Olympia make a game of it after being thrashed by University on the weekend

Photo:  Shelley Cook (out of the picture) nets for Olympia to give them the lead against University. [PlessPix] 

University beat Olympia Warriors 2-1 away at Empire Couriers Park this evening in the first round of the Women’s State-wide Cup.

It was a vastly different game to when the side’s met last weekend, University winning that game 9-0.

Personnel changes and a 4-4-2 formation saw Olympia take the game to University and almost force extra-time.

And, it was only an unfortunate own goal by Olympia’s Chloe Wilton in the 72^nd minute that gave University victory.

Photo:  University's Mikalha George (right) in a race for the ball. [PlessPix] 

Olympia took a shock lead through Shelley Cook midway through the first half, her long-range volley plummeting into the net,

University were level a minute later, however, when Anna Wade scored a similar goal from range.

University were the superior team, although they had to fight hard.

They struck the woodwork three times and squandered numerous other openings through inaccurate shooting.

Photo:  A fight for possession between Olympia's Abbey Clark (left) and University's Mariam Refaei. [PlessPix] 

“The team was much more composed,” said Olympia coach, John Fiotakis.

“I changed the formation from last week and we started off with a 4-4-2.

“Last week’s game was a little bit different because we lost the keeper and Allie Berry in the first 15 minutes.

‘We had to make a couple of changes from last week and it was a different game last week.  It was more a case of patching up areas where we had injuries.

Photo:  Olympia's Shelley Cook about to shoot for goal. [PlessPix] 

“This week, the girls went out there and they played their hearts out.

“I was very confident at the beginning of the game and I thought they played to the game plan we had and kept possession, and when they lost possession they tried to get it back.  They did really well.

“We were not told before the game that it was substitutions and not interchange and if it had gone to extra-time we would have had quite a few tired girls out there.

“The last goal just skimmed off the top of our player’s head and went in.

“A solid performance.”

Photo:  University coach Amey Abhay. [PlessPix]

University coach Amey Abhay said:  “It was  a really good game.  “Olympia came out firing and hats off to them.

“My girls responded pretty well and we hit a few posts, but it was a really good game.  I enjoyed that.”

Photo:  University's Mikalha George (white shirt) gets a pass away. [PlessPix]

Are the NPL standings already roughly determined after only round 2?

 

Photo:  Kingborough's Kobe Kemp dances a jig after scoring one of his four goals against Riverside. [PlessPix]

What is there to say about last Saturday’s NPL Tasmania results?

It is all so predictable.

It seems to me that the top-four is already decided, but not necessarily in the final order.

It seems certain that Glenorchy Knights, Devonport City, South Hobart and Kingborough Lions United will occupy the top four positions, but possibly not in that order.

As for the bottom four placings, you only need to look at the standings now and you will see that Launceston United. Riverside Olympic, Clarence Zebras and Launceston City will prop up the table.  In which order remains to be seen, of course.

Knights deserve top spot at present and they demonstrated that by beating Launceston City 4-0 away on City’s turf.

Knights have now won their opening two games, away in Launceston, and have scored 13 goals without reply.

Launceston United defied the odds initially by leading Devonport City 4-0 at home at Birch Avenue, only to succumb 6-4 to the reigning champions in the end.

There are various theories floating about regarding this game.

My own opinion is that Devonport coach Tom Ballantyne may have told his team that this should be an easy game which won’t test us at all, so let’s give them a 4-goal start and then begin playing and make a game of it.

I have no evidence for this at all, of course, but it makes a good story.

Photo:  Riverside's Gediminas Krusa takes on the Lions' Matthew Hess.  Krusa is the only player in Tasmania to have actually played in a Europa League, the competition beneath the Champions League,  game in Europe. [PlessPix]

Kingborough Lions United easily accounted for Riverside Olympic 8-1, with Kobe Kemp the star.  Her netted four goals.

The Lions led 2-0 when Riverside’s Adrian Anthony conceded a penalty and was sent off.

That helped the home side immeasurably and they ran away with the game from then on.

Photo:  South Hobart's Matthew Oh calmly heads the ball back to his own keeper. [PlessPix]

South Hobart downed Clarence Zebras 3-1, but it could have been closer as the visitors had some very good chances.  Brilliant goalkeeping by South’s Nick O’Connell certainly helped in getting them the 3 points.

Well, that’s about it from me.  I often wonder if writing reports and summaries may be a bit of a waste of time as everyone has probably seen the footage of all the goals, and some people these days won’t read more than a paragraph.

That’s probably cynical on my part, but who can tell me I’m wrong?

NPL Tasmania

South Hobart 3 ((S Berezansky 52, A Walter 56 pen, N Morton 90+3) beat Clarence Zebras 1 (J Maundrill 71)

Kingborough Lions United 8 (A Brown 18, E Luttmer 32, K Kemp 39 pen, 52, 65, 85, A Hess 57, N Mies 59) beat Riverside Olympic 1 (E Farias 64)

Launceston United 4 (A Kenneh 13, 22, S Lowe 28, J Digney 30) lost to  Devonport City 6 (B Denehey 45+2, M Burnley 45+ 6, K Mulraney 52, R Ichimura 65, 67, C Bidwell 80)

Launceston City 0 lost to Glenorchy Knights 4 (R Dillon 45+1, 68, S Cordwell 59, T Harrison 72)

Two obituaries

Photo:  Malcolm Farmer (extreme left of front row) in the Caledonians side (circa 1975). 

Vale Malcolm Douglas Farmer (20/05/1955  -  18/03/2024)

Malcolm Farmer, the former Olympia and Caledonians footballer, has passed away in Hobart at the age of 68.

Born in Glasgow, he arrived in Australia as a youngster in 1965.

After a brief spell playing with Olympia as a right-side midfielder, he transferred in 1975 to the Scottish-backed Caledonians, who were coached at the time by the former Glenorchy Croatia star, Frank Letec.

Farmer was a slim, lean player but had loads of skill, stamina and pace.

Some who saw him play will always remember the magnificent goal he scored at Grove Road for Caledonians against his former club, Olympia.  He hit the ball like a rocket from all of 40 metres and it hit the back of the net, giving the keeper absolutely no chance.

Farmer wore glasses and he was one of the first players in Tasmania to wear the new nylon reinforced spectacles specially made for footballers.

He played for Calies until 1979 before retiring.  He was a most humble man and a very good footballer.

He worked in the Tasmanian Public Service all his working ,life and was Clerk of Lists for the Tasmanian Supreme Court when he retired after more than 40 years of service in October last year.

He was married to Kristine and they had five children.

*****

Photo:  Martin Jones (second from left, back row) in the Midway Marvels indoor team.  Terry Banagan is second from the left in the front row. 

Vale Martin Stewart ‘Moose’ Jones (24/5/1956  -  22/3/2024)

The former George Town United goalkeeper of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Martin ‘Moose’ Jones has passed away in Northern Tasmania aged 67.

Jones hailed from London in the UK and was a life-time fan of West Ham United.

He played his football in Victoria to begin with and was a team-mate of former Caledonians star midfielder, Terry Banagan, at Sunshine City.

Both came to Tasmania, with Jones joining George Town and Banagan signing for Caledonians.

He represented Victoria in the Australian indoor championships in Adelaide.

Jones was an accomplished indoor player and was a member of the Midway Marvels, the Sunshine team that finished second in the Victorian Indoor Soccer Championships one season.

He played cricket for Deer Park and became their treasurer.

Jones also played football for Heidelberg and Keilor Old Boys in the late 80s and early 90s.

Jones eventually became a teacher and taught in many outback and Indigenous communities in northern Australia.

He was the principal of a school in the Broome area before retiring and returning to Tasmania.