Monday, August 15, 2022

South Hobart and Knights show why they are just also-rans this season

Photo:  South Hobart coach Ken Morton (left) and Glenorchy Knights coach James Sherman seemed to be quite friendly before Saturday's game. [PlessPix] 

(NPL Tasmania, South Hobart Oval, Saturday, 13 August 2022)

South Hobart 5 (S Berezansky 16, J Lancaster 27, N Morton 35, 42 pen, T Herweynen 82)

Glenorchy Knights 3 (E Luttmer 69, 90+5 pen, A Yost 86)

HT:  4-0   Ref:  S Plomaritis

South Hobart:  Hayers  -  Herweynen, Lancaster, Bighin, Semmler  -  Hey, Higgins, Morton, Lakoseljac  -  Berezansky, Van Doorne  [Subs:  Divin, Brown, Feral, Moncur (GK), Schofield]

Glenorchy Knights:  Woodham  -  Harrison, Luttmer, Bowman  -  Gorrie, Dzelakowski, Castaneda, Undy, Schmidt,  -  M Brkic, Walpole  [Subs:  Muller, Murfet (GK), Naden, Smith, Yost)

Photo:  Knights' Eduardo Castaneda has a piece of Luke Bighin's shirt in this goalmouth scramble. [PlessPix]  

South Hobart and Glenorchy Knights showed why they are pretenders for the league title this year.

How could a team lead 4-0 at half-time and then concede three goals in the last 20 minutes to run out 5-3 winners?

There is something seriously wrong with both teams’ defences.

The ease with which South stormed to a 4-0 half-time lead was an embarrassment for the reigning champions.

The marking by Knights was non-existent.  South Hobart full-backs Tobias Herweynen and Lachlan Semmler were allowed to push into attack at will, while Sam Berezansky. Nick Morton and Bradley Lakoseljac roamed the pitch seeking openings.

Photo:  A cross into the Knights' box has players leaping but not connecting at the near post. [PlessPix]  

Berezansky opened the scoring in the 16th minute, making it look so easy.  He picked up the ball in the centre-circle and advanced on goal before chipping home inside the far right-hand post from all of 30 metres.

It was 2-0 in the 27th minute when a free-kick from the left near the corner flag by Semmler was allowed to bounce in the bix and carry towards the far post, where Luke Bighin’s shot was blocked.  The ball fell to his fellow central-defender, Jacob Lancaster, who fired home.

Captain Nick Morton scored one of the easiest goals he’ll ever score in the 35th minute when the marauding Herweynen cut the ball across from the byeline on the right and Morton rolled it into the empty net from close range.

A penalty in the 42nd minute converted by Morton, who had been brought down by Jack Bowman, made it 4-0 at the break.

Photo:  Knights' Mathew Brkic tries to deal with the rampaging Tobias Herweynen. [PlessPix]  

Complacency on the part of South and a renewed sense of pride by the Knights changed things in the second half.

Atrocious defending at a corner from the left by South in the 69th minute allowed the ball to carry across the box to Eli Luttmer, who fired home to reduce the arrears.

With 8 minutes remaining, a long ball down the right by Jayden Hey found Herweynen on a run and he was allowed to bear down on goal and beat Alex Woodham with what could only be called a tame shot to restore South’s 4-goal buffer.

The home side seemed to go to pieces after that and substitute Austin Yost pulled another goal back for the visitors when he was put through the middle by a long ball out from defence by Luttmer.  With South’s defenders appealing for off-side and then frantically trying to regain their ground, Yost advanced on goal and easily beat Jake Hayers to make it 5-2.

Photo:  South Hobart centre-back Luke Bighin shoots in a crowded penalty area. [PlessPix]
 
Photo:  After Bighin's shot was blocked, his centre-back partner, Jacon Lancaster (Number 8), scored. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Knights can only wonder what happened as South players mob Lancaster and the ball rolls back out from the net. [PlessPix]  

In the 5th minute of stoppage time  -  the game had been delayed for several minutes after an all-in melee that saw nine yellow cards and a red to Knights Eduardo Castaneda, who had been substituted  -  Knights earned a penalty for a foul on Hugh Undy.  Luttmer despatched the spot-kick with ease to make the final score 5-3.

The game provided clear evidence of why Knights have relinquished the league title and why South Hobart are miles behind league-leaders Devonport Strikers.

As for the melee, it was not a pretty sight and unbecoming as far as many players and coaching staff are concerned.  I don’t agree with Football Tasmania’s decision to remove the replay of the match from NPL.TV.  It was tame compared to some incidents in the 1960s, when spectators often got involved and strong wooden corner flags were used as weapons.  That doesn’t excuse this melee, but Football Tasmania’s censorship is treating football fans as fools.

Photo:  South Hobart's Jayden Hey gets past Knights Daniel Schmidt. [PlessPix]

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are you sure that photo was before the game Walter ? It looks like Ken is saying “ how the hell did you manage to throw my player so far ?””

Anonymous said...

Easily the worst offence out of it all.

Anonymous said...

The footage would be on the head of NPL tv and not FFT. They have removed footage in other states that have had issues recently. The melee in this game should not be glorified.

Walter said...

FT removed the footage but have assured me it will be back up in 'a few hours'.
Cheers!
Walter

Anonymous said...

The standard of the Ref's in the State is at a very low point sadly the weekend again a perfect example !

Anonymous said...

Full coverage on WIN NEWS tonight also asking why it had been removed . Had to laugh at Kenny saying : oh Nah I’ve seen worse than that ; And from Sherman ? NO COMMENT! Someone is in trouble let’s see what our great leadership from FFT does about this rubbish now it’s all out in the open

Anonymous said...

Posting a replay is not glorifying violence, it is just treating football fans like responsible, mature consumers. We all know what happens in competitive sports and whilst we do not condone it we should not let it ruin the whole spectacle. You would never see a game being taken off air because of an on-pitch scuffle in any other country.

Anonymous said...

There have been lot worse then what happened saturday

Anonymous said...

I heard a little rumour that the knights and south want to hold a boxing event at city hall to raise funds to cover there fines

Anonymous said...

Anon 8.47 am.
Maybe just try and get your spelling correct before you try to be funny.

Anonymous said...

1:53 maybe if your club stopped watching ufc and started focusing on football they would still be in the title hunt

Anonymous said...

Mmm who can't spell ,?

Anonymous said...

If it weren't for knights Port would have total domination for the last 7 years. Thank God for GK

Anonymous said...

Are you talking about south or knights?

Anonymous said...

Except for South winning the league in 2017 and the Laka cup in 2019

Anonymous said...

Most ridiculous thing I've ever read here.

Anonymous said...

Close your eyes and imagine for a second Ken Morton grabbing a knights player by the neck and tossing him some distance and then video of this soon after being shut down for ' some reason'.
Then imagine what would be appearing on this blog. Would it be " Morto!! Did you see how far he flung that kid, total legend!"
As has been the tone here, I think not.

Anonymous said...

Knights are the people's club

Anonymous said...

Imagine anyone other then south Hobart players acting like ferals gang grappling opposition staff. There's no denying the footage shows 2 or more red shirts instigating the incident.

Anonymous said...

The replay is available for all to see. If Sherman isn't penalised by FFT shut the doors and turn out the lights on football in Tasmania.

Anonymous said...

1pm you are funny. Knights staff, as you call them, came running over.

Anonymous said...

What time does the Main Bout start at Wentworth Park tomorrow? I heard the Zebras have trained on the boxing bags all week at Zap shoreline

Anonymous said...

Let's get ready to rumble