With a third of the NPL Tasmania season gone, Devonport Strikers have a 4-point lead over second-placed Glenorchy Knights and are looking good to retain their title.
They beat Clarence Zebras 2-1 away at Wentworth Park on Saturday, but they left it late.
Clarence Zebras had taken the lead in the 43rd minute through a penalty by Xuan Cappellino after a foul by Devonport keeper Keegan Smith.
Brody Denehey equalised just past the hour mark when he outran Ben Tilley and hammered the ball home into the top left-hand corner of the net.
Clarence Zebras looked as if they might get a point, but they failed to concentrate until the final whistle.
In the 3rd minute of stoppage, time, they conceded a thrown in near the corner flag on their left defensive flank. Denehey took the throw-in, substitute Miles Barnard flicked it on with his head and the unmarked Roberto Garrido, stationed at the far post, slotted home the winner with the last kick of the match.
It seemed a cruel blow for the home-side, but it reinforced the need to concentrate until the final whistle. Had the defender belted the ball into the Derwent River instead of just meekly conceding a throw-in, the final result may have been a draw.
Glenorchy Knights easily accounted for bottom-side Launceston United 5-0 away at Birch Avenue.
Daniel Sagno, a Canadian import, and Lucas Dzalakowsi each scored a brace, while Jack Turner celebrated his return to the club and the senior side by scoring the remaining goal.
The game was over by half-time as Knights led 3-0.
South Hobart were somewhat fortunate to beat Kingborough Lions United 3-2 at the Twin Ovals in Kingston.
A first-half hat-trick by Nick Morton punished slack defending by Kingborough, who were unable to cope with the visitors’ high pressing and their fast one-touch play and relentless pressure.
The second half was a different story and Kingborough hit the post and scored twice through Declan Taylor and Noah Mies.
An equaliser proved elusive, however, and South Hobart came away with the 3 points.
The game was characterised by some ferocious tackling, play acting and aggressiveness.
Yellow cards went to Kingborough’s Kobe Kemp and Tom Prince, and to the visitors’ Iskander Van Doorne, Tobias Herweynen and Jacob Lancaster.
Herweynen was lucky not to be shown a second yellow card, but the referee chose only to speak to him.
On the Friday night, Launceston City downed Riverside Olympic 4-0 after a goalless opening half.
Alex Jacobs, William Humphrey, Toby Anderson and Tito Brown were City’s marksmen.
NPL Tasmania (As at 27 May 2023)
|
TEAM |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
Devonport Strikers |
8 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
25 |
7 |
22 |
|
Glenorchy Knights |
8 |
6 |
0 |
2 |
15 |
3 |
18 |
|
Launceston City |
8 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
16 |
9 |
16 |
|
South Hobart |
8 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
18 |
11 |
14 |
|
Clarence Zebras |
8 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
17 |
14 |
11 |
|
Kingborough Lions |
8 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
23 |
19 |
9 |
|
Riverside Olympic |
8 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
4 |
30 |
3 |
|
Launceston United |
8 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
6 |
31 |
0 |
.JPG)
