Under-strength Devonport still too good for Warriors

Photo:  Ali Dulleh gave Devonport the lead after just 5 minutes. [PlessPix]

(NPL Tasmania, Empire Couriers Park, Saturday, 13 August 2022)

Olympia Warriors 0

Devonport Strikers 4 (A Dulleh 5, own goal 64, R Garrido 79 pen, K Mulraney 90)

HT:  0-1   Ref:  J Hamilton

Olympia Warriors:  Stalker  -  Sloan, Holmes, Vandermey, Allan  -  Cummins, Vivarelli, Sammut, Simaan  -  Pickup, Barrett  [Subs:  Clothier, Kenna, Mamic, McGuinness (GK), Turner]

Devonport Strikers:  K Smith  -  D Smith, Reynolds, Barton  -  Reissig, Andrews, C Bidwell, Kidmas  -  Lanau-Atkinson, Garrido, Dulleh  [Subs:  Denehey, Mohammadi, Moradi, Mulraney, Parke]

Photo:  Ali Dulleh takes on the Olympia defence. [PlessPix]  

Devonport Strikers left several key players on the bench and midfielder Joel Stone didn’t even make the trip to Hobart.

The league-leaders obviously tried to win this game with a weakened team, and it worked.

But, Olympia fought bravely and, although under a lot of pressure, kept the score at a respectable 1-0 at half-time.

The goal came early.  In the 5^th minute, an attack down the right ended with Ali Dulleh on the left confronted with an empty goal and he nonchalantly rolled the ball into the net.

Devonport attacked relentlessly in the second half but in the early stages their shooting was woeful as they tried to walk the ball in the net.

A comical own-goal midway through the half made it 2-0 and seemed to give confidence to the visitors while at the same time demoralising the Warriors.

Photo:  Devonport's Brody Denehey got his chance late in the game. [PlessPix]  

Devonport coach Tom Ballantyne gradually introduced his full complement of substitutes, but the team tended to complicate their play and abandon simplicity in a vain endeavour for goals.

It took another stroke of good fortune to increase Devonport’s lead.  A penalty 11 minutes from the end was converted by Roberto Fernandez Garrido to make the score look a bit more respectable.

To add insult to injury, Olympia conceded a needless fourth in the last minute.  Goalkeeper Mitch Stalker, who must have been disappointed with his performance in this match, let a corner from the left slip from his hands as he leapt for the ball.  Substitute and usual captain, centre-back Kieran Mulraney, stationed at the far post, couldn’t believe his luck as the ball continued towards him, enabling him to power a header into the net..

Photo:  Devonport substitute Yasin Mohammadi about to take a tumble. [PlessPix]  

This was a somewhat disappointing Devonport performance, but they have the title in the bag, so who is complaining?

Olympia showed some spirit, but that is not enough to win football matches.

The only game in the north ended in a 2-2 draw between bottom-side Riverside Olympic and fifth-ranked Launceston City.

Riverside, who were at home, led 1-0 after just 4 minutes and 2-0 just short of the hour-mark.

Gediminas Krusa then weighed in with two goals in two minutes (in the 78^th and 80^th minutes) to salvage a point for Launceston City.

Photo:  Devonport's Roberto Fernandez Garrido missed several gilt-edged chances against Olympia on Saturday.  Here, he tries to take on the entire Olympia defence. [PlessPix]  

NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 13 August 2022)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Devonport Strikers	17	15	1	1	57	10	46
South Hobart	17	11	3	3	57	16	36
Kingborough Lions	17	11	2	4	46	28	35
Glenorchy Knights	17	10	1	6	38	20	31
Launceston City	17	8	2	7	32	39	26
Clarence Zebras	17	4	2	11	30	41	14
Olympia Warriors	17	2	0	15	17	62	6
Riverside Olympic	17	0	3	14	9	71	3

Photo:  Olympia's Ewan Sloan clears as Devonport's Ali Dulleh goes to tackle. [PlessPix]
 

  Photo:  Olympia's Joel Sammut tangles with Devonport's Aaron Kidmas. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Devonport's Toby Barton is second to this header. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Devonport's Toby Barton is grounded. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Fahim Moradi also started on the bench for Devonport.  Devonport performed very well against A-League side Wellington Phoenix in the Australia Cup the week before, despite losing 4-0, but only a shadow of that was visible against Olympia.  There was no sign of young midfielder Taylor Last, who starred against Wellington.  Did the New Zealanders take him back with them for a trial? [PlessPix]

Photo:  Olympia goalkeeping coach Martin Piesse (right) makes some points to keeper Mitch Stalker at the interval. [PlessPix]

South Hobart and Knights show why they are just also-rans this season

Photo:  South Hobart coach Ken Morton (left) and Glenorchy Knights coach James Sherman seemed to be quite friendly before Saturday's game. [PlessPix] 

(NPL Tasmania, South Hobart Oval, Saturday, 13 August 2022)

South Hobart 5 (S Berezansky 16, J Lancaster 27, N Morton 35, 42 pen, T Herweynen 82)

Glenorchy Knights 3 (E Luttmer 69, 90+5 pen, A Yost 86)

HT:  4-0   Ref:  S Plomaritis

South Hobart:  Hayers  -  Herweynen, Lancaster, Bighin, Semmler  -  Hey, Higgins, Morton, Lakoseljac  -  Berezansky, Van Doorne  [Subs:  Divin, Brown, Feral, Moncur (GK), Schofield]

Glenorchy Knights:  Woodham  -  Harrison, Luttmer, Bowman  -  Gorrie, Dzelakowski, Castaneda, Undy, Schmidt,  -  M Brkic, Walpole  [Subs:  Muller, Murfet (GK), Naden, Smith, Yost)

Photo:  Knights' Eduardo Castaneda has a piece of Luke Bighin's shirt in this goalmouth scramble. [PlessPix]  

South Hobart and Glenorchy Knights showed why they are pretenders for the league title this year.

How could a team lead 4-0 at half-time and then concede three goals in the last 20 minutes to run out 5-3 winners?

There is something seriously wrong with both teams’ defences.

The ease with which South stormed to a 4-0 half-time lead was an embarrassment for the reigning champions.

The marking by Knights was non-existent.  South Hobart full-backs Tobias Herweynen and Lachlan Semmler were allowed to push into attack at will, while Sam Berezansky. Nick Morton and Bradley Lakoseljac roamed the pitch seeking openings.

Photo:  A cross into the Knights' box has players leaping but not connecting at the near post. [PlessPix]  

Berezansky opened the scoring in the 16^th minute, making it look so easy.  He picked up the ball in the centre-circle and advanced on goal before chipping home inside the far right-hand post from all of 30 metres.

It was 2-0 in the 27^th minute when a free-kick from the left near the corner flag by Semmler was allowed to bounce in the bix and carry towards the far post, where Luke Bighin’s shot was blocked.  The ball fell to his fellow central-defender, Jacob Lancaster, who fired home.

Captain Nick Morton scored one of the easiest goals he’ll ever score in the 35^th minute when the marauding Herweynen cut the ball across from the byeline on the right and Morton rolled it into the empty net from close range.

A penalty in the 42^nd minute converted by Morton, who had been brought down by Jack Bowman, made it 4-0 at the break.

Photo:  Knights' Mathew Brkic tries to deal with the rampaging Tobias Herweynen. [PlessPix]  

Complacency on the part of South and a renewed sense of pride by the Knights changed things in the second half.

Atrocious defending at a corner from the left by South in the 69^th minute allowed the ball to carry across the box to Eli Luttmer, who fired home to reduce the arrears.

With 8 minutes remaining, a long ball down the right by Jayden Hey found Herweynen on a run and he was allowed to bear down on goal and beat Alex Woodham with what could only be called a tame shot to restore South’s 4-goal buffer.

The home side seemed to go to pieces after that and substitute Austin Yost pulled another goal back for the visitors when he was put through the middle by a long ball out from defence by Luttmer.  With South’s defenders appealing for off-side and then frantically trying to regain their ground, Yost advanced on goal and easily beat Jake Hayers to make it 5-2.

Photo:  South Hobart centre-back Luke Bighin shoots in a crowded penalty area. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  After Bighin's shot was blocked, his centre-back partner, Jacon Lancaster (Number 8), scored. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Knights can only wonder what happened as South players mob Lancaster and the ball rolls back out from the net. [PlessPix]  

In the 5^th minute of stoppage time  -  the game had been delayed for several minutes after an all-in melee that saw nine yellow cards and a red to Knights Eduardo Castaneda, who had been substituted  -  Knights earned a penalty for a foul on Hugh Undy.  Luttmer despatched the spot-kick with ease to make the final score 5-3.

The game provided clear evidence of why Knights have relinquished the league title and why South Hobart are miles behind league-leaders Devonport Strikers.

As for the melee, it was not a pretty sight and unbecoming as far as many players and coaching staff are concerned.  I don’t agree with Football Tasmania’s decision to remove the replay of the match from NPL.TV.  It was tame compared to some incidents in the 1960s, when spectators often got involved and strong wooden corner flags were used as weapons.  That doesn’t excuse this melee, but Football Tasmania’s censorship is treating football fans as fools.

Photo:  South Hobart's Jayden Hey gets past Knights Daniel Schmidt. [PlessPix]

Sunday results - 14 August 2022

Photo:  A Knights defender tackles New Town White Eagles captain Nina Daniels. [PlessPix] 

Women’s Southern Championship

Glenorchy Knights 3-0 New Town White Eagles

Photo:  Penalty or free-kick?  Referee James Hamilton judged that the foul occurred outside the penalty area and that Knights' Ava Read fell into the box so he awarded a free-kick. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Knights' Graciella Baez stepped up and scored with the free-kick, beating goalkeeper Chelsea Crick and chipping the ball just under the crossbar. [PlessPix]

Women’s Southern Championship 1

Glenorchy Knights 3-1 New Town White Eagles

Photo:  A South Hobart corner puts the South East United defence under pressure. [PlessPix.]  

Men’s Division 5

South Hobart 5-1 South East United

Photo:  A South East United attacker tries to get past a South Hobart defender at KGV Park today.  South Hobart were presented with their league winners' trophy at the end of the game by a Football Tasmania official. [PlessPix]
 

Lions bring down Zebras

Photo:  Two-goal hero Kobe Kemp (blue jacket) watching his former team South Hobart play Glenorchy Knights at South Hobart Oval on Saturday in the company of team-mate Keenan Douce and assistant coach Romilton Amaral. [PlessPix]

(NPL Tasmania, Clennett’s Lightwood Park, Friday, 12 August 2022)

Kingborough Lions United 4 (N Mies 20, D Taylor 42, K Kemp 62, 66)

Clarence Zebras 2 (M Pace 10, D Walsh 23)

HT:  2-2   Ref:  N Coad

Kingborough Lions United:  Mackie  -  L Prince (D Taylor 21), J Huigsloot, G Downes, M Hess  -  Douce, Kemp, A Hess, Mundy (A McKeown 46)  -  Mies, Vilar

Clarence Zebras:  Featherstone  -  Ebini, Cook, Eugster  -  Mathie, Miley, Toselli, Pace  -  Tooze, Walsh, Dillon

Clarence Zebras looked as if they might cause an upset when they took an early lead and held the Lions to 2-2 at the break.

The fell away badly, however, and conceded two goals in quick succession midway through the second half to run out 4-2 losers.

Both defences and both goalkeepers often left a lot to be desired.  The keepers were sometimes too unsure in handling the ball, while the defenders were too easily caught out.

In the 10^th minute, a high lobe from the left by Marcus Eugster caught the Lions defenders napping and when Sam Tooze controlled the ball beyond the far post and rifled in a firm, low cross, Matt Pace was on hand to whip the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

In the 12^th minute, a close-range header by Noah Mies was well saved by Clarence keeper Aidan Featherstone.

In the 20^th minute, Featherstone couldn’t hold a shot by Romero Vilar and Mies easily slammed home the loose ball to make it 1-1.

Midway through the half, Kingborough lost Tom Prince through injury and was replaced by Declan Taylor.

In the 23^rd minute, the visitors regained the lead when Walsh raced through the defence and unleashed a full-blooded drive that hit the back of the net before Mackie could react.

Three minutes before the interval, Taylor repaid the faith the coach had shown in him by bringing him on in place of the injured Prince.

The referee had stopped play for an injured player and restarted the game by dropping the ball for Kennan Douce out on the right wing.  Douce lobbed the ball into the goalmouth and, when Featherstone made a hash of catching it, Taylor was on hand to net from close range and send the teams in at the break locked together at 2-2.

The Lions finally hit the front in the 62^nd minute when Featherstone failed to hold Adam McKeown’s shot and Kobe Kemp scored from the loose ball.

Kemp was fortunate to be still on the field as he had been injured shortly before and had required treatment.

He had obviously recovered as 4 minutes later he netted again when he broke through the visitors’ defence and rifled home a powerful shot to make it 4-2 for the Lions.

The win moved Kingborough back into second place, but possibly only for 24 hours as a South Hobart win the next day would drop them back to third.