South Hobart sweep Olympia aside in Lakoseljac Cup semi-final

Photo:  Olympia's Alex Homes has a bone to pick with South Hobart's Nick Morton because of his challenge on Olympia goalkeeper Connor McGuinness. [PlessPix] 

(Lakoseljac Cup Semi-Final, Empire Couriers Park, Saturday, 28 May 2022)

Olympia Warriors 1 (J Sammut 27)

South Hobart 6 (L Bighin 4, L Semmler 45+1, S Berezansky 47, J Lancaster 64, B Lakoseljac 78, 82)

HT:  1-2  Att:  100   Ref:  S Plomaritis

Olympia Warriors:  McGuinness  -  Allan, Holmes, Sloan, Simaan  -  Vivarelli (Clothier 77), Sammut, Houston, Cummins (Giri 64)  -  Barratt (Amari 78), Mamic  [Subs not used:  Turner, M Moschogianis (GK)]

South Hobart:  Hayers  -  Herweynen, Bighin, Feral, Semmler  -  Lancaster, Morton, Lakoseljac  -  Berezansky, Divin, (Higgins 71) Van Doorne  [Subs not used:  Attfield, Goodsir, Reid (GK)]

Photo:  Olympia's Anthony Mamic is all over South Hobart centre-back Loic Feral. [PlessPix] 

South Hobart qualified for the 2022 Milan Lakoseljac Cup Final by beating Olympia Warriors 6-1 away at Empire Couriers Park on Saturday night.

Earlier that day, Devonport Strikers also made it to the final with a 1-0 win over Kingborugh Lions United at Valley Road, the goal coming midway through the second half from a header by captain Kieran Mulraney.

South Hobart were faster, stronger and more accurate than Olympia and after leading 2-1 at half-time, added four more goals in the second half.

Photo:  A close call for the Warriors. [PlessPix]  

They took an early lead when Luke Bighin, a central defender, moved up for a free-kick and nodded home in a crowded goalmouth.

Joel Sammut equalised for the home side in the 27^th minute with a nice shot into the roof of the net, but in stoppage time at the end of the first half, fullback Lachlan Semmler restored the visitors’ lead with a fierce drive inside the near post from an acute angle.

Before that, Bradley Lakoseljac  -  the trophy is named in honour of his late grandfather  -  smashed a great drive against a post.

Photo:  South Hobart's Sam Berezansky shrugs off Olympia's Ewan Sloan. [PlessPix]  

The Warriors must have had their morale dented by the goals coming in the opening minutes and virtually the last minute of the half.  It’s such goals at these crucial times that can knock the stuffing out of a side and bring them to their knees.

To add insult to injury, the second half was a mere 2 minutes old when Sam Berezansky’s low free-kick was fumbled by the keeper and it was 3-1 for South Hobart.

Photo:  South Hobart's Josh Divin surrounded by Warriors Brayton Allan, Alex Homes and William Simaan. [PlessPix]  

It could have been more as Iskander Van Doorne was causing havoc on the wings and twice hit the woodwork when he might have scored.

Two goals by Lakoseljac in the closing 10 minutes finished Olympia off.

Olympia tried their hardest, but their youngsters lack experience rather than willpower and they were over-run by a young South Hobart side that is an efficient and well-coached unit.

South Hobart and Devonport have been regular finalists in the past six years and they fully deserve to contest this year’s final.

Photo:  Lachlan Semmler about to score and restore South Hobart's lead just before half-time. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  South Hobart's Bradley Lakoseljac is brought down by Olympia's Joel Sammut (on the ground) as he tries to get past Simon Vivarelli. [PlessPix]

Sunday results - 29 May 2022

Photo:  Launceston City keeper, Noah Curtis, punches out a cross. [PlessPix] 

Under-20 State-wide Cup Semi-Final

South Hobart 3 (Daniel Arnaiz, Samuel Cornelius, Kaleb Robinson) beat Launceston City 0

Photo:  Launceston City's Evan Pereira heads the ball while under pressure from South Hobart's Matios Michael. [PlessPix]  

NPL Development League

Glenorchy Knights 5-0 Kingborough Lions United

Photo:  Glenorchy Knights' Josie Hamlett shoots at goal against Clarence Zebras. [PlessPix]  

Women's Southern Championship

Glenorchy Knights 0-3 Clarence Zebras 

Photo:  Clarence Zebras' Allie Berry scores a penalty against Knights, whose keeper got her hands to the ball but couldn't keep it out. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Clarence Zebras' Monique Schnitzer (left) in a tussle with Knights' Josie Hamlett. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Clarence Zebras' Zoe Nichols looks for a way past Knights' defenders Tahlia Foster and Annabelle Sartori. [PlessPix]

 

Photo:  Launceston City's Riley Fellows heads clear and thwarts South Hobart's Matios Michael. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Launceston City goalkeeper Noah Curtis clears the danger. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  This South Hobart shot cannoned back into play off the base of the left-hand post. [PlessPix]

Photo:  South Hobart's Yuri Ware is airborne and a team-mate may be about to feel his studs. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Glenorchy Knights' Graciella Baez eludes a Clarence Zebras opponent. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  South Hobart's Matios Michael holds off Launceston City's Evan Pereira. [PlessPix]

[A minute's silence was observed before the South Hobart versus Launceston City cup semi-final in memory of South Hobart stalwart Brian Roberts, who passed away during the previous evening.]

Saturday results - 28 May 2022

Photo:  Eagles' Sam Leszczynski on a run against Hobart United. [PlessPix] 

Lakoseljac Cup Semi-finals

Devonport Strikers 1 (Kieran Mulraney 65) beat Kingboorugh Lions United 0

Olympia Warriors 1 (Joel Sammutt 27) lost to South Hobart 6 (Luke Bighin 4, Lachie Semmler 45+1, Sam Berezansky 47, Jacob Lancaster 64, Bradley Lakoseljac 78, 82)

Photo:  Action from the cup semi-final between Taroona and Launceston United at Kelvedon Park today. [PlessPix] 

Photo:  South Hobart's Luke Bighin (No.5) heads home against Olympia. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Lachie Semmler beats Olympia keeper Connor McGuinness at the near post to make it 2-1 for South Hobart. [PlessPix]

Women's State-wide Cup

Taroona 1-3 Launceston United

Kingborough Lions United 2-1 Devonport Strikers 

Photo:  Action from the Championship 1 game between New Town White Eagles and Hobart United at Clare Street today. [PlessPix]  

Under-20 State-wide Cup

Devonport Strikers 4-1 Riverside Olympic

Photo:  Hobart United coach Atif Abdaltam makes a point. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Eagles' coach Tommy Fotak looks at his bench and possibly ponders a change.  Star player Luke Huigsloot (third from left on bench) was indisposed and did not start. [PlessPix]  

Men's Southern Championship

New Town White Eagles 0-2 Hobart United

Photo:  Eagles' Henry Lush wins a header against Hobart United's John Buga. [PlessPix]  

Men's Southern Championship 1

New Town White Eagles 3=- Hobart United

Photo:  Eagles' goalkeeper Jamie Cook walks after being sent off for a bad foul on Hobart United skipper John Buga.  Buga had cleaned up Cook early in the game but escaped punishment. [PlessPix]

Photo:  A Launceston United player controls the ball ahead of Taroona's Holly Ayton. [PlessPix]
 

Friday night social result - 27 May 2022

Photo:  Metro's Matthew Gasparin (right) tracks back as Kingborough attack. [PlessPix] 

Over-35s Social League (North Chigwell)

Metro 5 (Darrin Chaffey 2, Jim Brown, Dave Morrison, Anthony Grundy og) beat Kingborough Lions United 0 

Photo:  Metro's Evan Brown takes on a Kingborough opponent. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Metro's John McIntyre (left) knocks the ball wide to a team-mate. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Metro's Evan Brown (left) calls for a pass from his brother, Jim Brown. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Metro's Mark Gobbey about to cross the ball into the Kingborough penalty area. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Metro's Jim Brown eyes the ball with a view to a pass. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Kingborough's Warren Iles about to tackle Metro's John McIntyre. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Kingborough on the attack against Metro. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Metro's Jim Brown is just a little late in cutting out a Kingborough cross. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Metro's Evan Brown on the attack against the Lions. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Kingborough's Warren Iles and Tony Tarros on the attack against Metro tonight. [PlessPix]

Photo:  A Metro shot is turned onto the bar by the Kingborough keeper. [PlessPix]

 

Photo:  Kingborough's Warren Iles tries to cut our Evan Brown's cross for Metro. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Metro's Evan Brown jinks past a Kingborough defender. [PlessPix]

Top-three in NPL Tasmania has a familiar ring about it

Photo:  South Hobart's Josh Divin seeking a way past Olympia's Feisal Baddiley. [PlessPix] 

Devonport Strikers maintained their 2-point lead at the top of the NPL Tasmania standings with a comfortable 5-1 home win over Kingborough Lions United at Valley Road on Saturday.

The Strikers also probably softened up the Lions for the next meeting between the sides next Saturday in the semi-finals of the Lakoseljac Cup.

The visiting Lions, who left Valley Road with their tails between their legs, will have to do a lot better if they are to qualify for the Lakoseljac Cup Final.

On the evidence from Saturday, they haven’t got a chance regardless of how loud they roar.

Photo:  Clarence Zebras' Daniel Baumgartner unleashes a bullet against Launceston City. [PlessPix]  

The Strikers led 2-0 at the interval with two first-half goals in as many minutes midway through the half.

Henry Andrews hit the first in the 23^rd minute and, who else but Roberto Fernandez Garrido grabbed the second a minute later.

Charles Bidwell made it 3-0 in the 70^th minute, while Garrido completed his brace 9 minutes later.

Brody Denehey added the fifth 6 minutes from the end before the Lions managed a consolation goal 2 minutes from time.

Glenorchy Knights went for a stroll on a Saturday afternoon at Windsor Park and steam-rolled Riverside Olympic 6-0 to stay 2 points adrift of Devonport.

Photo:  Olympia lost Brayton Allan through injury early in the game. [PlessPix]  

Kyle Vincent netted twice in the opening half to give the visitors a 2-o lead at the break.

Eli Luttmer, Austin Yost, Hugh Undy and Connor Schmidt completed the demolition job in the second half.

South Hobart moved into third spot with a 7-0 thrashing of second-last Olympia Warriors at South Hobart Oval.

The sides meet again next week at Empire Couriers Park in the other semi-final of the Lakoseljac Cup and, again, its probably been a case of the victor softening up the opposition in readiness for the next week.

I can’t recall both semi-finals of this competition being so predictable.

Photo:  Clarence Zebras' Sam Tooze under pressure inside the Launceston City penalty area. [PlessPix]  

Two terrible examples of defending enabled South Hobart to lead Olympia 2-0 at half-time on Saturday as Nick Morton and Bradley Lakoseljac surprised even themselves as they found the net.

Morton completed his hat-trick in the second half with goals in the 48^th and 84^th minutes.

Lakoseljac completed his brace with a goal in the 72^nd minute, while centre-back Luke Bighin and Iskander Van Doorne were the remaining marksmen.

The top three  -  Devonport, Knights and South Hobart  -  looks very familiar in terms of a prediction I made after the opening round.

Photo:  A miskick by the keeper let Nick Morton in for an easy opening goal against Olympia. [PlessPix]  

In the remaining game, Clarence Zebras and ‘sister club’ from the north, Launceston City, drew 1-1 at Wentworth Park

A draw may well have been a fair result as Clarence Zebras missed a penalty and City hit the post when it would have been easier to score.

Sam Tooze put Clarence Zebras into the lead in the opening minute, but then missed a second-half penalty after Will Fleming had brought down Ryan Cook.  Why the spot-kick was not given to Riley Dillon is an interesting question.

Eight minutes after the resumption, a sudden rush of blood to the head by Clarence Zebras goalkeeper Matt Dyson enabled Stefan Tantari to equalise for the visitors.

But, Gedminias Krusa will have nightmares about the chance he squandered when he rolled the ball against the base of the far left-hand post instead of scoring in a open goal.

Photo:  Referee Alfonso Giusti sorts out a difference of opinion between Clarence Zebras' Sam Tooze and Launceston City's Gedminias Krusa. [PlessPix]  

NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 21 May 2022)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Devonport Strikers	8	7	0	1	26	2	21
Glenorchy Knights	8	6	1	1	23	4	19
South Hobart	7	4	2	1	27	6	14
Kingborough Lions	8	4	1	3	24	18	13
Launceston City	7	4	1	2	15	14	13
Clarence Zebras	8	1	2	5	9	19	5
Olympia Warriors	8	1	0	7	8	33	3
Riverside Olympic	8	0	1	7	1	37	1

Photo:  Clarence Zebras' Ryan Cook tangles with Launceston City's Aaron Campbell. [PlessPix]

*****

Sunday women’s results:

Women’s Super League

South Hobart 10-0 Olympia Warriors

Women’s Southern Championship

South Hobart 2-4 University

New Town White Eagles 5-1 Taroona

Clarence Zebras 1-2 Glenorchy Knights

By the way. Olympia only had 10 players against South Hobart and it’s no wonder they lost 10-0.

Last weekend, they forfeited to Launceston United because they only had 10 players.

And Football Tasmania wants to promote the women’s game to the same status as the men’s.

Come on!  Play some top-flight men’s games on a Sunday so that fans have something to watch.

Photo:  South Hobart's Luke Bighin volleys the ball to safety. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Olympia's Anthony Mamic breaks through against South Hobart. [PlessPix]