Devonport City began the defence of their NPL Tasmania title in familiar fashion.
They beat Launceston City 1-0 away through a 70th-minute goal by new signing Nick Lanau-Atkinson.
What one must remember is that 21 1-0 victories would ensure a side of the title, so I guess Devonport are at least on course.
If they ever reproduce the brilliant form that saw them demolish Glenorchy Knights 4-1 at KGV Park in the final league game of last season, they will be unstoppable.
South Hobart are top of the standings after the opening round, however, on goal-difference after walloping Clarence Zebras 6-2 at South Hobart Oval in a rare but very welcome top-flight Sunday game.
Topping the standings after just one round is pretty meaningless overall, however, so they won’t be uncorking the champagne at South Hobart Oval yet.
Sam Tooze headed South Hobart in front from a left-wing cross in the 12th minute. The worrying thing for Clarence Zebras was that he had been left unmarked.
Matthew Pace almost equalised in the 36th minute, but his sizzling low drive just passed on the wrong side of the far left-hand post.
With a minute of the first half remaining, Clarence Zebras drew level through a penalty, awarded for Jayden Hey’s foul on Pace. Riley Dillon was untroubled in converting the spot-kick and making it 1-1 at half-time.
The second half was just 2 minutes old when Kasper Hallam restored South Hobart’s lead when he collected a precise pass from Sam Berezansky inside the box and beat keeper Joshua Jones.
In the 49th minute, Berezansky’s cross enabled Nick Morton to make it 3-1.
Hallam crossed for Berezansky to score from close range in the 61st minute and make it 4-1 before Pace scored the goal of the game in the 63rd minute to put Clarence Zebras within two goals of the home side. Pace waltzed past four or five defenders with brilliant control before shooting into the bottom far left-hand corner of the net.
That appeared to be the end result, but South Hobart grabbed two goals in quick succession before the final whistle.
In the 90th minute, Hallam cut the ball back from the left for Morton to score his second and South Hobart’s fifth, while in the 3rd minute of stoppage time, right-back Lachlan Semmler beat keeper Jones at his near post with a shot from the corner of the box on the right to make it 6-2.
The game was characterised by poor defending by Clarence Zebras which was punished mercilessly by an adventurous young South Hobart outfit.
Glenorchy Knights beat Olympia Warriors 1-0 through a 72nd-minute goal by Alex Walter.
Knights dominated proceedings, but Olympia had a couple of decent chances that could have embarrassed the home side.
Kingborough Lions United went behind against Riverside Olympic to a Tom Prince header in the 37th minute at home at Lightwood Park, but Adam McKeown struck shortly after to make it 1-1 at the interval.
Four minutes after the resumption, a throw-in on the left by Jack Turner was cleared to Keenan Douce, whose first-time right-footed shot deceived the Riverside keeper and went under his body and into the net to give the Lions the lead.
McKeown sealed the win near the end with his second goal of the game. Kobe Kemp’s shot was deflected high into the air and McKeown out-jumped a defender and impudently back-headed the ball into the net without looking at the target to give the home side a 3-1 win.
17 comments:
I would like to know how many Kingborough past or current youth players are in their squad, if the answer is none. I would like to know WHY. I hope someone can rely nicely.
Hi Anonymous
I went through the Kingborough facebook post on their current squad (posted within the last week) and I counted 10 in the squad who I think played for Kingborough at youth level. Hope this helps. It is a complex thing trying to navigate a junior player to then a youth player to then a senior player. I would be interested in how many other clubs (no matter what level they play at) have more than a handful who have followed the one club pathway. It also throws up a question regarding does it matter? If you play one season or 10 or your whole life, is it not your impact upon club and culture that matters? I am a life member at Kingborough, past president of the club and played for Albuera St Primary, West Hobart Junior Soccer Club, Juventus, Calies, West Hobart Calies and Kingborough. Most people would assume I was a Kingborough junior. Not sure that it matters. Kingborough have tried that approach for 20 years and not had any lasting success, so why not try and build a culture that attracts other players. South, Knights, Olympia, Devonport, in fact anyone who has had success has done just that.
Cheers - Charlie
I have grave fears for the NPL sadly Football Tasmania have sunk to it's lowest point the game in the State is in serious peril .
The comment below is from a clueless person who has no idea. The only thing that matters at an NPL club is picking the best squad available to win. That is it pure and simple. If you do not like that or think it unfair go and support a social club. This will be a club where being fair matters and winning is very low on the list of priorities.
"I would like to know how many Kingborough past or current youth players are in their squad, if the answer is none. I would like to know WHY. I hope someone can rely nicely."
March 23, 2021 at 2:52 PM
Finally reasonable players are not frightened of travelling the 10 minutes up the Southern Outlet and are plying their skills with the Lions. In the past it's always been a merry-go-round between, Olympia, zebras and the knights. It's becoming a level playing field, thankfully!
are the brown twins still playing? if someone knows and doesn't mind saying. such good players!
What are your grave fears? That it's not going to exist or it's not very good?
Anon 12.01 pm. May have slot to do with the ridiculous money that is being paid
to players. Will finish fourth again
Hey Anon 5.27
You make it sound like it's illegal to offer payment to players. Are there any clubs that don't? I'm sure some offer more than others, unlikely that Kingborough is one of them. However if Kingborough has suddenly found a rich benefactor, then good luck to them.
More to do with the way the game is run the federation is awful at present!
Anon 3.08. I was giving you a reason why players went there to play.
It was purely for the money they are offering.
I didn’t say no one else pays players or it is illegal. What a stupid comment, so please do not put
words in my mouth. They will still finish fourth.
Anon 6.42, you are way too clever for me, I will cease the "stupid comments". I may as well stop watching the league since you already know where clubs will finish. However if you are wrong, I 'll get back to you at the end of the season. cheerio!
Anon 11.31. Good on you. . Do us a favour
Gee Dev must have lots of cash otherwise how could they pay the possible 2 best players in the leauge and keep them there ?
Re : last photo. About three years ago I went on a couple of lengthy rants about back to player slide tackles...( I was advised to watch tv as apparently they do them there) ..yes it is indeed a pandemic. I still hold they are dangerous if not just dumb when performed as this one is inside the box. They are by anatomical imperative a studs up challenge, so high risk for score lines and ankles that are not yours.
Mr Darcy you have no clue!
Well thank you for the assessment mr 757.
You are clearly a person clue rich on this matter. Don't keep them hidden away in an old sock why not reveal them. Just one will do. The question is simple.
Q: why is a back to player sliding tackle more efficient than a facing one.?
You can phone a friend , one of the millions around the world that choose this option. Surely one will have a clue.
My fear is the answer you will get is " oh, just can't tackle with my left foot, feels weird .. so I just sort of jump at them backwards .. better than nothing I guess, looks great and everyone goes wow! Mr 110%."
All players train themselves to kick with both feet but learning to tackle with both feet is a bridge to far it seems.
My comments originally, some years ago, were after a KGV sideline conversation where a female state rep parent suggested to me that they should be banned altogether due to their role in so many injuries. I was shocked at the thought but understood where he was coming from . I am a great fan of the tackle when executed clinically, but not the lazy agricultural version I see too frequently from the San Siro to KGV and everywhere in between these days.
So mr 757 I look forward to you clueing me in! Why is it so good?
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