Brief analyses of Saturday's friendlies

Photo:  South Hobart's Sam Berezansky (right) tries to cut out a Green Gully cross. [PlessPix] 

South Hobart came back from being an early goal down to beating Green Gully from Victoria 3-2 at South Hobart Oval on Saturday.

This followed last weekend’s 3-0 win over another Victorian outfit, Pascoe Vale.

But, whereas Pascoe Vale are in the Victorian NPL 2 competition, Green Gully are in the Victorian NPL top flight.

South Hobart’s new senior NPL coach, Max Clarke, can be said to have made an auspicious start at the helm.

Deklan Wynne gave the Victorians the perfect start after just 6 minutes, but Kobe Kemp, who has returned to South Hobart from Kingborough Lions United, equalised in the 19^th minute.

Excellent goals by Nick Morton in the 24^th and 32^nd minutes gave South Hobart a 3-1 lead at the interval.

Brayden Portelli’s speed and expert flick at the near post four minutes after the resumption pulled a goal back for the visitors, but South Hobart were able to hang on for the win.

They could, in fact, have increased their lead before the end but had several shots blocked on the line and cleared in the nick of time by a desperate Green Gully defence.

Former South Hobart player Kasper Hallam played for Green Gully, while former South Hobart goalkeeper Kieran Brown was back after four years in the USA and was in goal for South in the second half.

Brown leaves for the Republic of Ireland this week, where he has several trials scheduled.

Regular custodian Nick O’Connell was between the posts in the first half.

Alfred Hess and Eli Wright also got runs after returning to the club from Kingborough Lions United.

*****

Photo:  Emanuel Francisco Ponce Farias scored for Kingborough Lions United against Clarence Zebras. [Photo by Ellie Gordon] 

Kingborough Lions United drew 1-1 with Clarence Zebras at Lightwood Park.

New signing from Riverside Olympic, Emanuel Francisco Ponce Farias, netted for the Lions in the 62^nd minute, although Clarence Zebras’ Kane Hatcher may have got the last touch but succeeded only in firing the ball into the roof of the net.

James Ackerley stunned the home side with an equaliser from 20 minutes three minutes from the end.

The Lions had the better of the match in terms of possession but succumbed to that late sucker punch, which must have been disappointing for their new coach, Jon Fenech.

The Lions had their two  Korean imports on view, midfielder Kim Hyeon (who used to be with South Hobart), and winger Park Egan.

Photo:  Kim Hyeon of Kingborough Lions United. [Photo by Ellie Gordon]
 

Photo:  Kingborough Lions United's Park Egan. [Photo by Ellie Gordon]

*****

Southern Championship sides, Hobart City and South East United had little success against NPL opponents.

Hobart City went down 5-1 to Riverside Olympic at Edgeworth Street in Warrane, while South East United succumbed 5-3 to Launceston City at Sorell.

Both southern clubs have ambitions for bigger things, but they may have to reassess and go back to the drawing board if they are going to trade punches one day with the big boys.

Riverside Olympic led Hobart City 3-0 at half-time and ran out comfortable winners in the end.

City almost got a second goal in the second half when their player-coach, Michael Monticchio, rattled the Riverside crossbar with an excellent free-kick from 30 metres.

Photo:  Hobart City player-coach Michael Monticchio in possession against Riverside Olympic. [PlessPix]

 

Photo:  Action from the Hobart City versus Riverside Olympic game. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Clarence Zebras' James Ackerley and Kingborough's Emanuel Francisco Ponce Farias, the two scored in the match, engaged in an aerial duel. [PlessPix]

 

Photo:  Clarence Zebras goakeeper, Aiden Featherstone, who has returned to the club from University, punches clear against one of Kingborough's two Schwarz brothers. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Action from Hobart City versus Riverside Olympic. [PlessPix]

Photo:  A battle for possession in the Hobart City versus Riverside Olympic game. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Riverside Olympic score a penalty against Hobart City to make it 4-1. [PlessPix]

Saturday friendlies - 25 January 2025

Photo:  South Hobart's Tobias Herweynen gets in a crucial tackle against a Green Gully opponent at South Hobart Oval today. [PlessPix] 

South Hobart 3 (Kobe Kemp, Nick Morton 2) beat Green Gully 2 (Deklan Wynn 6’, Brayden Portelli 49’)

Hobart City 1-5 Riverside Olympic

Kingborough Lions United 1 (Emanuel Ponce 62') Clarence Zebras 1 (James Ackerley 87')

South East United 3-5 Launceston City

Photo:  Action from today's game between Southern Championship outfit Hobart City (black shirts) and NPL side Riverside Olympic at Edgeworth Street, Warrane. [PlessPix] 

Under-21

Kingborough Lions United 1-0 Clarence Zebras

South East United 7-8 Clarence Zebras

Photo:  Clarence Zebras' Kane Hatcher (left) vies for possession with Kingborough Lions United's Greg Downes at Lightwood Park. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Kingborough's new coach, Jon Fenech. [Photo by Ellie Gordon]

Photo:  South Hobart's new coach, Max Clarke (left) [PlessPix].

Photo:  Nick Morton is congratulated by team-mates after scoring. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Riverside Olympic on the attack against Hobart City. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Kieran Brown, who has returned after four seasons in college football in the USA, played in goal in the second half for South Hobart.  He leaves for Dublin, Republic of Ireland, next week for several trials. [PlessPix]

NPL champions Glenorchy Knights down Taroona

Photo:  Jayden Hey (second from left) was a new face for Glenorchy Knights tonight against Taroona. [PlessPix] 

NPL side Glenorchy Knights beat Southern Championship outfit Taroona 6-2 in a pre-season friendly at KGV Pak this evening.

Knights led 4-1 at half-time.

Taroona lost Queenslander Daniel Buitago through what appeared a serious leg injury in the first half.

Knights scored through Cammron Morris (6^th minute), Andres Lagos (21^st), Riley Dillon (27^th, 65^th, 67^th) Ben McTaggart (41^st og).

Taroona replied through Ollie Maxwell (23^rd) and Nick (?) (80^th).

Dillon seems to have carried his form of last season, when Knights won the NPL championship, over to this 2025 campaign by hitting a hat-trick tonight.

Jayden Hey was an interesting new face for Knights.  He played for Clarence Zebras last season.

Tyson Barrett from Olympia Warriors was another inclusion in the Knights line-up.

Top import from Queensland last season, Jack Glover, also played for Knights, who’s new coach is the highly credentialed and experienced Brian Murphy.

Photo:  A Taroona attacked is outnumbered by Glenorchy Knights opponents. [PlessPix]