Strikers and Knights continue to set the pace in NPL

Photo:  Should South Hobart have had a penalty when Sam Berezansky appeared to be brought down from behind? [PlessPix] 

Glenorchy Knights took over at the top of the NPL Tasmania standings, but only for 24 hours, for the second time in just over a week when they beat Kingborough Lions United 1-0 at KGV Park on Friday night.

Last week, they had also climbed to the top after downing South Hobart 1-0 on the Friday night.

Now, just as then, they were displaced from top spot by reigning champions Devonport Strikers, who beat South Hobart 2-1 away at South Hobart Oval on Saturday.

In a poor game at KGV Park, the Lions and Knights played out a drab and goalless first half in which the only excitement came in the 34^th minute when Knights goalkeeper Jackson Gardner produced a fine save to deny Kobe Kemp.

After the break, in the 49^th minute, Lucas Dzalakowsi forced a fine save from Lions keeper Roan Gillam, who conceded a fruitless corner.

The only goal of the game came in the 52^nd minute when a long diagonal cross from the right by Adam Gorrie was headed powerfully home by Dzalakowski, stationed at the far post.

Photo:  Knights' Rowan Pitt (right) takes on Kingborough's Keenan Douce.  Where, oh where, did Knights get those socks? [PlessPix] 

Gillam was again called into action in the 57^th minute when he saved a stinging shot from Daniel Sagno.

In the dying minutes, Gardner again saved Knights’ bacon when he blocked a shot from close range by Noah Mies.

The Lions had some other great openings, but the shots went inexplicably high over the bar.

Photo:  The look of frustration on the faces of Kingborough's Kobe Kemp and Noah Mies says it all as Knights keeper Jackson Gardner clutches the ball. [PlessPix] 

The Knights are going to have to do something new as such narrow wins while under intense pressure cannot happen all the time.

They are so predictable at the back and rely far too much on last-ditch saves from their Canadian keeper.

Devonport duly moved to the top the next day when they downed South Hobart 2-1.

Two goals in three minutes in the first half proved enough to dismiss South Hobart’s challenge.

In the 32^nd minute, a foul by Ewan Sloan gave the visitors a penalty, which was duly despatched high into the top left-hand corner of the net by Roberto Garrido.

Photo:  Roberto Garrido sends keeper Nick O'Connell the wrong way with his penalty. [PlessPix] 

South Hobart had barely regained their breath when Nick Lanau-Atkinson made it 2-0 in the 34^th minute, tapping into an empty net after a neat pass by Garrido on the left and a turn of pace by Ali Dulleh, had unlocked the home-side’s defence.

South Hobart thought they had been thrown a lifeline when Dulleh was sent off 5 minutes into the second half, but although they pulled a goal back in the 65^th minute through Sam Berezansky, they could not find that elusive equaliser.

All South Hobart’s problems were visible in this match.  They went close to scoring a couple of times in the first half in frenetic situations inside the 6-yard box but were denied by ferocious defending by Devonport.

Photo:  Launceston City's Toby Simeoni hurdles the Clarence Zebras goalkeeper, Josh Jones. [PlessPix] 

Devonport lost captain Kieran Mulraney through injury after just half an hour.  He had been keeping Nick Morton quiet up until then.  But, Devonport scored their two goals within 5 minutes of his departure.  And, when they were down to 10 men early in the second half, the home side still could not make it count.

South are reported to be importing a centre-back soon.  If true, such an acquisition cannot come soon enough if they are to remain serious title contenders.  And, their strikers will need to calibrate their sights as soon as possible.

Clarence Zebras scored an important 2-1 win over sister Italian club, Launceston City, at Wentworth Park on Saturday.

Photo:  Clarence Zebras' Sam Tooze comes out on top after this clash with Launceston City's James Hawes. [PlessPix] 

The home side fell behind to a 2^nd-minute goal by Mason Smith and trailed 1-0 at half-time.

Liam Toselli rifled home a beautiful equaliser 4 minutes after the resumption, while Riley Dillon  -  who else?  -  snared the winner in the 62^nd minute to lift the Eastern Shore side into fourth spot on the standings.

Launceston United’s future looks a little  grim after they went down 2-1 to Riverside Olympic in the bottom-of-the-table clash in Launceston on Saturday.

Andre Chamusca hit home a fantastic free-kick from range in only the 5^th minute to give the visitors to Birch Avenue the lead, but Lachlan Dean equalised for United midway through the first half.

Austin Marshall netted Riverside’s winner 11 minutes before half-time to settle Riverside’s nerves and give them their first points of the season and some hope for the remainder of the campaign.

Photo:  Referee Mr Alfonso Giusti watches as Launceston City's Stefan Tantari escapes Clarence Zebras' captain, Josh Mathie. [PlessPix] 

 NPL Tasmania (As at 22 April 2023)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Devonport Strikers	5	4	1	0	16	4	13
Glenorchy Knights	5	4	0	1	9	1	12
Launceston City	5	3	0	2	8	7	9
Clarence Zebras	5	2	2	1	14	11	8
South Hobart	5	2	1	2	8	8	7
Kingborough Lions	5	2	0	3	15	11	6
Riverside Olympic	5	1	0	4	4	18	3
Launceston United	5	0	0	5	5	19	0

Photo:  I really like this balletic action from the reserve game between Olympia Warriors and Metro at Empire Couriers Park on Saturday.  Olympia won only 3-0 despite leading 2-0 after just 5 minutes.  Kye McQueen obviously knocked his team into shape after the disastrous opening.  I couldn't resist dropping in to Olympia's headquarters on my way to Wentworth Park.  [PlessPix]