Three southern clubs in top-four semi-finals

Photos (Top to Bottom): A midfield tussle between Riverside Olympic and South Hobart; South Hobart's Shae Hickey cleans up after team-mate Josh Heerey clashes with a Riverside opponent; South Hobart's Daniel Brown helps out team-mate Josh Heerey; Ricki Eaves's shot is goal-bound after a cross from Seth Otte (No. 11)

South Hobart, Glenorchy Knights and Tilford Zebras all eliminated northern opponents today to qualify for the semi-finals of the intrastate top-four series.

Clarence United’s match against Northern Rangers at Birch Avenue was postponed because of poor ground conditions and will be played next Saturday.

South Hobart beat Riverside Olympic 2-0 at KGV Park, while Tilford Zebras squandered chances galore before eliminating Prospect Knights 4-2 at KGV.

Glenorchy Knights downed Devonport City 4-3 in a match which was shifted from Valley Road to the Ulverstone Showground.

South Hobart had more chances than Riverside, but it was not until 18 minutes from the end that they opened the scoring when a cross from the left by substitute Seth Otte found Ricki Eaves on the edge of the box.

Eaves controlled the ball expertly and spun around to volley past goalkeeper Joseph Simmons and give South the lead.

With 12 minutes remaining, a pass by Eaves put Kostas Kanakaris through the Riverside defence and he slotted the ball past Simmons to make it 2-0.

Riverside had their chances, with Will Guy hitting the South Hobart crossbar in the 79^th minute and South goalkeeper Mark Moncur making a fine save shortly after.

Eaves, Kanakaris, Bart Beecroft and Shae Hickey all missed good chances for South, while Riverside, who were well served at the back by Scott Hanson, also went close when Hanson ventured forward and had a header deflected to safety by Hugh Ludford.

A penalty by Nathan Balym in the 9^th minute gave Prospect Knights the lead against Tilford Zebras, but a fine left-footed strike from the edge of the box by Brayden Pace a minute later made it 1-1.

Dwayne Walsh put Zebras ahead in the 57^th minute, while a right-wing cross by Walsh in the 74^th minute enabled Matt Hall to make it 3-1.

Sean Harris reduced the arrears for the visitors in the 78^th minute when he was unmarked at the far post and rammed home Chris Pickering’s low cross to make for a tense finish.

Four minutes from the end, Jayden Welch set up Walsh for his second goal and the Zebras’ fourth.

A last-minute goal by Corey Smith saw Glenorchy Knights home against Devonport City, who led 2-1 at the interval.

Smith’s penalty was saved, but he was the first to the rebound and netted to put Knights into the semi-finals.

Jade Clay, Josh Fielding and Mynonge Kamba were the other Knights marksmen, while Sean Howe hit two goals - one from a free-kick and one from a penalty - and Kamil Douglas one for Devonport.

Taroona lead in Division One but Hobart United hold the key to the title

Taroona opened up a 2-point lead at the top of the Division One ladder when they beat bottom-side Christian United 3-0 at Queen’s Walk today.

Two goals by Toby Dove and one by Cian Carey lifted Taroona above previous leaders Metro on the ladder.

Metro had the bye and have a game in hand, while Taroona have just one game remaining.

Hobart United may well determine the championship as they must face Taroona once and Metro twice to complete the season.

Second-last Hobart United did well to down fourth-placed Nelson Eastern Suburbs 3-2 away at North Warrane.

Akuel Guot netted twice and Justin Letiko once for United.

Craig Stockdale scored a penalty for Nelson after Tom Gordon had been fouled, while Gordon grabbed the second with a header from a set-piece.

The win lifted Hobart United above Northern Suburbs DOSA and into fifth place.

Third-placed Beachside overcame DOSA 5-1 at Sandown Park.

Bernhard Klasen hit a hat-trick and Colin Shepherd and Kurt De Jong netted a goal apiece for Beachside.

David Visentin replied for DOSA with the last kick of the match.

Saturday results

Photos (Top to Bottom): South Hobart's Liam Scott is flattened; Riverside's Jonathon O'Neill tangles with South Hobart's Liam Scott; Referee Mr Craig Phillips looks on as South Hobart's Seth Otte is pressured by a Riverside opponent; South Hobart's Daniel Brown clashes with a Riverside opponent as South HObart's Hugh Ludford looks on

Top-Four Finals Series

Tilford Zebras 4-2 Prospect Knights
South Hobart 2-0 Riverside Olympic
Devonport City 3-4 Glenorchy Knights
Northern Rangers v Clarence United (postponed; to be played next Saturday)

Division One

Taroona 3-0 Christian United
Nelson Eastern Suburbs 2-3 Hobart United
Beachside 5-1 Northern Suburbs DOSA

Reserves

Nelson Eastern Suburbs 1-1 Hobart United
Taroona 16-0 Christian United

Under-19s

Taroona 10-0 Christian United
Nelson Eastern Suburbs 7-1 Hobart United

Vale Hugh Robertson, 1942-2009

Photos (Top to Bottom): Hugh Robertson (second from right) at the Rapid reunion in April 2008; Tasmanian squad versus Chelsea in 1965...Robertson is second from the left in the middle row; Olympia in the mid-1960s and Robertson is in the back row, second from the left; Olympia in the mid-1960s and Robertson is at the extreme right in the back row; Olympia at South Hobart in the early 1960s and Robertson is in the back row, third from the left; Caledonians in the early 1960s and Robertson is in the back row, fourth from the left; Caledonians at South Hobart in the late 1950s and Robertson is at the extreme right in the front row; Caledonians in the late 1950s and Robertson is at the front with one hand on the trophy

One of the stars of Tasmanian football in the 1950s and 1960s, Hugh Robertson, passed away in Hobart this week.

Robertson, one of the finest players of his generation, was aged 67 and died of cancer.

I used to watch Robertson when I was a child and as a teenager and admired him greatly.

He was a left-winger for Caledonians and later Olympia.

Robertson was tall, slim, athletic and fast and was one of the fairest players in the game.

He was one of the first players in Tasmania to wear Adidas boots. I still remember the distinctive black boots with the three white stripes and the blue linings.

Robertson represented Southern Tasmania, and he played for Tasmania against Chelsea at North Hobart in 1965.

Taroona can take over at the top of Division One

Taroona can put pressure on Division One leaders Metro by beating bottom-side Christian United at Queens Walk at 3pm on Saturday.

Metro have the bye and could find themselves two points adrift of Taroona come Saturday evening.

“We have to make sure we win to keep up the pressure on Metro,” said Taroona coach, Ben Horgan.

“We’ll have the same squad as last week and everyone is raring to go.

“I thought our first half last week against Beachside was outstanding and it is great for the club’s future that young players like Ben Schaap and Ruaidhri Carey have come into the team over the last month or so and have held down key positions.

“Ben kept Bernhard Klasen very quiet and Ruaidhri was very good in central midfield.”

Beachside, in third place, host sixth-ranked Northern Suburbs DOSA at Sandown Park on Saturday at 2.30pm.

Ben Davis is back for Beachside, but they will miss midfielder Colin Wain, who is unavailable.

“There is nothing at stake in this game, but we are looking forward to playing DOSA, who have proved to be a very difficult opponent this season,” said Beachside coach, Nathan Robinson.

Nelson Eastern Suburbs are in fourth spot and they host second-last Hobart United at North Warrane at 2.30pm on Saturday.

Nelson will miss midfielder Luke Wallace and defender Lewis Gibbs.

Robert Brooke is a doubtful starter for Nelson, while Richard Flood and Nick Roberts have junior coaching commitments and may only play a half.

Nelson’s Under-13s have won the league and are unbeaten going into the last game of the season.

Craig Stockdale, an important defender for Nelson, should be available, while Tom Roach will return to the side at fullback.

Max Caulfield and Oliver Ireland, two 16-year-olds, will come into the Nelson squad, while 18-year-olds Jordan Brighella, Andrew Gaskell and Cameron Rush are also likely to play.

“We have our usual roll call of players who are unavailable this week,” said nelson coach, Michael Roach.

“But, we fortunately have a good bunch of young players coming through and, with our goalkeeper Nic De Carpentier aged 17, that’s six teenagers in the team this week.

“So, as with last week, there’s plenty of ability and self belief in the group.

“We won’t underestimate Hobart United, who have some dangerous and fast forwards who always create us trouble.”

Hobart United’s Pedro Ramirez said his side was confident after last week’s win against Christian United.

“I hope the team can play against Nelson as they did in the first half last week against Christian, when we stuck to our game plan and scored three goals,” Ramirez said.

“It’s the only way we will win against a Nelson side that has improved greatly and which drew with Metro last week and is full of confidence.”