Launceston City’s fine season continued on Saturday when they travelled to KGV Park in Glenorchy and swept aside Glenorchy Knights 5-1.
They leapfrogged Knights to move into second place, 3 points adrift of leaders South Hobart with 6 rounds played.
Will Humphrey showed he is one of the best players in the State, giving City a 2-0 lead by midway through the first half with two magnificent left-footed free-kicks from 25 metres within 5 minutes of each other that gave Knights keeper Thomas Divin no chance.
We so often see free-kicks wasted through poor technique and wrong angles, but these two were outstanding from the City central defender.
Humphrey, together with South Hobart’s Jacob Lancaster, are two of the best defenders in the NPL and they can both score goals and initiate attacks, which is a bonus.
Angus Taylor made it 3-0 for the northern visitors 3 minutes before the break.
Thomas Walpole pulled a goal back for Knights midway through the second half, but Thierry Swaby netted twice in 6 minutes at the end to complete the rout.
It was a very disappointing performance by the reigning champions and they have a lot of work to do if they are to challenge for the title.
South Hobart stayed top courtesy of a comfortable 3-0 away win over 6th-placed Riverside Olympic at Windsor Park.
Youngster Harrison Oates fired the visitors ahead on the quarter-hour while Kobe Kemp added the second midway through the first half.
Nick Morton made the game safe with the third 10 minutes after the break.
Devonport City scored an important 2-0 win over bottom-side Clarence Zebras at home at Valley Road, but it remains to be determined if this was due to improvement by Clarence Zebras or uninspiring play and some good fortune by the home team.
Yuta Normura put Devonport ahead in the 8th minute, but it was not until the third minute of stoppage time that Charles Bidwell made the game safe with a penalty.
Clarence Zebras coach Chris Hey got the best out of his charges so the southerners may just have turned a corner.
Kingborough Lions United did not improve their league position but they got an important win to halt their run of recent poor form and losses.
They travelled to Birch Avenue in Launceston and beat second-last Launceston United 2-1.
Will Spicer fired Launceston United in front after 19 minutes, but Launceston boy Noah Mies equalised shortly before the interval.
Otto Schwartz’s marvellous winner came just 8 minutes before the end.
NPL Tasmania
Launceston United 1 (Will Spicer 19') lost to Kingborough Lions United 2 (Noah Mies 38', Otto Schwarz 82’)
Devonport City 2 (Yuta Nomura 8', Charles Bidwell 90'+3 pen) beat Clarence Zebras 0
Riverside Olympic 0 lost to South Hobart 3 (Harrison Oates 15', Kobe Kemp 25', Nick Morton 55’)
Glenorchy Knights 1 (Tom Walpole 66') lost to Launceston City 5 (William Humphrey 18' 23', Angus Taylor 42', Thierry Swaby 89', 90'+5)
NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 3 May 2025)
|
TEAM |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
South Hobart |
6 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
31 |
6 |
16 |
|
Launceston City |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
18 |
5 |
13 |
|
Devonport City |
6 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
14 |
4 |
12 |
|
Glenorchy Knights |
6 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
20 |
12 |
12 |
|
Kingborough Lions |
6 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
9 |
15 |
9 |
|
Riverside Olympic |
6 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
15 |
4 |
|
Launceston United |
6 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
28 |
4 |
|
Clarence Zebras |
6 |
0 |
0 | 6 | 2 | 21 | 0 |
1 comment:
Huge win for city
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