Zebras make it 12 unbeaten, City surprise Knights, Devonport and Rangers share spoils and South smash Warriors in Round 22 of the Victory League.
Tilford Zebras made it 12 games unbeaten with a comfortable 2-0 win over Kingborough.
The hosts opened early with Josh Fielding punishing the Kingborough defence for not clearing an Alex Leszczynski drive at goal. The experienced central defender shot home the blocked shot into the bottom left to open in the 7th minute.
Ethan Engels had several opportunities to extend the lead, firing wide to the left after burning off Nick Cuthbertson in the 16th minute, another misfired shot a minute later that flew wide to the left and a volley that went wide from a Ben Whitehall cross to the back post in the 23rd minute.
The Zebras peppered the Lions goal with shot after shot, luckily for the Lions, keeper Andrew Duncan was on his game and produced some strong saves including a fine reflex save to deny Alex Leszczynski in the 28th minute.
In the 29th minute, Adam McKeown would have claimed a second, if not for Tom Young, who madly scurried out a clearance from the goal line, after McKeown had beaten two.
Lions conceded a second goal seven minutes after the restart from half time with Whitehall finding McKeown at the edge of 18 yards, he beat his markers and fired home past Duncan to make it 2-0.
Zebras continued to press as the night progressed, with several close calls for the Lions in defence. Duncan produced a strong diving effort to deny a McKeown header and Mattias Toghill went close to producing a stunner in the dying stages, with his long range fizzing bullet shaving the right upright.
Launceston City kept their hopes of avoiding the wooden spoon alive, beating Glenorchy Knights 2-1 at home.
Launceston City reaped the rewards of a hard fought month of football, downing Glenorchy Knights 2-1 at home.
The Knights struck first through Vincent Kamano in the first half but some sloppy work at the back let in City and they took full advantage.
Nathan Bartlett and Isaac Degetto both struck goals, the first inside 45 minutes saw the teams level. Both of City’s goals were from Knights blunders at the back, seeing Glenorchy leave empty handed from Mitsubishi Park.
Devonport and Northern Rangers shared points in a tight battle at Valley Road.
In the last home game for the season, Devonport fought out a 1-1 draw with Northern Rangers, with the northern pair sharing points in an arm wrestle at Valley Road.
After a goalless first half, Beau Blizzard brought the Strikers ahead with a goal in the 77th minute; the goal sprung some life into the game and Shane Brassington cancelled out Devonport’s advantage with an 85th minute leveler to see the pair take home a point each.
South Hobart thrashed Olympia 4-0, with dynamic duo Andy Brennan and Brayden Mann netting braces in a thumping victory.
The visitors got the dream start with spearhead Andy Brennan firing in an opening goal inside two minutes. Liam Scott ignited the attack down the left and crossed into the box, where Olympia defender Jake Vandermey steered it to Brennan, who finished firmly.
Brayden Mann netted South Hobart’s second in the 32nd minute as South Hobart ran away with the game, Caleb Ludlow delivered in for the striker, who header home inside the left upright.
Mann nearly set up a third three minutes later, powering a cross into Brennan, who turned it just wide of goal to the left.
On the edge of half time, Andy Brennan sent in his second and South’s third, striking it sweetly from 20 yards into the top left corner.
Just beyond the hour mark, Brennan delivered in a cross to Mann at back post and he snuck home his second and made it 4-0 for the Champions.
South Hobart continued to press and could have won by more if not for some good work from Dmitri Nester, with multiple chances to Mann and Brennan, as well as substitutes Chris Hunt and Alex Walter in the dying stages.
Image courtesy of Football Federation Tasmania