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 |
23 comments:
One fortunate game does not define a season Knights deserved champions well done to them
South Hobart played best football all year. Their struggle to convert chances has cost them the title.
In particulars their loss to Devonport late in the season which they should have won.
They are a much better footballing side than Knights , in my opinion which we are all entitled to.
I am not a South supporter either.
Disagree knights scored more goals and conceded less
A striker is a dying breed in Tas NPL
No Garrido no good! What does that say about the Devonport coach?
Anon 627. Did you actually watch the South dev game? South's keeper was best on ground for South.
A heroic, historical figure at the club like M Barnard could've roused a win through will power and love of the club
8.04pm. Yes I did watch the game. If South had converted half the chances in the first half Devonport would not have had a chance. Then the South keeper did keep them in the game in the second half just as the Knights keeper did on the weekend. Souths poor decisions and bad finishing up front has cost them all season just as it cost Devonport on the weekend.
Fitting that Nick Morton scored in the last game he is coached by Ken - what a combination they have been.
The busiest goal keeper over the last round was the south keeper.
That says to me that they were fortunate to still be in the race.
Interesting that kingborough produced the 2 top goal scorers yet only finished 4th. Second highest goals scored in the comp.only behind knights. But conceded a lot.
Doesn’t say a lot for the coach considering Devonport also spend a lot of money this year. Calpono cost them a fortune and didn’t produce much apart from a lot of diving while talented local lads missed out on NPL game time.
Anon 1.43 that’s why they are an ordinary side.
It’s the way Lions play. It’s all about attack. Forwards stay high, don’t track back. Mids focus on attacking and staying wide. Defence is left to the back four to do their best, often outnumbered by opposition forwards.
To become successful and more consistent they need to start defending as a team.
However sometimes the attacking game works, with a bit more luck they could’ve been right in the title race.
Calpono? Related to Al Capone?
Anon 6.25. It’s down to coaching then ???????
Love seeing the passion on this site. All bagging out other clubs yet haven’t come to the realisation it’s the probably the worst state league comp behind the NT
How do you figure that? Everyone knows that
They were an ordinary side 5 years ago, they have come along.
Agreed. People keyboard warrior on here about teams being no good yet all teams are below any other NPL standard clubs.
Love to hear the coaching resumes of these experts that question the Port coach. Barnard plays NPL on one leg these days
So third is a good result for port?
3rd and no cup final
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