Saturday, September 4, 2021

Devonport should retain their NPL Tasmania title against Knights

Photo:  Knights will find Devonport goalkeeper Nathan Pitchford hard to beat. [PlessPix] 

It’s the last throw of the dice for Glenorchy Knights tomorrow.

They host league-leaders Devonport Strikers at KGV Park and, if Knights lose, Devonport will retain their NPL Tasmania title.

Football Tasmania president Bob Gordon will present the trophy to Devonport after the game, providing Devonport win.

It’s difficult to see anything but a Devonport win.

They are the highest scoring side, have conceded the least number of goals, have the best goal-difference, and lead second-placed Knights by 3 points.

The visitors should be at full strength and they have the best goalkeeper (Nathan Pitchford) and the league’s leading marksman (Brody Denehey).

The Knights have been unimpressive in the scoring department in their past two games.

They drew 0-0 with Olympia two weeks ago and just scraped home 1-0 last weekend against Clarence Zebras.

This hardly inspires confidence in their ability to beat the league-leaders, let alone make up the gap in goal-difference between the sides.

Third-placed South Hobart should have no problems in beating bottom-side Riverside Olympic at South Hobart Oval.

Riverside have not won a league match this season and are unlikely to break their duck tomorrow.

Second-last Clarence Zebras face fifth-ranked Launceston City at Wentworth Park at 4.30pm and will be hard-pressed to defeat the northerners.

City have beaten Clarence Zebras 2-0 on two occasions this season and the trend may not alter tomorrow.

Fourth-placed Kingborough Lions United entertain sixth-placed Olympia Warriors at 6.30pm at Lightwood Park.

Both these teams have been hot and cold this season and anything could happen tomorrow.

In the previous two meetings between the clubs this season, Kingborough have 2-1.

It might just be possible for Olympia to reverse this trend tomorrow.

NPL Tasmania schedule for Saturday, 4 September 2021:

South Hobart v Riverside Olympic (South Hobart Oval, 2pm)

Glenorchy Knights v Devonport Strikers (KGV Park, 2.15pm)

Clarence Zebras v Launceston City (Wentworth Park, 4.30pm)

Kingborough Lions United v Olympia Warriors (Lightwood Park, 6.30pm)

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

 

 

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Safe to say everyone that's not Knights will want a Port win.

Anonymous said...

Knights should look for a new coach if Sherman doesnt win this game

Anonymous said...

Hopefully Devonport don’t fall over before a tackle goes in like last week. Look out for this referees.

Anonymous said...

They are. He's going to the mainland to coach.

Anonymous said...

Contract extension then?

Anonymous said...

Congrats today to Knights

makes a great last week

Anonymous said...

Hes beaten the top side once with the most expensive outfit in the NPL. I wouldn't be giving him one.

Anonymous said...

well has that shut a few people up. The Knights stood up to the usual Devonport bully boys tactics, didn't put up with their usual fall back tactic of when in doubt foul. How Stratos left it to the last minute of the first half for the first booking was surprising, i think the bully boys where up to 15 or so fouls at that point. A very physical game with the Knights rightfully coming out on top. Good to see Pitchford finally getting booked again for his interference in things he shouldn't. Why people want to spread the lie that Sherman is leaving to coach on the mainland next year is beyond me. He is not, stop spreading the lie.

Anonymous said...

Who cares if he goes or not. Knights were lucky today. The title is still Ports.

Anonymous said...

@anon 8PM

Funny how ppl say that knights have the most expensive outfit in the npl, when dport sth and kingborough all pay their players more. And before sth ppl start off with the "we don't pay our players" argument, whether a player gets paid directly by the club or through a club sponsor is irrelevant. Dport have long been the wealthiest club in the state, and their players are the highest paid. Add to that their coach on 70k+, it's not surprising they have remained at the top for so long.

Anonymous said...

If you think Knights are not paying rediculous money you are sadly mistaken. I think players deserve to get pay and think they should get as much as they can but please do not talk crap

Anonymous said...

Its because they are. I'm sick of Knights people trying to deny what is well known in the football community. Players talk and the truth is out there. Knights are trying to buy a title rather than develop their own players and actually work for one.

Anonymous said...

Don't see any denial from knights people they admit $ to players I'll ask you something if other clubs say they don't pay players then the knights have no competition for the $ and wouldn't actually have to pay that much would they
Wait and see next season the imports will be back