Devonport Strikers vs South Hobart
Date: Saturday August 28
Venue: Valley Road
Kick-off: 2:15 pm
2021 Record:
Devonport Strikers: 14-2-2 (first in NPL TAS)
South Hobart: 11-4-3 (third in NPL TAS)
Top Scorers:
Devonport Strikers: Brody Denehey (19)
South Hobart: Nicholas Morton (16)
Preview:
No other fixture in the 2021 NPL Tasmania calendar has had as much potential impact on the title race up until this point, as the meeting between Devonport Strikers and South Hobart does this weekend.
The big news emerging from the Strikers’ camp this week was the imminent departure of Chris Gallo. With the Strikers’ coach set to leave at the end of the year, there will be added motivation to send him off with a league winners medal in his pocket. As it stands, the Devonport Strikers are four points clear with three games remaining, but those fixtures are far from straightforward. That begins with South Hobart this weekend at Valley Road, which happens to be one of the two teams to defeat the Strikers this year, and it took place in a 1-0 loss suffered in this exact fixture back in round two.
South Hobart lost two games in a row in round 15 and 16 which is the reason they are currently seven points off the top, but if things go their way in the remaining three rounds, they may still have a chance to rewrite the script. However, anything but a win in this weekend’s clash with the Strikers will see their ambitious title charge come to an end. Hugh Undy joins Nick Morton and Kasper Hallam in having a stellar end to the season which has helped South Hobart to ten goals in their last three games, and all three found the scoresheet in last week’s 4-0 win over Clarence Zebras which puts confidence levels high ahead of their road trip to Devonport. One thing is for sure; Ken Morton’s men will go up there knowing they have the unwavering support of the Glenorchy Knights faithful who will be hoping they can do them a favour by coming home with a point or three.
Key Player: Joel Stone, Devonport Strikers
After a slow start, Joel Stone has scored five goals in the back half of the season which coincides with his side achieving a run of 13 games unbeaten. He is one of the most influential players in the competition, and he will be a key focal point in the Strikers’ attacking game.
Olympia Warriors vs Riverside Olympic
Date: Saturday August 28
Venue: Warrior Park
Kick-off: 2:15 pm
2021 Record:
Olympia Warriors: 4-3-11 (sixth in NPL TAS)
Riverside Olympic: 0-3-15 (eighth in NPL TAS)
Top Scorers:
Olympia Warriors: Kyle Vincent (11)
Riverside Olympic: Fletcher Fulton (7)
Preview:
Neither the Olympia Warriors or Riverside Olympic can move up the ladder in the remaining fixtures, but the Warriors can take a step towards securing sixth with a win.
The Warriors’ last victory came over South Hobart in round 16, but they also earned an impressive draw over the Glenorchy Knights last week, proving they can mix it with the best on their day. It was a disciplined defensive performance that earned them that point, but they had limited attacking opportunities. They can expect a bit more possession in the final third this weekend against a Riverside team that have struggled defensively of late, and Kyle Vincent will be eager to make them count. Jake Vandermay is set to return and Joseph Mwarabu has settled back into midfield so the Warriors will be hunting for a result.
Riverside Olympic suffered a third-straight defeat last week but on a positive note, goals from Fletcher Fulton and Adam Walker were the first scored by the team since the round 16 draw with the Clarence Zebras. Prior to last week, Fulton had not scored since his four-game scoring streak ended in round 12, so there were definitely positives to take out of the tie. The issue remains however, that it was another week without a win and Warrior Park is a difficult ground to visit with the home side playing the surface so well, so it will take a good performance from the entire squad to take the three points home this weekend.
Key Player: Joel Sammut, Olympia Warriors
Joel Sammut had the unenviable task of man marking Austin Yost last week, and did a sensational job of keeping the Knights striker quiet. After such a performance, it would not be a surprise to see him take on a similar role this week against some of Riverside Olympic’s tricky attacking options.
Glenorchy Knights vs Clarence Zebras
Date: Saturday August 28
Venue: KGV Park
Kick-off: 3:30 pm
2021 Record:
Glenorchy Knights: 12-5-1 (second in NPL TAS)
Clarence Zebras: 4-3-11 (seventh in NPL TAS)
Top Scorers:
Glenorchy Knights: Nicholas Mearns (12)
Clarence Zebras: Riley Dillon (11)
Preview:
The Knights will have one eye on the Devonport Striker vs South Hobart, but they first have to get past the Clarence Zebras at KGV to have any hope at the NPL Tasmania title.
After last week’s draw put a dent in the Knights’ title charge, a home fixture against the Clarence Zebras may be exactly what the doctor ordered. Their last meeting in round eight saw the most goals scored in an NPL Tasmania fixture this year as the Knights ran away with a 9-2 win. Following a run of good results, the Zebras have fallen back into a form slump and the Knights will be eyeing off another big win to boost their goal difference and confidence ahead of a do-or-die meeting with the Devonport Strikers next week. The title is still a realistic aim for James Sherman’s men, but anything but a win this weekend and that may change dramatically.
The blueprint for defensive success against the Glenorchy Knights was drawn up last week when the Olympia Warriors earned a 0-0 draw at KGV. No doubt Franco Previdi and his Clarence Zebras have taken notice, as they would welcome a point at this stage of the season following a string of disappointing results; a 2-2 draw with Riverside Olympic in round 16 led to a three-game goalless streak which was made worse by the 13 goals conceded at the other end. While they may not have the speed or discipline to pull off the same tactic used by the Warriors the week before, Riley Dillon’s track record against the Knights would suggest he could pop up with a goal or two, meaning the key to success will lie in their ability to defend.
Key Player: Tyler Harrison, Glenorchy Knights
Tyler Harrison will be an important asset for the Knights for a number of reasons; his leadership will be crucial after last week’s disappointing result, he faces a tough job against Riley Dillon and the Zebras’ front three, and his range of long passing will be important for the Knights’ attacking creativity. The Zebras can be a tough opposition, but Harrison can be a difference maker in every aspect for the Knights.
Launceston City vs Kingborough Lions
Date: Saturday August 28
Venue: Buckby Motors Park
Kick-off: 4:30 pm
2021 Record:
Launceston City: 7-1-10 (fifth in NPL TAS)
Kingborough Lions: 8-3-7 (fourth in NPL TAS)
Top Scorers:
Launceston City: Yasin Mohammadi (6)
Kingborough Lions: Adam McKeown (14)
Preview:
With few opportunities remaining for sides to move up or down the league table, the clash between the Kingborough Lions and Launceston City this weekend will be one to watch with the final spot in the top four on the line.
Launceston City are pushing for their first top four finish since 2018 after two seasons in the bottom half, but the Kingborough Lions will do all they can to avoid giving it up. The gap currently stands at five points, but a win for City this weekend will close the gap to two. Buckby Motors Park has played host to some of City’s best performances this season, but they have lost two of their last three at home and will fear the magic of the home ground advantage may be wearing thin.
Jez Kenth made some interesting tactical choices last week against Riverside Olympic, and it paid off in a big way with a goal in the fourth minute leading to a 4-2 victory. Adam McKeown started on the left side of a front three and scored a brace, with Ben Hamlett in the centre and Joseph Juma on the right. Juma looked a lot more comfortable in an attacking position as opposed to right-sided centre back, while Hamlett broke his three-game goalless streak in his preferred role as a lone striker. It was a good decision on the day, and it may influence the Lions’ tactics this weekend in a tricky fixture up north. They have a good record against City this season with two wins in as many meetings, and will require another three points if they are to guarantee a top four finish.
Key Player: Byungtae Ahn, Kingborough Lions
Byungate Ahn has typically been deployed as a left-sided centre back in the Lions’ back three, but last week he was afforded more time and space on the ball playing as an outright left-back. He had a heavy influence going forward and supplied a key pass in the build up to McKeown’s first goal, as well as scoring one of his own. He will have to be careful in his defensive duties this week however, with the in-form Yasin Mohammadi and Stefan Tantari looking to cause trouble in wide positions.