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.
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 23rd minute and, who else but Roberto Fernandez Garrido grabbed the second a minute later.
Charles Bidwell made it 3-0 in the 70th 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.
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.
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 48th and 84th minutes.
Lakoseljac completed his brace with a goal in the 72nd 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.
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.
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 |
*****
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.
18 comments:
Walter, why not expand your comment regarding the defensive errors you mentioned?
They were both primary school standard errors and maybe that is being a little kind.
From what I saw had those horrible errors not occurred Olympia were well and truly in the game.
Only one game out or 4 was competitive. Yet another poor NPL comp!
What is going on at Lightwood Park time for change !
Anon 1.49
You mean competitive rubbish
And the hilarious thing about it is that even Zebras pay 4 or 5 of their players :) , better off buying some new gear for the juniors and a new bbq
All clubs would be paying all there starting 11s, so sick of ppl saying this doesnt happen
I wouldn't feed half of the players cold pies, let alone pay them.
NPL at it's lowest point.
I imagine there are a lot of players running around in the Championship comps who would help to improve the standard of the NPL but don't want to travel most weekends.
It is for this reason I am not a fan of Statewide leagues in any Tasmanian ametuer sport. It reduces the available talent pool at the top level and I would guess lessens spectator attendances.
Devonport and kingborough highlights maybe the camera angle is not good but the penalty is an awful decision once again stone throwing himself to the surface and an official falling for it. How many penalties now?
The two statewide leagues are in tatters:
Need to go back to a North/South comp pre 2012:
Men & Women North: Burnie, Devonport, Ulverstone, Somerset, Northern Rangers, Lanunceston Utd, Launceston City & Riverside (with underpinning comps eg Reserves, U18s & social)
Men South: Kingbourough, South, Newtown, Glenorchy, Olympia, Zebras, Hobart United, University, Taroona, Beachside, Metro South East United (under underpinning comps etc)
Women: Kingbourough, South, Newtown, Glenorchy, Oylmpia, Zebras, Unviersity, Taroona (with underpinning comps etc)
Winners North & South play off home and away for state title..
Time to stop deluding ourselves that we are some football super power take the travelling out and all will want to play at top level..
My thoughts
Anon 10:01 AM
Soft or not, you can't do what the Lions CB did. He was too slow, Stone was too quick, and he puts his arm out and cops a piece. How many Kingbrough players do you see arguing at the decision? Anyway, hardly a game changing factor.. Kingo not good enough.
Hockey seems to do very well with just six clubs in the south each with seniors, lower grades and vets teams.
Let be realistic not only scores clubs straggling with players seniors, juniors and women. Looking at AFL competition in Tasmania lots of clubs can't feel the teams. Kids are turning away from sport. What is reason It's hard to guess. Could be the cost, or the way things are done or Kids are not interested in sport.
I believe the game to watch this week would be the Hobart United V White Eagles. Iv'e heard it's the catch up game.
I think the north / south model is sensible.
Throw in the Statewide cup and a preseason friendly and there is an opportunity for a road trip.
Hobart, Uni and Taroona would all be very competitive in a top tier comp in the south.
Maybe too many clubs in too many leagues?
You used to have to go to work on a Saturday because that was a huge part of making up a great weekly pay , now you just have to turn up for 90 minutes in a bottom 3 club and get even more for No Productivity!
Going back would be a terrible idea. Newtown eagles last season's champ winners and most likely this season just lost to Olympia in the cup. I can't see people's logic.
There are 3 teams here and kingborough potentially are the 4th who more often then not should give each other a good game. That's nearly half our competition. I'd say that's a good ratio for any league in the world.
Post a Comment