Glenorchy Knights are the 2024 NPL Tasmania champions.
They fell over the line in the end to pip South Hobart on
goal difference and collect their second NPL title after winning their first in
2021.
It was a triumph for coach James Sherman, who was in
charge for the final time.
He is off to Singapore to pursue a coaching career there.
It was also the swansong for South Hobart coach Ken
Morton, who has announced his retirement after 16 years with the club.
Knights fans must be thankful this is not Italy. If two teams are tied at the top of Serie A at the end of the league season, goal-difference does not count. Instead, there is a play-off between the two teams at a neutral venue (one 90-minute game and penalties but no extra-time) and the winner is the Serie A champion.
I recall back in 1963 Olympia, Rangers and Hobart Juventus all finished level on 28 points but Olympia won the title on goal average (it was goal average and not goal difference in those days). The Juventus captain, Luciano Longo , complained bitterly on television how it was unjust and had it been in Italy, there would have been a play-off.
Devonport City finished third. They only needed a win against Knights to retain
the NPL title but, after dominating the match, couldn’t find a single goal to
clinch the championship.
It would never have come to this if they had not lost the
services of striker Roberto Garrido and goalkeeper Keegan Smith in the
off-season. But, that’s football and players move on.
They had 37 shots on goal compared with the Knights’ 6,
but could not find the net.
Devonport hit the woodwork twice and had one effort ruled
out because of off-side.
This game will be the recurring source of nightmares for
the North-West Coast outfit.
Knights’ 17-year-old goalkeeper, Angus Burdon, made at
least half a dozen superb saves to deny the visitors to KGV Park, and was named
man-of-the-match.
But, in the end, it was the failings of Devonport that
resulted in the 0-0 draw and Knights must be the first to acknowledge that it
was their lucky day.
They only needed a draw, and they got it.
Devonport left Nick Lanau-Atkinson and Miles Barnard on
the bench. There’s no guaranteeing that
their introduction would have resulted in a goal, but with the major prize at
stake, why wouldn’t you try them?
The Knights didn’t set out to park the bus. They were forced to because of Devonport’s dominance. Credit to them for weathering the storm and holding
out against the relentless Devonport attacks.
Many efforts were blocked, others saved by the goalkeeper and the
woodwork, so it showed again that the only statistic that counts is the one on
the scoreboard, and in this case it showed 0-0.
South Hobart did what they had to do and beat Launceston
City 2-1. That took them level on points
with Knights, but their vastly inferior goal-difference cost them.
The Knights began their campaign with 9-0, 4-0 and 8-1
wins in their first three games. That
highlighted the importance of a good start and proved crucial in the end.
They then drew 1-1 with South Hobart, a result that proved
crucial in the end and which ultimately benefited the Knights and cost South Hobart.
Both sides drew 5 times and lost twice in the league this
season. That’s how close it all
was. If just one of those draws had been
a win, it would have been decisive.
Clarence Zebras’ dismal 2024 campaign finished at rock
bottom with a 1-0 home defeat to Riverside Olympic.
Kingborough Lions United secured fourth place. They beat bottom-side Launceston United 6-1
at home.
Kobe Kemp scored once and Noah Mies twice and they
finished equal leading NPL scorers with 20 goals apiece,
It was an inconsistent league campaign by the Lions and
that’s what fourth place confirms.
NPL Tasmania
South Hobart 2 (Nick Morton 55’, Rex Maddock 73’) beat
Launceston City 1 (Thierry Swaby 16’)
Clarence Zebras 0 lost to Riverside Olympic 1 (Emanuel
Farias 46’)
Kingborough Lions United 6 (Jesse Hammond 4’, Alexander
Brown 27’, Kobe Kemp 35’, Alfred Hess 42’, Noah Mies 61’ 82’) beat Launceston
United 1 (Joel Digney 33’)
Glenorchy Knights 0-0 Devonport City
NPL Tasmania Final Standings (As at 7 September 2024)
|
TEAM
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
Pts
|
|
Glenorchy Knights
|
21
|
14
|
5
|
2
|
81
|
24
|
47
|
|
South Hobart
|
21
|
14
|
5
|
2
|
58
|
29
|
47
|
|
Devonport City
|
21
|
13
|
6
|
2
|
60
|
19
|
45
|
|
Kingborough Lions
|
21
|
11
|
3
|
7
|
66
|
43
|
36
|
|
Launceston City
|
21
|
9
|
4
|
8
|
38
|
34
|
31
|
|
Riverside Olympic
|
21
|
6
|
1
|
14
|
27
|
62
|
19
|
|
Clarence Zebras
|
21
|
3
|
2
|
16
|
28
|
60
|
11
|
|
Launceston United
|
21
|
1
|
0
|
20
|
17
|
104
|
3
|
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