Sunday, June 20, 2021

Knights come back to earth with a thud

Photo:  South Hobart's Kasper Hallam is tackled by Clarence Zebras' Finleh Crespan. [PlessPix] 

NPL Tasmania leaders Glenorchy Knights were embarrassingly held to a 2-2 draw away at Warrior Park on Saturday evening by fifth-placed Olympia Warriors.

Nicholas Mearns and Austin Yost, who both transferred to the Knights from Olympia this season, both scored against their former club before 10 minutes were up and the Knights appeared to be cruising to victory.

Olympia recovered, however, and a goal by Koby Moschogianis on the half-hour mark gave the home side some hope.  The referee had to consult his assistant before awarding the goal, however, as there had been some confusion in the box when the ball went into the net.

Seven minutes after the resumption, Olympia drew level when Knights keeper Lachlan Hart produced a howler from a long-range free-kick by Moschogianis, who claimed his second goal of the match.

Photo:  Kobe Moschogianis (No.3) is congratulated by team-mates. [PlessPix]  

The draw was a blow for Knights, whose 3-point lead at the top of the standings before the weekend’s action was reduced to one point as second-placed Devonport Strikers accounted for visitors Launceston City 2-0 at Valley Road through two seco9nd-half goals by Brody Denehey (50th and 88th).

South Hobart stayed in touch with the leading pair through a somewhat fortuitous 2-1 away win over sixth-placed Clarence Zebras at Wentworth Park.

Kasper Hallam put South Hobart in front after just 2 minutes when he attacked down the right and cut inside before squeezing the ball home at the near post.

It was a soft goal conceded by a hesitant Clarence Zebras rearguard that seemed reluctant to tackle or block.

Photo:  South Hobart's Hugh Undy crossing the ball. [PlessPix]  

On the stroke of half-time, Hallam made it 2-0 for the visitors when he fired home after Nick Morton had picked him out with a right-wing cross.

Riley Dillon inevitably scored Clarence Zebras’ goal.  He got onto the end of a James Ackerley cross from the right in the 52nd minute to give the home team some hope.

Clarence Zebras had some good chances through Dwayne Walsh, Matthew Pace, Ackerley and Simon Stankovich, but South Hobart held form to earn an invaluable 3 points.

Hugh Undy, who was returning from injury, was a live-wire in midfield, but he was replaced at the interval because of yet another niggling injury.

South Hobart, too, had their chances with three efforts ruled out because of off-side.

Photo:  Knights keeper Lachlan Hart is deceived by a long-range free-kick and the ball sails into the net. [PlessPix]  

Bottom-side Riverside Olympic led fourth-placed Kingborough Lions United 4-1 before being reduced to eight players and just holding on for a 4-4 draw.

Kenneth Trac gave Kingborough the lead midway through the first half but Fletcher Fulton then grabbed a brace to put the home side 2-1 up.

Tom Prince’s strike just before the break gave Riverside a 3-1 lead at the interval.

Prince grabbed a second just after the resumption and the visiting Lions seemed destined for defeat.

The dismissal of Todd Mitchell made the Lions’ task a little bit easier and when Jack Turner scored shortly after to make it 4-2, cracks started to appear in the home side’s defence.

Red cards to Fulton (75th) and Prince (82nd), the scorers of Riverside’s goals, paved the way for a Kingborough comeback.

The game took on the form of a training exercise and two free-kicks by the Lions’ Greg Downes (83rd and 93rd) made it 4-4.

Riverside almost grabbed a last-minute winner in an eventful match, but the shot hit the Kingborough woodwork.

Photo:  Olympia's Bilal Ait Maamar is tackled by a Knights defender. [PlessPix]  

NPL Tasmania (As at 19 June 2021)

TEAM

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Glenorchy Knights

9

7

2

0

33

10

23

Devonport City

10

7

1

2

20

9

22

South Hobart

9

6

2

1

22

9

20

Kingborough Lions

10

5

1

4

19

19

16

Olympia Warriors

9

3

2

4

17

23

11

Clarence Zebras

9

2

1

6

18

28

7

Launceston City

9

1

1

7

6

25

4

Riverside Olympic

9

0

2

7

16

29

2

 

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Walt, the last 2 goals for Boro were Greg Downes free kicks.

Walter said...

Thanks so much, mate. The betting site got it wrong and that particular official never responds to my email requests, so I appreciate your info. I shall rely on the clubs in future. Cheers!
Walt

Anonymous said...

"that particular official never responds to my email requests"

Yep the referees are bigger than the game.

They should be forced by rule to respond to the media requests Walter.

Walter said...

I'm not complaining as 99% of the referees are very accommodating and provide me with team sheets and scorers if I am not at a game and email them with the request. They are very helpful. Perhaps I trod on someone's toes at some time (LOL).

Anonymous said...

Have said it for 2 seasons u cannot win a championship without a class striker and Knights will not win for this reason. You can score as many goals as you want against the lower teams but against the mid table and top teams you cannot. Alex Walter did a job for them last season but they do not have a B.Mann or M.Sanders in there line up who will score with 1 touch for the game. Dport to win the league by 5 points

Anonymous said...

Knights problem is not the scoring it's the conceding the bloke in the sticks is the weak link

Anonymous said...

Clown. Knights had a class striker last year and didn't win the league but they did get a cup and probably were the best cup side. Devonport were the best team

Anonymous said...

Anon 11.17 pm.
Oh of course! Now we have best 'cup' sides and best 'other' sides.

What a load of c.....p!

Anonymous said...

I watched some of the footage from the Riverside game against Kingborough expecting woeful refereeing from an official out of his depth. What I saw, was an official that made the right call on all three red cards, with the only one with the slightest hint of it being a harsh decision being Fulton's.

The carry on from Riverside supporters and officials on a weekly basis is very poor and that was evident when watching the footage and seeing the followup comments from the president and others on social media criticising the officials.

Even the ultra supportive Rob Shaw from the Examiner commented on them having nothing to complain about with the decisions that were made.

I hope FT do review the game, but the review would be unlikely to go the way that Riverside might like!

The Zohan said...

Hi Walter, I'm led to believe that Undy was subbed not for a niggling injury but to ensure he would not pick up another one on his return game. On the game, I thought South Hobart played pretty well and were obviously the more adept team in maintaining possession. Clarence Zebras let themselves down with a lot of unforced turn overs when trying to progress the ball up the park. That being said, I thought they probably could (and maybe should) have been up at half-time after some determined fast break football and cross field passing. Overall though a pretty enjoyable game with some descent intensity between two teams going through a period of renewal.

Anonymous said...

Agree about Riverside supporters and officials. FT should sanction the club. Game was well refereed.

Anonymous said...

������ you’re sooo funny, he won the Golden Glove last year and only conceded 9 this year and most under controversial circumstances.