Glenorchy Knights are where they want to be

Photo:  Devonport's Joel Stone holds off South Hobart duo Sam Berezansky and Bradley Lakoseljac. [PlessPix] 

Devonport Strikers are back on course to defend their NPL Tasmania title after beating leaders South Hobart 2-0 away South Hobart Oval on Saturday.

The Strikers had the better of the game but left their goals very late.

They should have had two or three in the first half, including just after 5 minutes when Eddie Bidwell’s sweeping 40-metre diagonal ball from the left found Brody Denehey in full flight inside the box on the right.  It was a difficult ball to control and Denehey’s first-time shot clipped the top of the bar.

In the 32^nd minute, Joel Stone unleashed a long-range hot, but the ball flew straight at keeper Nick O’Connell.

Photo:  This looks as if Clarence Zebras' Ryan Cook is about to trip Glenorchy Knights' Eduardo Castaneda and concede a penalty.  Castaneda performed a theatrical leap a split second later, prompting referee Mr Mace to book him for 'diving' rather than award a penalty.  What do readers think? [PlessPix]  

Six minutes later, Miles Barnard had the ball in the net after an aerial challenge on the keeper, but referee Mr Plomaritis awarded South Hobart a free-kick because he adjudged Barnard to have fouled O’Connell.

South Hobart had had no real chances and Devonport goalkeeper Nathan Pitchford was dominant in the air and dealt with the crosses with ease.

Devonport finally broke the ice in the 75^th minute when Stone’s corner from the left was flicked towards the far post by Barnard with his head and Denehey nodded it home from point-blank range.

Photo:  Devonport keeper Nathan Pitchford plucks the ball off the head of a South Hobart attacker. [PlessPix]  

South keeper O’Connell was sent off in the final minute when he impetuously raced out of the penalty area and floored Barnard 30 metres from goal.  The Devonport striker appeared to suffer a rib injury and had to be substituted.

Nathan Reid took over from O’Connell in goal for the 5 minutes of stoppage time and, in the closing seconds, fluffed a clearance from a back-pass, sending the ball straight to substitute Jordan Lamb, who advanced on goal and fired into the roof of the net from an acute angle to make it 2-0 for the visitors.

Glenorchy Knights opened up a 3-point lead at the top of the standings after thrashing Clarence Zebras 9-2 at the latter’s Wentworth Park headquarters.

Photo:  Devonport's Toby Barton heads clear after a South Hobart attack. [PlessPix]  

Eli Luttmer opened and closed the scoring for the Knights, while Knights’ new signing from Olympia, Austin Yost, also netted a brace.

Nick Naden was the third Knights player to score twice, while the remaining goals came from Nick Mearns, Cade Smith and Connor Schmidt.

Unsurprisingly, Riley Dillon scored both goals for Clarence Zebras.

Kingborough Lions United righted their ship when they downed the visiting Launceston City 3-1 at Lightwood Park, while Olympia Warriors also got back on track after beating bottom-side Riverside Olympic 2-1 away at Windsor Park in Launceston.

Photo:  Devonport's Daniel Syson shoots for goal against South Hobart. [PlessPix]  

Ben Hamlett and Jack Turner were Kingborough’s marksmen, their third goal being an own-goal, while Yasin Mohammadi hit City’s consolation goal.

Fletcher Fulton gave Riverside a 21^st-minute lead against Olympia, but Kyle Vincent equalised for the southerners in the 33^rd minute.

Joseph Mwarabu hit Olympia’s winner five minutes from the end.

Photo:  South Hobart goalkeeper Nick O'Connell cannot prevent Devonport's Brody Denehey from getting in a shot, but fortunately for the keeper, the ball flew into the side-netting. [PlessPix]

NPL Tasmania (As at 22 May 2021)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Glenorchy Knights	7	6	1	0	28	8	19
South Hobart	7	5	1	1	19	7	16
Devonport City	8	5	1	2	12	8	16
Kingborough Lions	8	5	0	3	15	12	15
Olympia Warriors	7	3	1	3	14	17	10
Clarence Zebras	7	1	1	5	13	25	4
Launceston City	7	1	0	6	5	22	3
Riverside Olympic	7	0	1	6	11	19	1

Photo:  It was good to see one of the big names from the past in Tasmanian football attending the game between Devonport and South Hobart.  Graham Smith was a state representative in the 1950s and 60s and played for clubs in both the north-west and south of the State.  He was a school teacher and later a university lecturer and also played Rugby.  He really was fit and was one of the 'hard men' of Tasmanian football.  He also played for University at the veteran level. [PlessPix]