Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Only Glenorchy Knights or Devonport City can win NPL Tasmania title after weekend's matches

Glenorchy Knights or Devonport City will be the 2024 NPL Tasmania champions next Saturday.

They are the only two sides that can achieve the honour despite all three leading sides winning their penultimate games last weekend.

Third-placed South Hobart, who downed Riverside Olympic 1-0 through a curling shot by Austin Yost after just 11 minutes, are out of the running because of their goal-difference, which is inferior to that of Knights and Devonport.

Mathematically, they could finish level on points with Knights or Devonport, but their goal-difference would let them down.

South Hobart were somewhat fortunate to win this game, which was transferred to the artificial surface at KGV Park because of the wet weather.

After Yost put them ahead, Riverside created some good chances of their won.

One shot hit the underside of the bar and bounced down and out instead of over the line, while only a brilliant save on the dying minutes by South Hobart keeper Nick O’Connell denied the visitors an equaliser.

Glenorchy Knights made hard work of disposing of second-last Clarence Zebras on a heavy pitch at Wentworth Park.

Nick Mearns put Knights in front in the 36th minute, but Ryan Cook equalised on the stroke of half-time.

The visitors increased the tempo in the second half and goals on the hour by Stefan Cordwell and in the 70th minute by substitute Anthony Mamic gave them the 3 points and kept them on top of the standings.

Devonport City kept on the heels of Knights with a comfortable 4-1 win over Kingborough Lions United at Valley Road, where the game was delayed for a while by a falling tree,

Lions young keeper Lochie Schoefield’s unfortunate own goal in the 13th minute gifted the home side the lead.  He turned Nick Lanau-Atkinson’s corner from the right into his own net after appearing to get his feet bogged in the muddy goalmouth.

Jordan Payne, a prolific scorer in the Under-21s and who was making a rare senior appearance, made it 2-0 a minute later.

Xuan Cappellino added a third just past the half-hour mark before Noah Mies pulled a goal back for the visitors in stoppage time.

Devonport hadn’t finished yet, however, and the experienced Miles Barnard, made it 4-1 in the 6th minute of stoppage time to set the scene for next Saturday’s title showdown against Knights.

On the Friday night, Launceston City moved to with reach of a fourth-placed finish by defeating wooden-spooners Launceston United 3-1 in teeming rain at Prospect.

 

Thierry Swaby against proved his value to City by netting twice.  Mac Wilcox hit the third either side of Swaby’s goals.

Veteran Aidan Rigby replied for United.

NPL Tasmania

Launceston City 3 (Thierry Swaby 28’, 74’, Mac Wilcox 67’) beat Launceston United 1 (Aidan Rigby 82’)

South Hobart 1 (Austin Yost 11’) beat Riverside Olympic 0

Clarence Zebras 1 (Ryan Cook 45’) lost to Glenorchy Knights 3 (Nick Mearns 36’, Stefan Cordwell 60’, Anthony Mamic 70’)

Devonport City 4 (Lochie Schofield 13’ og, Jordan Payne 14’, Xuan Cappellino 31’, Miles Barnard 90’+6) beat Kingborough Lions United 1 (Noah Mies 90’+4)

NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 31 August 2024)

TEAM

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Glenorchy Knights

20

14

4

2

81

24

46

Devonport City

20

13

5

2

60

19

44

South Hobart

20

13

5

2

56

28

44

Kingborough Lions

20

10

3

7

60

42

33

Launceston City

20

9

4

7

37

32

31

Riverside Olympic

20

5

1

14

26

62

16

Clarence Zebras

20

3

2

15

28

59

11

Launceston United

20

1

0

19

16

98

3

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Once again FFT miss a great opportunity all games virtually at the same time pure madness.

Is anyone actually at head office capable of driven the ship again we stuff it up .

Anonymous said...

All the games kick off at the same time on the last day of the season all over the world. That is so that no games can be rigged as they’re all playing at the same time and no one can fix the results to suit a particular outcome.

Anonymous said...

That’s correct. All leagues everywhere do it. It’s probably only important here in terms of who is going to win the title. There’s no promotion or relegation here so it doesn’t matter as much.

Anonymous said...

Essentially this is a grand final.
Football Tas had finals last year and didnt continue it this year. They dont care and do we honestly think south hobart people are going to go and watch someone else win the title?

Anonymous said...

Can’t image either side throwing the title away the games actually kick off at different times already .
So missing you point two games will finish before the other two so 🥲

Once again that excuse doesn’t float 😊opportunity again missed but Soccer Tas .

No Promotion or Relegation a chance to make this an excellent event lost again .

Tasmania Football never fails to disappoints.

Anonymous said...

It’s not the point the should have the opportunity it’s a showpiece game pinnacle of the season .

And again Soccer Tasmania have missed it how many times are we going to see it .

Before we get it right once again out of touch with reality at Headquarters.

Anonymous said...

Agreed would you move games to seperate times no one from south and co will go to watch.

Anonymous said...

What about all the other clubs and players ?

Anonymous said...

Laun City could finish 4th? Huge success

Anonymous said...

FT aren't going to change the comp and are therefore out of touch bc they haven't read some half baked idea that some bloke came up with 2 days ago. I don't understand the complaint if you want to watch the game, go to the game if you want to watch 2 streams you can... If South had better goal difference a point more they'd need to play it at the same time for the integrity of to comp. Just go to the game you want, no one is forcing you to watch Clarence or Riverside. There isn't going to be some magic 5000 person attendance for an NPL game because they've done a news article on it, the game doesn't have that much profile idk -same as hosting the awards night on the same day complaints get over it.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely spot on!!!!

Anonymous said...

Headquarters - that's a laugh. FFT have sold us out

Anonymous said...

Anon 11.58am 4 Sept.
And where do you think the thousands of people will sit to watch the game ?
Present state of KGV complex is ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

launie city would have to beat south and boro would have to loose to united

Anonymous said...

Surely City can’t finish 5th again. Like groundhog year.

Anonymous said...

The Build up from FFT for the game has being absolutely poor no excuses anymore .

Anonymous said...

It was just a simple idea based on the premise that there just might be some supporters out there staunch enough to want to go and clap their team off on the last day of the season; win lose or draw...and ...who also might like to watch a single game of rare stakes in the NPL.
They are the heart and soul of tas football and deserve consideration.

Anonymous said...

City’s level is 5th place, they aren’t at the level of top 4.

Anonymous said...

🥱 yeah whatevs

Anonymous said...

Coaches have take then team forwards, backwards? Actually at a standstill. 5th.