NPL title race wide open again

Photo:  Stefan Cordwell (extreme left) opens the scoring for Knights against Clarence Zebras. [PlessPix] 

A few weeks ago, the championship prospects of some clubs seemed just about dashed.

It’s amazing what a couple of games can do.

The destination of the 2024 NPL title is again up in the air with only 5 points separating the leading four sides.

South Hobart stay first despite drawing 2-2 away to lowly Riverside Olympic on Saturday.

South Hobart remain the only unbeaten side, but it was a close call against Riverside.

Adrian Anthony and Matias Rodriguez gave the home side a 2-0 lead at the interval, but they should have known that South never stop until the final whistle.  And, this game went on for about an extra 10 minutes.

This was partly due to the time it took to get Riverside’s goalkeeper, Indigo Sharp, back on his feet and into action in stoppage time.

And, Riverside did not help their cause by having two players sent off in the final 8 minutes of regulation time and finishing with 9 men.

They were still leading 2-0 when Zac Reissing was shown a second yellow and hence a red in the 82^nd minute.

That got South’s toe in the door and Alex Walter netted within 2 minutes to make it 2-1,

When Emanuel Farias was shown a second yellow and sent off in the 86^th minute, it was just a matter of time before South Hobart equalised and salvaged a point and their unbeaten record.

Nick Morton duly grabbed the equaliser when left in a one-on-one situation with Sharp in the 88^th minute.

Riverside managed to hang on in the lengthy period of stoppage time and earn a point.  But, with greater discipline and tactical nous, it could have been 3 points.

Photo:  Knights' Thomas Walpole (left) battles with Clarence Zebras' Ben Tilley. [PlessPix] 

The pressure was on South after Glenorchy Knights moved to the top on goal-difference on Friday night by beating Clarence Zebras 5-2 at home at KGV Park.

It took Knights more than 45 minutes to calibrate their sights and it wasn’t until the second half that asserted their superiority.

Stefan Cordwell had given them a 10^th-minute lead, but poor defending allowed their former player, Kyle Vincent to strike twice and give Clarence Zebras a 2-1 lead at half-time.

Photo:  Knights' Nick Mearns passes the ball as Kyle Vincent moves in. [PlessPix] 

Captain Tyler Harrison equalised on the hour with a penalty.  The referee initially awarded a free-kick just outside the box on the left, but after communicating with the assistant referee, some 30 metres away, he changed his mind and indicated a spot-kick.

That was the signal for Knights to twist the knife and Cordwell completed his brace to put Knights 3-2 ahead in the 67^th minute.

An own-goal by William Simaan made it 4-2 and Thomas Walpole put the icing on the cake with the fifth.

Clarence Zebras' French import Fritz Fleury was sent off in the 77th minute with his side trailing 4-2.  He has yet to complete a game after three outings and being sent off twice.

Devonport City suffered a set-back when they lost at home at Valley Road 2-1 to Kingborough Lions United.

Toby Barton gave the home side the lead just before the break, but a goal minutes after the resumption by Eli Luttmer made it 1-1 before the other Eli, youngster Eli Wright, hit the winner midway through the second half.

Fifth-placed Launceston City easily accounted for bottom-side Launceston United 4-0 at Prospect through goals by Diesel Murfet, Thierry Swaby, Ayouba Kanneh and an own-goal by Luke Warrener.

Photo:  Knights' Stefan Cordwell receives instruction from his coach, James Sherman. [PlessPix] 

 NPL Tasmania

Glenorchy Knights 5 (Stefan Cordwell 10’, 67’, Tyler Harrison 60’ pen, William Simaan 70’ og, Thomas Walpole 81’) beat Clarence Zebras 2 (Kyle Vincent 30’, 43’)

Launceston City 4 (Diesel Murfet 44’, Thierry Swaby 67’, Ayouba Kanneh 73’, Luke Warrener 87’ og) beat Launceston United 0

Devonport City 1 (Toby Barton 42’) lost to Kingborough Lions United 2 (Eli Luttmer 47’, Eli Wright 65)

Riverside Olympic 2 (Adrian Anthony 37’, Matias Rodriguez 45’) drew with South Hobart 2 (Alex Walter 86’, Nick Morton 90’)

Photo:  It's a red card for Fritz Fleury after he retaliated for a challenge. [PlessPix] 

 NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 5 July 2024)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
South Hobart	13	8	5	0	35	16	29
Glenorchy Knights	13	8	4	1	53	16	28
Devonport City	13	7	5	1	35	13	26
Kingborough Lions	13	7	3	3	42	28	24
Launceston City	13	5	3	5	22	18	18
Clarence Zebras	13	3	1	9	22	34	10
Riverside Olympic	12	2	1	9	16	47	7
Launceston United	12	0	0	12	9	62	0

Photo:  Glenorchy Knights celebrate a goal against Clarence Zebras. [PlessPix]