Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Launceston City only team with perfect record after two NPL rounds


Photo:  South Hobart's Lachlan Semmler (right) pressures Clarence Zebras' Jonathan Fewkes. [PlessPix] 

Launceston City heads the NPL Tasmania standings after two rounds.

They have scored 3 goals and have yet to concede a goal.

On Saturday, they downed Glenorchy Knights 1-0 with a goal in the 2nd minute of stoppage time at the end of the game.

Knights were on top for the first 20 minutes but were predictable and lacking in penetration.

I lost count of the number of square passes the Knights played at the back.  Centre-backs Eli Luttmer and Tyler Harrison seemed to endlessly play square balls to each other.

Photo:  Eduardo Castenada (left) tangles with Launceston City skipper Joel Stone. [PlessPix] 

City appeared to have a weakness at left back and I don’t know why Knights did not exploit this with a fast winger to beat the fullback and send over dangerous crosses.

Having said that, the left back was probably City’s most dangerous attacker in the opening half.  He was prepared to push forward and sent in at least one absolute scorcher that just flew wide of the left-hand post.

City got on top after that opening 20 minutes, but also had to survive a scare or two in the second half as Lucas Dzelakowski fired wide with his weaker right foot and planted a header against the crossbar.

Joel Stone, who was playing his 150th NPL game, was always prominent for City and creating openings from midfield.

Photo:  Launceston City's Mac Wilcox on the attack with Knights' Nick Mearns racing to cover. [PlessPix] 

With the game petering out to a goalless draw. City launched an attack down the right in stoppage time and Stefan Tantari crossed low across the box.  The Knights rear-guard proved incapable of cutting the ball out and it carried to beyond the far post, where Jack Woodland cracked his shot home.

It was very similar to last season, when City also beat Knights 1-0 with a goal in the 4th-minute of stoppage time.

Devonport Strikers, the reigning champions, stumbled on the opening day of the season by drawing 1-1 at home with Clarence Zebras.

On Saturday, they beat newcomers Launceston United 6-1 at Valley Road and sit second on the standings.

Photo:  Joel Stone and Eduardo Castaneda takes a tumble. [PlessPix] 

Roberto Garrido collected a brace by scoring on either side of a goal by Brody Denehey.

Miles Barnard made a long-awaited return to action and netted in his first game in a year, while Eli Wilson and Luke Bennett completed the Strikers’ tally.

Brazilian Walter Sidney Martins Da Silva Filho netted Launceston United’s consolation goal.

Kingborough Lions United hit form and trounced Riverside Olympic 5-1 away at Windsor Park on Saturday.

Kobe Kemp started the ball rolling in the 18th minute and the visitors led 1-0 at the interval.

Photo:  South Hobart's Bradley Lakoseljac runs into a brick wall. [PlessPix] 

Kemp made it 2-0 shortly after the resumption, while Declan Taylor added the third 20 minutes from the end.

Liam Poulson pulled a goal back for the home side in the 74th minute before Keenan Douce and Noah Mies completed the rout for the southerners.

On Sunday, Clarence Zebras almost toppled South Hobart at South Hobart Oval, but what appeared to be the winning goal was mysteriously disallowed by the referee in the closing stages.

Photo:  South Hobart's Bradley Lakoseljac on the attack. [PlessPix] 

Clarence Zebras Argentinian import Xuan Cappellino scrambled the ball over the line in the 5th minute to give his side the lead, but Iskander Van Doorne equalised on the quarter-hour.

Lachlan Semmler put South Hobart ahead 4 minutes before half-time.

Clarence Zebras lost their English import, Pritchard Adjei, through injury within minutes of the resumption.

Sam Tooze popped up with 5 minutes remaining to equalise, but his celebrations a few minutes later for what seemed the winner were curtailed by the referee’s decision to cancel out the goal.

Photo:  Jayden Hey and Matthew Pace knock each other out. [PlessPix] 

 NPL Tasmania (As at 26 March 2023)

TEAM

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Launceston City

2

2

0

0

3

0

6

Devonport Strikers

2

1

1

0

7

2

4

South Hobart

2

1

1

0

4

3

4

Kingborough Lions

2

1

0

1

6

3

3

Glenorchy Knights

2

1

0

1

2

1

3

Clarence Zebras

2

0

2

0

3

3

2

Riverside Olympic

2

0

0

2

1

7

0

Launceston United

2

0

0

2

1

8

0

Photo:  South Hobart's Jaden Fidra in a battle with Clarence Zebras' Michael Monticchio. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Jayden Hey (left) tries to get past Clarence Zebras' Joshua Burgess. [PlessPix]  

Photo:  Clarence Zebras' Ben Tilley (left) contests possession with South Hobart captain Nick Morton. [PlessPix]

Photo:  South Hobart assistant coach Bernhard Klasen watches South Hobart's Iskander Van Doorne (right) on the attack against Clarence Zebras' Jonathan Fewkes. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Clarence Zebras keeper Josh Jones punches clear. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Bradley Lakoseljac (left) takes on Joshua Burgess. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Ryan Cook (left) gets past Tobias Herweynen. [PlessPix]

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Any idea as to why the goal was disallowed Walter?
Was there any explanation given or could you tell why?

Ben Smith said...

Just watched on NPL TV Benjamin Tilley was given offside just on the 6 yard box looked very close but it's hard to tell without behind the assistant referee.

Anonymous said...

Cheers Ben.
Much appreciated.

Anonymous said...

And people think the ref's favour Port!! South get the rub everytime.

Anonymous said...

Hold your horses Mr Riley Dillon was extremely fortunate to not have a 3 week suspension for his actions in minute 13.

Anonymous said...

Zebras were lucky to have 11 on the park.

Anonymous said...

I've seen more blatant dives in the box awarded as penalties to South than any other team with one player being a repeat offender.

Anonymous said...

When was their last penalty?

Anonymous said...

As we're South Hobart. Isky should have had a 2nd yellow after the missed freekick outside the box