I know we’ve only had one round in the NPL Tasmania competition, and I know I’ve often said it’s a waste of time making predictions in football because the game is fascinating because it’s so unpredictable, but I’m going to stick my neck out.
I reckon only three teams can win the NPL Tasmania title and they are Glenorchy Knights, Devonport Strikers and South Hobart.
The other five teams will be of nuisance value at best. They may well help decide the title, but they can’t win it.
Glenorchy Knights, the reigning champions, will be a title contender based on their performance on Saturday.
It wasn’t a great performance, but a 5-0 win is not to be sneezed at. But, it was against last year’s wooden-spooners and anything less than a win would have been a poor result.
Three of Knights’ five goals came from set-pieces.
Hugh Undy hit the first from a free-kick after only 3 minutes, while captain Eli Luttmer bagged the second from a penalty to make it 2-0 at the interval.
The other three goals did not come until the final 15 minutes.
Nick Naden got his customary goal by scooping up the crumbs in the 75th minute, while Austin Yost scored Knights’ fourth from a well-taken free-kick in the 83rd minute.
The goal of the game, and one which will be in contention for ‘goal-of-the-year’, was the one by Yost in the final minute. His first-time half-volley from outside the box was magnificent and would not be out of place at the highest levels of the game.
Riverside offered little resistance and may have had a couple of half-chances, but coach Alex Gaetani has a lot of work to do with this group of players.
.JPG)
Devonport Strikers finished second last season. They re-visited the scene of their demise last season, Lightwood Park, which has been rebranded Clennett’s Lightwood Park.
They lost 2-1 there to the Lions on the last day of the league season, enabling Glenorchy Knights to take out the title when they beat Launceston City 1-0 at KGV Park.
The Strikers were determined not to lose there on the opening day of this season and they swept aside Kingborough Lions United 4-0.
Two of the goals came from penalties, however, while one was an own-goal by Kingborough keeper Roan Gillam.
The remaining goal - the second of the game - came from Devonport’s new signing Ali Dulleh, who got past the Lions’ skipper Keenan Douce and bent his shot past the advancing Gillam.
Roberto Fernandez Garrido, a Spanish signing, was excellent for Devonport.
He possesses a powerful shot and opened the scoring after 3 minutes with a penalty, awarded for Douce’s foul on Dulleh.
Dulleh netted the second just before the break, while Gillam could only help the ball into his own net for the third 2 minutes after the resumption.
Garrido scored his second penalty of the game in the 68th minute after he was fouled by Jorden Mundy.
Kingborough had at least three good scoring chances. Devonport’s new keeper, Keegan Smith, dived to his right to keep out a goal-bound shot from Noah Mies, Kobe Kemp hit the base of a post, and Chris Downes’s pile-driver was well saved by Smith.
.JPG)
Devonport will be up there come the final round, whereas Kingborough will do well to finish in the top-four.
South Hobart will surely be in the running after their 5-0 away win over Olympia Warriors [see my match report from Friday.]
Olympia are in big trouble. They lack experience, and the experience they have is a little too old.
They have no real midfield and their defence is porous.
Up front they rely on Alex Holmes, who has a right knee heavily bandaged but who’s major contribution looks like being a role model for the youngsters around him. There’s nothing wrong with that, but they need someone to score goals.
Launceston City beat Clarence Zebras 4-3 in a see-sawing Italian derby in Launceston.
Riley Dillon was, not surprisingly, one of Clarence Zebras’ scorers, while American import Daniel Bumgartner also got on the scoresheet, as did new local signing from South Hobart, Sam Tooze.
Daniel Smith found the net twice for Launceston City, whose other goals came from Jaden Fidra and Adrian Paez.
So, there it is. Glenorchy Knights, Devonport City and South Hobart to fight it out for the title, with the other five teams the also-rans.
17 comments:
Agree with you 100%.
Devonport South then Knights . Rest a mile behind especially Olympia and Riverside.
If knights can be near those 2 with the players they will have done very well. Kingborough aren't that bad the third goal was clearly a foul. Devonport should run away with it.
I would have Knights back with the others. Two horse race but as you pointed out Walter its only week 1.
Port in a league of their own.
Can you do a Championship prediction Walter? That'll be a close run league campaign.
A southern team brings 3 players in from out of the state and uproar they are buying the league. Go past campbell town and nothing is mentioned. Double standards
Oh, how some of these comments have aged...a penny for your thoughts? I'd like a refund thanks. Good run down Walter.
Walter I withdraw my comment about Knights being back with the rest. It doesn't mean I like them though
Grow up.
Walter was giving his view on the title contenders and you didn't rate the knights.
Silly you.
George what's it got to do with you ? I never rate Knights.
Like I said grow up .
You made the comment.
Now you retract it and you come up with what's it got to do with you.
We all read Walters articles so it got a lot to do with all who read his articles.
Poor George has his blood pressure up.
No way mate .
No blood pressure worries.
This guy stated he didn't rate the knights .
He's real smart not rating the current premiers who have only strengthened their squad.
Very smart man he isnt
That's why the reserves got smashed..........such a strong squad NOT. Only premiers because Port lost it too.
Sour grapes 8.20am
Not at all 8:00 pm just the facts.
Nice excuse mate.
Yes your seniors are only as good as your reserves generally.
But with a good squad of 15 to 20 players reserve borderline players don't come into play.
Unless you have more than 6 players injured suspended or on holidays.
Just admit it was a silly statement.
Port lost it for sure by not winning the last game at the den.
But you can't say the knights didn't win it because they were in the position to take advantage off any mishap by Devonport.
Try speaking the truth with an open mind
This year only three teams can win it.
South Hobart knights or Devonport.
Who will win it is a ??? .
The side that doesn't drop points to side running 4th to 7 th and the side that wins against the other 2 top teams.
Good luck working that out.
Hope it's a close comp again.
My brains spinning after the last paragraph.
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