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One of the highlights of last weekend’s round of NPL Tasmania games was the performance of South Hobart youngster Josh Divin.
The teenager scored four goals in his side’s 4-4 draw with Kingborough Lions United, which was a magnificent contribution.
Kingborough’s Noah Mies also played well, scoring twice for the Lions.
Kingborough will be kicking themselves for dropping two points.
They took the lead after just 3 minutes and led 4-2 midway through the second half before conceding two goals in two minutes in the last 10 minutes to draw.
Mies put the Lions ahead in the 3rd minute when he swept home Kobe Kemp’s pass after a cross from the right by Keenan Douce.
Divin equalised in the 13th minute after a short corner, heading home after contorting his body to connect with the cross. His finish was exceptional and would normally be associated with an older and more experienced performer. It is no wonder that interstate clubs are showing interest in signing him.
Divin made it 2-1 for South on the stroke of half-time when a cross from Sam Berezansky on the right was touched on by Nick Morton and Divin fired home.
Former South Hobart star Kemp drew the Lions level in the 61st minute, while Mies started and finished the move which saw the Lions edge ahead 3-2. Mies played a long diagonal ball from the right to Andrew Taylor on the left wing and was on hand to head home Taylor’s lob into the box.
When Adam McKeown raced away to make it 4-2 for the visitors in the 68th minute, three points appeared certain for Kingborough.
South Hobart are at their most dangerous when they are trailing in the closing stages of a match, and so it proved again.
In the 81st minute, Divin collected a short pass from Morton on the left and chipped a delightful goal from 20 metres into the far right-hand corner of the net to complete his hat-trick and make it one goal the difference.
Within a minute, Divin made it 4-4. Iskander Van Doorne’s long range shot from the right was blocked by goalkeeper James Ross and, as the ball looped into the air, Divin headed it home.
The lessons learned were: South Hobart never say die and fight until the end, while the Lions will need to learn how to defend a lead.
Devonport Strikers ensured themselves of second spot with a 4-0 win over surprise packet Launceston City at home at Valley Road.
Joel Stone showed why he should start rather than warm the bench when he gave Devonport a 2-0 lead with goal in the 25th and 33rd minutes.
Yasin Mohammadi made it 3-0 with a goal against his former club in the 39th minute and the visitors’ early season confidence must have been dented somewhat as they trooped in for the half-time break 3-0 down.
Henry Andrews completed the 4-0 win with a goal 12 minutes from the end.
Olympia Warriors finally collected a win after they demolished Riverside Olympic 5-0 away at Windsor Park.
It will probably be one of the few wins the Warriors will earn this season, but it probably lifted a cloud hanging over the club this season.
New signing from Kingborough, Vincent Turner, netted twice, while Anthony Mamic and Will Simaan, the latter making his NPL debut, also scored.
The last goal was an own-goal by the Riverside keeper.
Glenorchy Knights, the reigning champions and current league leaders, overcame a keen Clarence Zebras outfit 2-1 away at Wentworth Park.
Jordan Muller opened the scoring for Knights in a packed goalmouth in the 25th minute after Eli Luttmer’s low header across the box from the right.
Daniel Baumgartner levelled for Clarence Zebras in the 58th minute but Austin Yost hammered home another great goal for the winner 20 minutes from the end.
Knights hit the woodwork twice in this match so it could have been a bigger win, although Clarence Zebras never gave up and did create some chances.
Goalkeeper Reef Murfett was still out injured and Alex Woodham proved a reliable understudy yet again.
NPL Tasmania results on Saturday, 9 April 2022
South Hobart 4-4 Kingborough Lions United
Clarence Zebras 1-2 Glenorchy Knights
Devonport Strikers 4-0 Launceston City
Riverside Olympic 0-5 Olympia Warriors
NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 9 April 2022)
|
TEAM |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
Glenorchy Knights |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
9 |
2 |
10 |
|
Devonport Strikers |
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
12 |
1 |
9 |
|
Launceston City |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
|
South Hobart |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
10 |
5 |
5 |
|
Kingborough Lions |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
8 |
4 |
|
Clarence Zebras |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
6 |
3 |
|
Olympia Warriors |
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
12 |
3 |
|
Riverside Olympic |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
18 |
0 |
5 comments:
Josh Divin is the complete striker. If you didn't know who he was or how old he was and just watched him play, watched the runs he makes and people he brings into the game , you would think he was a 25-30 year old striker. If he continues to improve I believe he could play at a much higher level in the very near future. Provided South are not selfish enough and talk him into staying here longer than he needs to. I would be very surprised if he has not been identified already by clubs in higher leagues.
Time for a new coach at Riverside.
No other club in the NPL league would have kept him as head coach for this long with the past results.
Walters article already said interstate clubs are looking at him. Thanks for basically repeating what was already written.
Anon 11.49PM. Well my apologies to you your lordship!
I didn't read the article before posting. I am very sorry .
I saw the headlines on my phone and commented.
I hope that explanation suffices ? A thousand apologies for repeating what was already written.
I've watched Kingborough a few times recently. The big question remains is that can they move from mid table mediocrity to genuine title contenders...
They have definitely improved on previous seasons however (but shipping 4 goals a piece to two of their title rivals is a worry). I'm impressed by the Hess brothers and Mies especially. Kemp is an excellent athlete but I wouldn't go as far to call him a star. Not yet anyway.
As you say though Walter, it's a game of opinions!
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