Devonport expected to bounce back after midweek Australia Cup defeat

Photo:  Glenorchy Knights coach James Sherman has some difficult selection decisions to make this weekend. [PlessPix] 

Devonport Strikers return to league action after their 1-0 loss to Gold Coast Knights in the Australia Cup on Wednesday to face Launceston City tomorrow afternoon away at Buckby Motors Park.

The league leaders and title-holders will be keen to get back to winning ways and should be too strong for their hosts.

The Strikers could have lost by more against Gold Coast Knights, who struck the woodwork twice, but they were not embarrassed and were worthy representatives of Tasmania.

They were unable to feed Roberto Garrido and had probably only one genuine attempt at goal.

A defensive lapse at a corner enabled a Gold Coast Knights defender to head home the only goal of the game.

It will have been a valuable learning experience and City will be under pressure tomorrow from the visitors, who should be at full strength.

Second-placed Glenorchy Knights will be missing four players when they entertain second-last Riverside Olympic at KGV Park at the earlier time of 3pm to accommodate the Matildas’ World Cup quarterfinal showdown with France in Brisbane at 5pm.

The Knights’ excellent Canadian import, Daniel Sagno, has returned to Canada for surgery after tearing knee ligaments in the 5-0 win over Launceston United recently.

Daniel Schmidt has a damaged ankle and could be out for between two and eight weeks depending on the severity of the injury.

Defender Tyler Harrison, who has had a fine season, has Achilles tendon problems and will miss this game.

Striker Jack Turner is suspended after being sent off in the final minute of last weekend’s 2-1 away defeat to Launceston City.

The absences make Knights vulnerable against a team that has only won three games in 15 outings.

South Hobart will be hoping to move into second place if Knights lose and they beat bottom-side Launceston United at home at South Hobart Oval.

South Hobart are certainly favourites going into this game and Launceston United will have to come up with something special to earn even a point.

On Sunday, Kingborough Lions United must be favoured to defeat Clarence Zebras at Wentworth Park.

Clarence Zebras are not in good form, whereas the Lions are somewhat rampant at the moment.

Weekend NPL schedule

Saturday, 12 August 2023

South Hobart v Launceston United (South Hobart Oval, 2pm)

Glenorchy Knights v Riverside Olympic (KGV Park, 3pm)

Launceston City v Devonport Strikers (Buckby Motors Park, 4.45pm)

Sunday, 13 August 2023

Clarence Zebras v Kingborough Lions United (Wentworth Park, 2.30pm)

NPL Tasmania (As at 5 August 2023)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Devonport Strikers	15	13	1	1	49	13	40
Glenorchy Knights	16	11	0	5	40	15	33
South Hobart	16	10	2	4	45	25	32
Launceston City	15	8	1	6	23	23	25
Kingborough Lions	16	8	0	8	49	31	24
Clarence Zebras	16	6	2	8	40	41	20
Riverside Olympic	15	3	0	12	16	58	9
Launceston United	15	0	0	15	10	66	0

Photo:  The media personnel who covered Tasmanian football in 1982.  Can you name them?
 

Clarence Zebras make life hard for incoming care-taker coach, while Lions player-coach leads by example to grab win

Photo:  The new man in the hot seat.  Stand-in Clarence Zebras coach, Alex Tatnell. [PlessPix]

Devonport Strikers can even have a weekend off and still not have their closest pursuers close the gap.

That’s what happened this weekend when Devonport’s game away to Launceston United, the bottom-side, was postponed because of poor ground conditions.

Second-placed Glenorchy Knights remain 7 points adrift of Devonport after they went down 2-1 away to fourth-placed Launceston City.

Toby Simeoni gave City the lead in the 24^th minute, but Rowan Pitt equalised in the 38^th minute.

James Hawes hit City’s winner 6 minutes from the end.

Knights were weakened by the absence of the injured Daniel Sagno, but having said that, City might have had at least another goal.

Photo:  Bradley Lakoseljac scores for South Hobart against Clarence Zebras. [PlessPix] 

Clarence Zebras’ new stand-in coach, Alex Tatnell, received a rude shock when his side were beaten at home at Wentworth Park 6-1 by South Hobart.

The home side were never in the hunt and were a rabble by the end.

They lost goalkeeper Josh Jones early in the second half through injury, while the returning midfielder Jayden Hey lasted only 9 minutes after coming on during the second half as a substitute.

Tatnell has a lot to do to right this ship.

First-half goals by Jaden Fidra and Jacob Lancaster gave South Hobart a 2-0 lead at the interval.

Photo:  Clarence Zebras keeper Josh Jones grabs the ball in a crowded six-yard box. [PlessPix] 

When Nick Morton added a third early in the second half, the writing was on the wall.

Fidra grabbed his second midway through the second half before Bradley Lakoseljac and Morton completed the scoring for South Hobart.

Xuan Cappellino outjumped South Hobart goalkeeper Nick O’Connell in the final minute to register a consolation goal for the home side.

Down at Lightwood Park meanwhile, Kingborough Lions United trailed visitors Riverside Olympic 3-1 by early in the second half before storming back to win 5-3.

Andre Chamusca scored twice for Riverside in the opening qusrter-hour, but Noah Mies pulled a goal back for the Lions in the 27^th minute to make it 2-1 at the break.

Austin Marshall added a third for Riverside in the 51^st minute to set the alarm bells ringing at Lightwood.

The Lions regained their composure at this stage and hit back with a vengeance.

Mies completed his brace in the 65^th minute to make it 3-2, while 4 minutes later, Ahmad Othman levelled at 3-3.

Kingborough player-coach Alfred Hess then stepped up and led by example, scoring twice in the last quarter of an hour to give the home side an impressive 5-3 victory and put them in with a good chance of a top-four finish.

Devonport will have welcomed the additional rest as they play Gold Coast Knights in the Australia Cup in Queensland on Wednesday night.

NPL Tasmania

Kingborough Lions United 5 (Noah Mies 27, 65, Alexander Brown 69, Alfred Hess 79, 90+3) beat Riverside Olympic 3 Andre Chamusca 9, 13, Austins Marshall 51)

Clarence Zebras 1 (Xuan Cappellino 90) lost to South Hobart 6 (Jaden Fidra 21, 68, Jacob Lancaster 26, Nicholas Morton 49,85, Bradley Lakoseljac 74)

Launceston City 2-1 Glenorchy Knights

Launceston United v Devonport Strikers [Postponed]

NPL Tasmania (As at 5 August 2023)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Devonport Strikers	15	13	1	1	49	13	40
Glenorchy Knights	16	11	0	5	40	15	33
South Hobart	16	10	2	4	45	25	32
Launceston City	15	8	1	6	23	23	25
Kingborough Lions	16	8	0	8	49	31	24
Clarence Zebras	16	6	2	8	40	41	20
Riverside Olympic	15	3	0	12	16	58	9
Launceston United	15	0	0	15	10	66	0