Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Vale Keiran Love

Photo:  Keiran Love (right) with (L-R) Steve Pettit, Ronnie Bolton and Andy Baxter in 2017. [Photo courtesy of Ronnie Bolton.] 

Former Metro import, Keiran Love, who joined the Claremont side in 2000, has passed away suddenly in Scotland aged 42.

A midfielder, Love, 21, joined Metro with fellow Scots Steve Pettit and Craig Irving.

Metro’s coach at the time was another Scot, Andy Baxter, who was an excellent goalkeeper as a player.

Love had never been noted as a goal scorer, but with Metro in the top flight in 2000, he hit a hat-trick against South Hobart in a 5-4 win for Metro.

Love played as a professional with Prestayr Thistle in Scotland.

He played in the United States of America twice before the move to Australia and Metro in Tasmania.

In Scotland, he had played at sweeper, but was a midfielder when playing for Metro, who were in their first season in the top-flight Wrest Point League in 2000.

The Scottish imports and Scottish coach had an impact and Metro qualified for the final of the State-wide Vase Trophy that year.

After leaving Australia in 2001, Love lived on the Isle of Man for a time and played football.

He was selected to play in a representative team for the Isle of Man in a national football tournament.

He eventually retired because of knee problems and returned to Scotland where he turned his hand to management.

He was an assistant manager in the Ayrshire Premier League for several seasons.

Love was a gentleman on and off the pitch and those who knew and played with him, or against him, when he was in Tasmania in 2000 will be saddened by his passing.

Monday, August 30, 2021

Devonport have the title in the bag

Photo:  Clarence Zebras' Joshua Mathie challenges Knights' Nick Mearns. [PlessPix]

Devonport Striker are favoured to win the 2021 NPL Tasmania title with just two games remaining.

They have a 3-point lead over second-placed Glenorchy Knights and a better goal-difference, which should see them retain their title even if they lose to the Knights next weekend away at KGV Park.

Devonport beat third-placed South Hobart 2-1 at Valley Road, a result which made it impossible for South Hobart to take out the title.

Glenorchy Knights struggled to secure a 1-0 win over Clarence Zebras and they now face an almost impossible task to pip Devonport for the title.

The league’s leading marksman, Brody Denehey, gave Devonport the lead against South Hobart midway through the first half, but Kasper Hallam equalised just before the interval.

South Hobart goalkeeper Nick O’Connell must have had a sudden rush of blood to the head 9 minutes after the resumption as he retaliated to a slight challenge by Joel Stone and knocked the Devonport player over unnecessarily, prompting the referee to award a penalty, which was converted by Denehey to give Devonport a 2-1 win.

Knights had almost all the possession and chances against Clarence Zebras but managed just a single goal.

They spread the ball beautifully from flank to flank with long diagonal balls, but there was no-one to finish the inviting crosses from the wings.

The breakthrough came in the 48th minute when Eli Luttmer headed home Eduardo Castaneda’s corner to give Knights victory.

Clarence Zebras had two chances to embarrass the Knights.  Riley Dillon fired wide early in the second half after a quick counter-attack, while James Ackerley was unable to get to a cross at the far post and head at goal.

In other games, Olympia Warriors beat bottom-side Riverside Olympic 4-1 at home at Warrior Park through goals by Kyle Vincent, Matthew Bomford, Bilal Ait Maamar and Brayton Allan.

William Humphrey had given Riverside a shock early lead before succumbing meekly.

Kingborough Lions United made sure of fourth place with a 4-1 away win over Launceston City at Buckby Motors Park.

NPL Tasmania Results:

Devonport Strikers 2-1 South Hobart

Olympia Warriors 4-1 Riverside Olympic

Glenorchy Knights 1-0 Clarence Zebras

Launceston City 1-4 Kingborough Lions United

NPL Tasmania standings (As at 28 August 2021)

TEAM

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Devonport City

19

15

2

2

53

12

47

Glenorchy Knights

19

13

5

1

51

17

44

South Hobart

19

11

4

4

46

22

37

Kingborough Lions

19

9

4

6

38

36

30

Launceston City

19

7

1

11

25

43

22

Olympia Warriors

19

5

3

11

30

43

18

Clarence Zebras

19

4

3

12

27

51

15

Riverside Olympic

19

0

3

16

24

71

3