Glenorchy Knights stayed top of the NPL Tasmania standings with a 5-2 win over fifth-placed Launceston City at KGV Park in a game that had a late afternoon kick-off.
Knights were less than impressive, while City were disappointing.
The Knights will have to improve on this performance if they are to trouble NWS Spirit in Sydney on Wednesday evening in the Australia Cup.
The endless square passing at the back between the two centre-backs, captain Tyler Harrison and Jack Glover, is monotonous to watch and so predictable. A better opponent than City would work this out quickly and apply a strategy to counter it and punish Knights for a lack of creativity.
Knights’ first goal was an own goal by the unfortunate Jack Woodland direct from a corner from the left by Riley Dillon. The question is, where was City keeper Lachlan Clark?
Clark redeemed himself when he recovered quickly after being caught out of position and beaten by Josh Redfearn. The keeper brilliantly saved a fierce shot in the 38th minute by Dillon, but defender Mac Wilcox brought Matthew Brkic down seconds later to concede a penalty, which was easily converted by Harrison to make it 2-0.
A brilliant goal on the turn by Thierry Swaby a minute before half-time pulled a goal back for the visitors and showed just how vulnerable the Knights rearguard can be.
The apparent recovery was undone midway through the second half when Joe McShane needlessly brought down Dillon to concede a penalty, which was again despatched clinically by Harrison to restore Knights; two-goal buffer.
Alex Caldow’s superb strike with the outside of the right boot in the 70th minute made it 4-1 for the home side.
Will Humphrey reduced the arrears when he punished lax goalkeeping by Knights at a corner in the 75th minute to make it two goals the difference, but Dillon grabbed Knights’ fifth 4 minutes from the end with a fierce low drive from the right that nutmegged the keeper and lodged inside the far corner of the net.
Kingborough Lions United got back to winning ways with an easy 4-0 away win over Riverside Olympic, while Devonport City trounced bottom-side Launceston United 8-0 at Valley Road.
On Sunday, South Hobart returned to second place with an easy 6-1 win over Clarence Zebras at home at South Hobart Oval.
Nick Morton had a penalty saved by former club mate, Clarence Zebras goalkeeper Jake Hayers, but went on to score a hat-trick.
NPL Tasmania
Glenorchy Knights 5 (Jack Woodland 27’ og, Tyler Harrison 39’ pen, 66’ pen, Alex Caldow 70’, Riley Dillon 86’) beat Launceston City 2 (Thierry Swaby 44’, Will Humphrey 75’)
Riverside Olympic 0 lost to Kingborough Lions United 4 (Keenan Douce 7’, Alexander Brown 20’, Jesse Hammond 53’, Noah Mies 90’+4)
Devonport City 8 (Riku Ichimura 2’, Xuan Cappellino 26’, Brody Denehey 49’, Masi Benjamin 51’, 71’, Declan Zasadny 75’, 82’, 90’+1) beat Launceston United 0
South Hobart 6 (Nick Morton 8’, 33’ 78’, Jayden Hey 43’ og, Sam Berezansky 86’, Harrison Oates 90’) beat Clarence Zebras 1 (Cade Smith 27’)
NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 4 August 2024)
|
TEAM |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
Glenorchy Knights |
16 |
11 |
4 |
1 |
69 |
18 |
37 |
|
South Hobart |
16 |
10 |
5 |
1 |
49 |
21 |
35 |
|
Devonport City |
16 |
9 |
5 |
2 |
49 |
17 |
32 |
|
Kingborough Lions |
16 |
9 |
3 |
4 |
53 |
32 |
30 |
|
Launceston City |
16 |
7 |
3 |
6 |
30 |
26 |
24 |
|
Riverside Olympic |
16 |
4 |
1 |
11 |
24 |
54 |
13 |
|
Clarence Zebras |
16 |
3 |
1 |
12 |
24 |
48 |
10 |
|
Launceston United |
16 |
0 |
0 |
16 |
9 |
88 |
0 |
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