Devonport Strikers have, for all intents and purposes, retained their NPL Tasmania crown with 4 games to play.
They could theoretically be caught on point by second-placed Glenorchy Knights, who have three games remaining, but they have such a superior goal-difference that it would not matter.
The champagne corks can be popping on the North-West Coast right now as it’s Devonport’s title and their sixth in eight seasons.
They demolished second-last Riverside Olympic 6-0 away at Windsor Park yesterday, leading 4-0 at half-time.
The Knights scored a late equaliser against South Hobart on Friday night in a game in which both keepers had little to do.
A Nick Morton free-kick early in the second half put South Hobart ahead, but substitute Moses Khasif equalised in the 3rd minute of stoppage time when fellow substitute Shane Cartwright nodded a free-kick down to his feet, enabling him to fire home.
That result left Knights second and South third, and way behind Devonport.
Clarence Zebras fell behind to an early goal by bottom-side Launceston United but recovered to score twice and come away from Birch Avenue with the 3 points.
It’s been a bleak season for United. They have now lost for the 17th time.
Kingborough Lions United scored early in the first and second halves of their game against Launceston City at home at Lightwood Park to beat the visitors 2-0 and consolidate fourth position.
City had Alex Gaetani as coach in the absence of Daniel Syson and Nathan Pitchford, who are both suspended.
Kobe Kemp returned to the Kingborough team as a second-half substitute. He was not expected to play again this season after sustaining a head injury some months ago.
Ahmad Othman opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with a long-range shot into the far left-hand corner, while Noah Mies made it 2-0 in the 48th minute with a superb left-foot drive from the right and into the far left-hand corner of the net.
City had few chances, the best when Joel Stone’s effort was turned over the far in spectacular fashion by Lions goalkeeper Eisa Azizi.
Devonport can officially win the title on Wednesday when they play bottom-side Launceston United away at Birch Avenue. They need only a draw.
NPL Tasmania
Glenorchy Knights 1 (Moses Khasif 93) drew with South Hobart 1 (Nick Morton 51) [Friday night]
Kingborough Lions United 2 (Ahmad Othman 3, Noah Mies 48) beat Launceston City 0
Riverside Olympic 0-6 Devonport Strikers
Launceston United 1-2 Clarence Zebras
NPL Tasmania (As at 19 August 2023)
|
TEAM |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
Devonport Strikers |
17 |
15 |
1 |
1 |
56 |
13 |
46 |
|
Glenorchy Knights |
18 |
12 |
1 |
5 |
44 |
16 |
37 |
|
South Hobart |
18 |
11 |
3 |
4 |
53 |
26 |
36 |
|
Kingborough Lions |
18 |
10 |
0 |
8 |
56 |
33 |
30 |
|
Launceston City |
17 |
8 |
1 |
8 |
23 |
26 |
25 |
|
Clarence Zebras |
18 |
7 |
2 |
9 |
44 |
47 |
23 |
|
Riverside Olympic |
17 |
3 |
0 |
14 |
16 |
67 |
9 |
|
Launceston United |
17 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
11 |
75 |
0 |
29 comments:
I guess you get carded when you’re under pressure as a coach and your team is not performing. It’s time to go. City need an experienced coach for 2024 with this young developing side.
The sad part about this competition is the top teams should have the top under 21’s everybody seems to be to focused on who they can import for the NPL sides for the next year .Young players should be the focus of Every club !
Bleak season for Clarence as well. Not just United Walter.
So why has Tom Ballantyne been suspended for accumulation of cards this year? Get rid of him too?
Why are Syson and pitchy suspended?
To anonymous August 20. In response to your ‘Bleak season for Clarence’ comment. Currently CZ are only 2 points behind LC so maybe not as bleak as you propose. There will always be teams lower down on the ladder. Can’t all be in first place. I would think it’s more bleak for Knights actually. To think they were so close & competitive with the top team & have slowly let it slip away. Can’t be blamed on injury because that’s only been recently. Interesting times ahead for next season. CZ will score a good coach, new players are on the horizon as well. Riverside will grow stronger as they slowly have. South will hold their steady place & might even give Penport a good run next season. Kingborough will just plod & Knights will need a new coach to achieve a top position. A lot of unrest in the camp at KGV. Interesting times ahead
To Anonymous August 21. 6:12 Am
I really hope you did not wake up on a Monday morning (6:12 AM) just to get your Devonportitis out of your chest. Yet you have mentioned every team in your post but Devonport. Why? Because you know they will - once again- dominate next year. Just like they've done this year.
You would think pre season is a time where every team is far from their best but working towards that end product. Well... Devonport also dominated the Summer Cup. And the Laka Cup. And compete man to man against one of the best NPL sides in the country (Gold Coast Knights).
You can argue about referees, penalties, management decisions, etc. but the truth is, only team that can beat Devonport, is Devonport.
Have a great day and enjoy the rest of the season.
Anon 6.12 AM. Your comments re CZ sound very familiar to what was said at the end of last year and beginning of this year ( again ). They say this every year and every year it is , " next year this , next year that, there are new players coming ......."
Nothing changes as may people have said.
If you want a social club where you can go and eat and drink and mix with others, that fine .
If you expect any form of success then .........
What the hell
I notice the Zebras under 21 side has done a great job for the club even through changing coaches mid season so that's at least a positive for them . But let's see how many of these boys get a chance next season ?If the past is any indication I'm guessing not many
The Port were the best team undoubtedly this season.
They got results on the road and the 1-0 away victory to L City last week (after a loss in Qld) was the stuff of champions.
Least amount of goals conceded too.
Did Syson get a week off for an accumulation of cards?
I thought he got a red card for his behaviour that day in question?
A red card for direct behaviour is different to accumulation over a time period.
Anon 12.44 pm.
Unfortunately NPL clubs are not judged by the performance of their youth.
Rightly or wrongly it is the senior side that is in the spotlight.
You may right , many of them may not be there ......so CZ start all over again .
By your logic Knights 12 points ahead of city so not that bleak of a season
Anonymous @ 2:53pm Syson, Pitchford and Gaetani all got yellows in the 88th minute v Devonport when a penalty call didn't go their way. Syson then decided to get full value for his grievance and gave Kopra another spray after the final whistle which saw him given a straight red and a holiday on the weekend.
The only conclusion I take away from this post is that Walter needs to screen publishers with an IQ test.
Ahhh makes sense. After the final whistle. Wow. That shows great culture to their youth and strong leadership. Gedi would smiling again
Gedi is currently playing at a Club where the coach has been suspended for the whole season and, more frighteningly, banned from junior football for two seasons. I doubt Gedi is smiling.
Who does Gedi play for now?
Dyson had already accumulated 3 yellows so he must have already served a suspension for that as well.
With the implementation of an IQ test are you trying to weed out those that are too high or too low? I’d argue there is room for neither on here...
Some families at City knew this appointment would not work and would all be about trying to bring players to the club with him only. Wouldn’t have got the job otherwise. How could he when he has no real experience leading up to the appointment. Buck stops with the board and head coach. Pitchford has more potential from what I’ve seen and heard.
This isn’t junior football. The families at City? This comment wreaks of disgruntled parent and is laughable! Pitchford has less experience than Syson, so how would that be a better option?
From the outside, it looks like Syson is trying to get them to play possession based football, which is a massive change from previous seasons at City. However, without a quality striker and the youth of the group, it isn’t clicking consistently. Just because your son and ‘The Families’ may not be getting their way anymore, doesn’t mean Syson isn’t doing good work. Perhaps ‘The Families’ are the actual problem at the Club and are afraid they may lose influence because the new coach doesn’t bend to their demands!?
This post is even more laughable. Sounds like a coach trying to keep his job the way it’s written… basically the same win loss record as last year and a better squad of players. So underperforming. Pitchford has more experience playing at a high level and has been successful nearly everywhere he has been and from my understanding has a high level knowledge base with his degree. Syson not so much apart from fades but wrong line of work
There are no great coaches who studied coaching by being a physio. There are no great coaches by being an average or good player either. You learn coaching by attending real football coaching courses and updates and once you have achieved each level, gained years of experience before progressing. There are too many coaches who have progressed without additional knowledge and experience but have spent some serious money on players to gain little to no success. Too many have the title of coaching director, whose job is to assist guide other coaches within their organisation and have neither the training, experience or qualifications. We have all observed many players progress at clubs from junior to senior level with no improvement in their technical for tactical abilities, they have just grown bigger, therefore becoming faster and stronger, and that occurs because they have been poorly coached. therefore if you cannot teach an individual player to improve their technique, how do you coach a team?
Haha yeah I’m sure the coaches are all logging on every week anxious to get their weekly feedback from those with the real knowledge and expertise
Nigel Adkins who took Southampton to the Premier League was a physio first and foremost, therefore negating the rest of your rant.
mmm, so he was a physio with no coaching badges? hardly negating my statement since you cannot coach in the Premiership or Championship without a Pro Licence. Also you cannot achieve a pro licence without having the supporting licences A B or C . Enjoy watching Southhampton back in the Championship! BTW, Southampton are renowned developers of quality players so he must have had all of his licences. Maybe you should fact check first.
Anon 6.18 AM. Firstly you learn about the game itself by playing at a reasonable level.Thats where you gain game experience and knowledge and if you are lucky enough you may win a few trophies along the way. Playing alongside players from overseas for years also helps.
This experience together with some coaching courses will assist in becoming a capable coach , in theory. There are people around who are the most qualified on paper with little or no playing experience and yet could not coach themselves out of a paper bag.
Playing definitely does help.
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