Friday, April 19, 2024

Top four NPL sides fight it out between each other, as do the bottom four this weekend

Photo:  Kingborough Lions United's Japanese goalkeeper, Masatoshi Kawano, cannot seem to earn his place back between the sticks. [PlessPix]

The top four sides in the NPL Tasmania competition are all opposed to each other this weekend and none can afford to slip up.

Round 5 begins tonight with leaders Glenorchy Knights up against fourth-placed Kingborough Lions United at KGV Park at 8.15pm.

Tomorrow. Second-placed and reigning champions Devonport City host third-ranked South Hobart at Valley Road at 2.30pm.

Photo:  Eisa Azizi is currently holding down the number one goalkeeping position at the Lions. [PlessPix] 

Tonight’s other NPL game is the bottom-of-the-table clash between Riverside Olympic and Launceston United at Windsor Park at 8.15pm.

The remaining match of the round is what was once known as the ‘Italian derby’, between Launceston City and Clarence Zebras, at Prospect at 4.45pm tomorrow.

So, it’s the top four playing each other and the bottom-four against each other.

Knights may be without midfielder Nock Mearns after he was taken off at half-time in the 1-1 draw with South Hobart last Saturday after suffering a suspected head injury.

The Knights may have Matthew Brkic and Thomas Walpole back.  Both missed last Saturday’s game, the former through injury and the latter through illness.

Kingborough should be at full strength and will be formidable opponents.

South Hobart beat Devonport at Valley Road last season and will be confident of a good result this time as Devonport aren’t quite what they were last season.

They have not found a replacement for Roberto Garrido at centre-forward, and their new goalkeeper has yet to prove his worth.

South were missing Bradley Lakoseljac through injury last week and he may not be ready to resume tomorrow.

Devonport will field their strongest lime-up and will ne keen to show they have what it takes to retain their league title.

Clarence Zebras got their first win of the season last weekend and will be eager to continue in this vein when they travel to Launceston to take on Launceston City.

The southerners may still be without the suspended Jack Maundrill, who was due to appeal his two-week ban this week.  I don’t know the outcome and so he could be free to play.

Riverside  may well be on the verge of a first win when they host Launceston United, but a draw could well be on the cards between these two under-performing sides.

NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 13 April 2024)

TEAM

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Glenorchy Knights

4

3

1

0

22

2

10

Devonport City

4

3

1

0

14

5

10

South Hobart

4

3

1

0

10

4

10

Kingborough Lions

4

3

0

1

17

7

9

Launceston City

4

1

1

2

4

6

4

Clarence Zebras

4

1

0

3

9

13

3

Launceston United

4

0

0

4

6

24

0

Riverside Olympic

4

0

0

4

3

24

0

 

1 comment:

Terry said...

Can someone shed any light on the Lions goalkeeper decisions?

They had someone late last year, then Kawano started the summer cup from memory

Not being negative nor derogative to anyone but they seem to go to a lot of effort to find keepers from elsewhere all to keep Azizi between the sticks after they have played a game or two

Azizi does well, nothing against him, just general curiosity on my part