olympia Warriors and Launceston City will be chasing the only piece of silverware still on offer this season when they contest the semi-finals of the Lakoseljac Cup this weekend.

Glenorchy Knights host South Hobart at KGV Park at 6.30pm on Saturday in one semi-final, while on Sunday, Olympia Warriors entertain Launceston City at Warrior Park at 2pm.

Both games appear close affairs and it is difficult to pick the two teams that will contest the cup final in a weeks time.

Knights go into this game with a fine record this season against South Hobart, but they will be smarting after last weeks 4-1 loss at KGV Park to NPL Tasmania champions, Devonport City.

Knights have beaten South Hobart 3-1 away this season, while their most recent meeting earlier this month at KGV Park ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

This is a cup game and anything is possible, especially given that both sides should be at full strength.

Photo:  Alex Bellini should start for Knights against South Hobart tomorrow [PlessPix]
 

Physically, everyones pretty good and we havent had many injuries this year, said Knights midfielder Alex Bellini.

Weve almost kept the same starting eleven so weve been pretty lucky with that.

Im personally proud of what weve achieved this season, but some of us are disappointed because we did want to win the league.

Winning the league was an ambition, but it wasnt always a super realistic one.  Personally, Im proud.

Were all pretty excited about this semi-final as its a big opportunity to win a trophy.

Because we had that loss last week, it might motivate us a bit more.  We might have been a bit complacent so hopefully the set-back will do good things for us.

Well see when we get out there, I suppose.

Against Devonport, I dont we played terribly and it was a case of fine margins and a few defensive mistakes cost us.

I dont think it was a terrible performance.

Bellini said South Hobart were a side that pressed strongly and the 1-1 draw when they last met could have gone any way.

He said the fact this was a cup semi-final makes it unpredictable.

Its 50/50, Bellini said.

Photo:  South Hobart coach Ken Morton said his side would start as the underdogs [PlessPix]
 

South Hobart coach, Ken Morton, said his team would be highly motivated because there was a strong family connection at the club with this trophy.

He said he would field his strongest side and Andy Brennan would start.

Were definitely the underdogs, Morton said.  They beat us well in the first game but I though we were a bit unfortunate in the return game not to have got more here at KGV.

Well go into the game with confidence as weve been playing okay and creating a lot of chances and, if we can put those chances away, well give ourselves a good chance.

Launceston Citys claim to fame is that they knocked out Devonport City in the first round of the competition this year and then knocked out the reigning Southern Champions, Hobart United in the quarterfinals.

A team is only as good as its last game, however, and Citys last game was 2-0 loss to Clarence Zebras in the league.

Olympia have nothing to crow about either as they lost their last game 3-2 away to Kingborough Lions United in the league.

This semi-final may well be a game that goes to extra-time, therefore, although Olympias home-ground advantage should give them a slight edge.

Olympia beat Launceston City 2-1 at Warrior Park and 4-0 away in Launceston, so on that basis, Olympia should be favourites.

But, Launceston City may be regarded as cup specialists this season and they will rely on this reputation to get them through.

A good performance by Rob Gerrard could hold the key to this game.