Photo: Clarence Zebras' latest import, Ryely Wishart, crossing the ball. He made an impressive debut last week with a hat-trick and a couple of assists and may prove too hot to handle for Launceston City. [PlessPix] Devonport Strikers face a danger game tomorrow when
they host fourth-placed South Hobart at Valley Road.
South Hobart are 11 points adrift of Devonport and
have only a very slim chance of challenging for the title, but a win may enable
second-placed Glenorchy Knights to edge closer to the league-leaders.
Knights are really Devonport’s only serious
challenger, but they also face a difficult game tonight what they entertain
sixth-ranked Kingborough Lions United at KGV Park.
I’m hoping that this won’t be the first evening
fixture at KGV Park spoilt by inclement weather. We’ve had a dream run at KGV Park on Friday nights
this season, but I guess all good things have to come to an end at some time.
Devonport drew an away fixture against Gold Coast
Knights in the round-of-32 in the Australia Cup on Tuesday, so the game against
South Hobart will be the first preparation for that encounter.
South Hobart should prove formidable opponents given
they beat Glenorchy Knights 4-3 last Sunday in a solid display.
Knights will have to be at their best against the
Lions tonight.
“It’s good to be back at home,” said Knights coach,
James Sherman.
“It’s another tough game but we are looking forward
to having Borough at home.
“They are coming off a good win and it looks like
they’ve picked up and made some good additions to their side.
“Our aim is to build on last week and continue in
the right direction.”
Riverside earned their only points by narrowly
beating Launceston United in the first round and they will be hoping to do the
same this time in the bottom-of-the-table meeting.
They will be without their coach on the bench as he
has apparently been given a lengthy suspension by Football Tasmania. Although he
is still permitted to coach them during the week.
Launceston United look out of their depth and will
be hoping David Owusu and Angelo Amato are both available after missing last
week’s hiding at the hands of Clarence Zebras.
The ‘Italian derby’ between Launceston City and
Clarence Zebras should go the way of the visitors.
The southerners have three quality imports in their
side now, and with Riley Dillon in goal-scoring form, should be too strong for
their northern rivals.
Weekend NPL schedule:
(Friday, 20 June 2023)
Riverside Olympic v Launceston United (Windsor Park,
8.15pm)
Glenorchy Knights v Kingborough Lions United (KGV
Park, 8.15pm)
(Saturday, 1 July 2023)
Devonport City v South Hobart (Valley Road, 2.30pm)
Launceston City v Clarence Zebras (Buckby Motors
Park, 4.45pm)
NPL Tasmania (As at 25
June 2023)
|
TEAM
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
Pts
|
|
Devonport
Strikers
|
11
|
10
|
1
|
0
|
39
|
8
|
31
|
|
Glenorchy Knights
|
11
|
8
|
0
|
3
|
25
|
8
|
24
|
|
Clarence
Zebras
|
11
|
6
|
2
|
3
|
33
|
20
|
20
|
|
South
Hobart
|
11
|
6
|
2
|
3
|
32
|
20
|
20
|
|
Launceston
City
|
11
|
5
|
1
|
5
|
17
|
20
|
16
|
|
Kingborough
Lions
|
11
|
5
|
0
|
6
|
36
|
21
|
15
|
|
Riverside
Olympic
|
11
|
1
|
0
|
10
|
5
|
48
|
3
|
|
Launceston
United
|
11
|
0
|
0
|
11
|
8
|
50
|
0
|
