Hobart United and Taroona through to Lakoseljac Cup first-round proper

Photo:  The Hobart United starting XI against Somerset. [PlessPix]

 Hobart United and Taroona progressed to the first-round proper of the State-wide Lakoseljac Cup when they won their preliminary-round games at KGV Park on Monday.

Hobart United accounted for Somerset Sharks 5-1, while Taroona eliminated Metro 4-2.

Somerset have not been without success since they were founded in 1979.

In 2006, they won the State title by beating Glenorchy Knights on penalties in the final.

They lost the State-wide Cup Final 2-0 to Launceston City in 2007.

Photo:  The Somerset starting line-up for the game against Hobart United. [PlessPix] 

Memories of the past must have flashed before those in the know on Monday when Somerset took an early lead against Hobart United through a goal by Diego Antunez after 3 minutes.

They then suffered the loss of Francesco Bruzzoni, who was stretchered off.

Hobart United equalised in the 19^th minute when a perfectly weighted through-ball to Joseph Mwarabu saw him shoot low and inside the near right-hand post.

In stoppage time at the end of the first half, John Buga netted United’s second to give them a 2-1 lead at the interval.

Photo:  Somerset player in possession in midfield against Hobart United. [PlessPix] 

Mwarabu comd his brace midway through the second half to make it 3-1 for United, while Buga also completed his brace with a goal in the 77^th minute to give United an unassailable 4-1 lead.

John Wani netted in stoppage time at the end of the game to complete the 5-1 victory.

“Every win is welcome,” said Hobart United coach, Romilton Amaral.  “That’s what you work for.

“But, having said that, there are still a lot of things to work on in our team and we’re going to go back to the drawing board and work on it.

“We have to work a little bit on our shape and also the attitude in the midfield to make sure that we can recover the balls in that area.

“Today, we had four people out, including Vincent Kamano, who should have made his debut today but was injured during the week.

“The main goalkeeper was not available so we had to work with those circumstances as well.”

Photo:  Somerset's Francesco Bruzzoni being carried off on a stretcher early in the game. [PlessPix] 

Somerset coach, Nick Phillips, was disappointed at the result.

“Disappointing to go one nil up and then concede five,” Phillips said.

“We just lost some legs late and conceded three late, but, yeah, what can you do?

“Disappointing to take the lead and then concede five, but there are plenty of positives to take away.  I thought we were the better side for 60 minutes, but it means nothing when you concede.”

Photo:  Tussle in midfield. [PlessPix] 

Taroona took the lead against Metro through Ollie Maxwell in the 7^th minute, but new signing Danny Cowen hit a magnificent equaliser in the 29^th minute with a low shot from an acute angle on the right.

Tom Roberts, Ben Schaap and Noah Gardner completed Taroona’s tally, while Cowen grabbed a second for Metro to highlight his debut.

Photo:  Metro shot at goal. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Taroona's starting XI for the game against Metro. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Metro's starting XI on Monday. [PlessPix]