The destination of the 2024 NPL Tasmania title is too close to call.
The three leading teams can all still win it with just two games remaining.
Glenorchy Knights took a giant step towards the title when they beat fourth-placed Kingborough Lions United 4-2 at KGV Park on Friday night.
It didn’t look promising for the Knights when Kingborough’s Keenan Douce scored direct from a corner after just 5 minutes. It was terrible defending by Knights and must have rattled them.
It took until 11 minutes into the second half for Knights to equalise through Riley Dillon.
The Lions, for whom Eli Wright was extremely dangerous down the left, restored their lead through Otto Schwarz just past the hour mark.
But, a Tyler Harrison twice-taken penalty put Knights’ noses in front in the 77th minute. It was a double blow for the Lions as they had key defender Eli Luttmer sent off during the penalty proceedings.
Centre-back Jack Glover made it 3-2 with 9 minutes remaining and it wasn’t until the fifth minute of stoppage time that Stefan Cordwell clinched the win to take the Knights back to the top of the table.
Sixth-placed Riverside Olympic easily accounted for bottom-side Launceston United 2-0 through goals by Austin Marshall and Gediminas Krusa.
Devonport City took an important step on the road to retaining their title by downing South Hobart 2-1 on a heavy South Hobart Oval pitch.
They should have won by more but were denied by brilliant goalkeeping by South Hobart’s Nick O’Connell.
O’Connell saved two one-on-one situations and also turned a fierce shot in the dying minutes over the bar with an outstanding save.
The first half proved goalless, although the visitors did have the ball in the net, only to be denied by the off-side flag.
South Hobart suffered a major blow when striker Alex Walter was injured 10 minutes before the break. But, his replacement, the youngster Harrison Oates, was more than a fair swap. He could have considered himself unfortunate, in fact, not to have started given his scoring ability and his recent performances.
Sam Berezanski put the hosts in front with an excellent shot at the second attempt 15 minutes from the end.
But, the visitors drew level from the penalty spot when Charles Bidwell was fouled by former team-mate Raphael Reynolds. Xuan Cappellino stepped up and drove his spot-kick high into the roof of the net.
With the game seemingly heading for a draw, Devonport found a stoppage-time winner. O’Connell made a brilliant save when he tipped a tremendous shot over the bar to concede a corner.
The corner proved South Hobart’s undoing as Cappellino rose the highest and nodded home the winner to shatter the home side.
Second-last Clarence Zebras bounced back from last week’s humiliation by drawing 2-2 with fifth-ranked Launceston City at Wentworth Park.
It didn’t look good for Clarence Zebras as they trailed 2-0 at half-time as Joel Stone and Ayouba Keeneh put the visitors 2-0 up after half an hour.
Clarence Zebras kept their cool and got back to level terms through strikes by Jayden Hey and Ryan Cook to earn a precious point and atone somewhat for last weekend’s fiasco.
Glenorchy Knights play Clarence Zebras away and Devonport City at home in their final two games.
Devonport City meet Kingborough Lions United at home and Glenorchy Knights away in their final two games.
And, South Hobart entertain Riverside Olympic at home and Launceston City at home to complete their programme.
There may well be a banana skin or two amongst those fixtures and I am not game to predict any outcomes.
NPL Tasmania
Glenorchy Knights 4 (Riley Dillon 56’, Tyler Harrison 77’ pen, Jack Glover 81’, Stefan Cordwell 90’+5) beat Kingborough Lions United 2 (Keenan Douce 5’, Otto Schwarz 61’)
Riverside Olympic 2 (Austin Marshall 9’, Gediminas Krusa 40’) beat Launceston United 0
South Hobart 1 (Sam Berezansky 75’) lost to Devonport City 2 (Xuan Cappellino 79’, 90’ + 2)
Clarence Zebras 2 (Jayden Hey 48’, Ryan Cook 57’) drew with Launceston City 2 (Joel Stone 12’, Ayouba Kenneh 30’)
NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 24 August 2024)
|
TEAM |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
Glenorchy Knights |
19 |
13 |
4 |
2 |
78 |
23 |
43 |
|
Devonport City |
19 |
12 |
5 |
2 |
56 |
18 |
41 |
|
South Hobart |
19 |
12 |
5 |
2 |
55 |
28 |
41 |
|
Kingborough Lions |
19 |
10 |
3 |
6 |
59 |
38 |
33 |
|
Launceston City |
19 |
8 |
4 |
7 |
34 |
31 |
28 |
|
Riverside Olympic |
19 |
5 |
1 |
13 |
26 |
61 |
16 |
|
Clarence Zebras |
19 |
3 |
2 |
14 |
27 |
56 |
11 |
|
Launceston United |
19 |
1 |
0 |
18 |
15 |
95 |
3 |
11 comments:
Closest season in recent memory despite all the moaning in these comments sections... that last day could have a number of different outcomes depending on the results of the next round. GK vs Dev might be winner take all, they might have to drive the trophy back down the Booker if they draw - Dev with the hardest road having to go against Borough and Knights - South probably the easiest fixtures but destiny no longer in their hands and will have to get past City who they've lost to already this season.
Yes if Lions take points off Port then South remain in mix but if not we have a grand final on our hands. As there is no Award night moving the game to the Sunday would seem possible to get crowd and some sense of occasion to this rare ( possible ) event. But no doubt this would prove too difficult.
I’m not sure whoever wins would appreciate that, sore heads on a Sunday is better than a work day!
So the so called French star import was a great help to Zebras this season , injured played 1 NPL sent Off , played 1 under 21’s Sent Off ! Lol where do they get them ?
Par for the course with that lot. ……. no idea time and time and time again
So when is the State League awards night? And is there still a NPL finals series this season?
You gotta be able to shop! Core skill of the modern game. Should be acknowledged on award nights as it often decides the champions. The 'golden shopping trolley' would have gone to port most years of Npl. But a special mention should go out to Olympia's job lot of Perth Sharks , that was special.
It's the weekend after, I understand that's an annoying trip for any northern teams, but no player would want an awards night the same night they just won or lost the league. I don't understand the complaints tbh.. and no finals not really needed unless the comp goes back to regional.
What an exciting ahead. Any of the top 3 can win the title. It’s a long shot, but if CZ by a fluke could win against Knights it could just about knock their socks off. Now that would totally depend on Marky Marks starting 11. We saw what happened against United. What an absolute comedy show that was.
What choice does he have really ? Only players that should be in the team are Hey , Price, Tooze, Hatcher, Cook (only as a defender) maybe young Boscoe and Maundrill
They’d probably be better off playing with 11
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