Devonport increase lead at top of NPL Tasmania standings

Photo:  Declan Taylor is congratulated by Kingborough team-mates after equalising against Knights. [PlessPix] 

Devonport Strikers increased their lead at the top of the NPL Tasmania standings to 11 points when they beat Clarence Zebras 3-2 away at Wentworth Park and the other results went their way.

Second-placed Glenorchy Knights lost ground when they were well beaten by third-ranked Kingborough Lions United 4-1 at home at KGV Park.

The shock result of the round occurred at South Hobart Oval where the home side were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom-side Riverside Olympic, a result that made South’s hold on fourth plave somewhat tenuous.

Fifth-placed Launceston City are breathing down South’s necks after downing second-last Olympia Warriors 2-1 at home at Buckby Motors Park to take them to within 2 points of South.  The sides still have to meet each other in a postponed fixture.

Photo:  Knights' Daniel Schmidt tangles with Kingborough's Alfred Hess. [PlessPix]  

A long-range free-kick by Riley Dillon that was badly misjudged by Devonport’s second-string keeper, Thomas Pearce, gave Clarence Zebras a 1-0 lead at half-time.

But, three goals in a quarter of an hour early in the second half put Devonport in the driver’s seat to lead 3-1.

Poor defending by Clarence Zebras was at the heart of the goals, which fell to Ali Dulleh, Joel Stone and Brody Denehey.

Marcus Eugster pulled a goal back for the homer side with just over 10 minutes left, again through questionable goalkeeping, but Devonport had no trouble in holding on for the 3 points.

Glenorchy Knights took the lead against Kingbrough Lions United through a Hugh Undy header after just 7 minutes, but Declan Taylor equalised in the 20^th minute, tapping home from close range.

Photo:  Alfred Hess (fourth from left) points to the Lions badge after putting his side ahead. [PlessPix]  

Alfred Hess put the Lions in front in the 24^th minute, also from close range to give the visitors a 2-1 advantage at the break.

Declan Taylor went on to complete his hat-trick before an hour was up.

The Lions fully deserved their win.  They were tactically superior and forced the Knights to play the ball sideways and prevented them from breaking down the flanks and getting behind the defence.

Winger Romero Vilar was always prepared to drop deep and cover the flanks and help out his defenders and the Knights had no answer to Kingborough’s grit and determination all over the park.

Knights’ defending left a lot to be desired and their faint hopes of retaining the title appear to have gone out the window with this defeat.

Photo:  Knights' Daniel Schmidt climbs desperately for a cross. [PlessPix]  

South Hobart struck first against Riverside with a brilliant goal.  Iskander Van Doorne crossed from the byline on the left and youngster Alexander Brown, positioned 12 metres out from the far post, hit a superb first-time left-footed volley into the net.

Poor defending by South from a corner in the 37^th minute enabled William Coert to force the ball in from close range and make it 1-1.

South will be aggrieved that they had a goal disallowed in the dying minutes, but the team certainly seems to be on the decline and will need to improve dramatically if they are to secure fourth place.

Photo:  Knights' Jordan Muller (left) in hot pursuit of Kingborough's Kobe Kemp. [PlessPix]  

Launceston City took the lead against Olympia Warriors just past the half-hour mark when a wayward header at the back by Olympia’s Alex Holmes set up Jan Fidra to nod home.

Holmes redeemed himself five minutes later when he turned home a right-wing cross by Simon Vivarelli to make it 1-1 at half-time.

Gediminas Krusa netted the City winner in the 57^th minute with a fierce low drive from 20 metres.

Photo:  Cade Smith stops the ball as Kingborough's Romero Vilar comes across to help his defence stop an attack down the flank. [PlessPix]  

NPL Tasmania

Glenorchy Knights 1 (H Undy 7) lost to Kingborough Lions United 4 (D Taylor 20, 46, 57, A Hess 24)

Clarence Zebras 2-3 Devonport Strikers

South Hobart 1-1 Riverside Olympic

Launceston City 2-1 Olympia Warriors

Photo:  Knights' Daniel Schmidt attempts to get past Kingborough's Jorden Mundy. [PlessPix]  

Men’s Southern Championship NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 16 July 2022)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Devonport Strikers	14	13	0	1	50	8	39
Glenorchy Knights	14	9	1	4	32	14	28
Kingborough Lions	14	9	1	4	39	24	28
South Hobart	13	7	3	3	38	10	24
Launceston City	13	7	1	5	25	25	22
Clarence Zebras	14	3	2	9	23	34	11
Olympia Warriors	14	2	0	12	16	51	6
Riverside Olympic	14	0	2	12	7	65	2

Photo:  Kingborough's Romero Vilar about to tackle Knights' Daniel Schmidt. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Ian Parker, a star of Caledonians (now Kingborough Lions United) in the 70s and 80s, was an interested spectator at Saturday's game. [PlessPix]