NPL Tasmania Round Eight Preview

South Hobart vs Devonport Strikers
Date: 
Saturday May 22
Venue: Darcy Street
Kick-off: 2:00 PM

2021 record:
South Hobart: 5-1-0 (first in NPL TAS)
Devonport Strikers: 4-1-2 (third in NPL TAS)

Top scorers:
South Hobart: Nick Morton (8)
Devonport Strikers: Brody Denehey (4)

Preview:

This looms as a huge clash in round eight with the ladder-leading South Hobart hosting the defending champion Devonport Strikers. The Strikers have been steadily trending upwards in recent weeks, and they will travel to Darcy Street with a chance to force their way back into the thick of the title race with a win. They have won their last two games over the Lions and the Zebras, and while they’re still not scoring a mountain of goals their defence has tightened as they have ground out results. Raphael Reynolds has lead the way at that end of the ground, while Nathan Pitchford continues to set the standard for goalkeepers in Tasmania. They will be sorely tested by a South Hobart side that has climbed to first place on the back of a dynamic attacking lineup. Nick Morton is tied for the lead in the league’s goalscoring charts, netting eight times in his side’s first six games, and he has been ably supported by South’s brigade of young talent. They have been equally as impressive in defence, with Jayden Hey and Luke Bighin the central pieces in a backline that conceded just five goals this year.

Key player: Eddie Bidwell, Devonport Strikers

After some very impressive performances early in the year Bidwell added his first goal of the season in last week’s win over Kingborough. He doesn’t need to be scoring to have a huge impact on the game, but with his side still needing more goals at times it would be a very welcome bonus.

Riverside Olympic vs Olympia Warriors
Date: 
Saturday May 22
Venue: Windsor Park
Kick-off: 2:30

2021 record:
Riverside Olympic: 0-1-5 (eighth in NPL TAS)
Olympia Warriors: 2-1-3 (fifth in NPL TAS)

Top scorers:
Riverside Olympic: William Humphrey (3)
Olympia Warriors: Kyle Vincent (5)

Preview:

The young Warriors have battled hard early in the season, and they will face another tough test in round eight as they travel to face Riverside Olympic. Olympia were dealt a blow mid-week with the transfer of Austin Yost to Glenorchy, with the dynamic playmaker their second-leading scorer in 2021. That will put more pressure onto the shoulders of Kyle Vincent, their only other multiple goalscorer with five, as well as their midfield group. They have shown the defensive resolve needed to grind out results, as evidenced by their draw away to Devonport two weeks ago, but they may need to produce that on a more consistent basis from now on. It won’t be a walk in the park this round despite their matchup with the bottom-placed team in the league, as Riverside Olympic have proven to be a dangerous opponent without much luck. The Roos claimed their first point of the season with a 2-2 draw against Clarence last round and they would be keen to build on that with a win at home. It looks like they will have to do so without first choice goalkeeper Dan Nash, as he picked up a red card last week and will likely be suspended for this game. Still, with William Humphrey scoring once again last week and some reliable options alongside him, Riverside are capable of adding goals in a hurry.

Key player: Fletcher Fulton, Riverside Olympic

While he has shown his full arsenal of skills at times this season, Fulton has added just one goal from his six games. It’s tough to expect too much more playing for a struggling team, but don’t be surprised if he starts to hit the scoresheet more regularly.

Kingborough Lions vs Launceston City

Date: Saturday May 22
Venue: Lightwood Park
Kick-off: 4:30 PM
2021 record:
Kingborough Lions: 4-0-3 (fourth in NPL TAS)
Launceston City: 1-0-5 (seventh in NPL TAS)

Top scorers:
Kingborough Lions: Adam McKeown (8)
Launceston City: Yasin Mohammadi/Daniel Smith/Jarrod Linger/Mason Gardner (1)

Preview:

Kingborough are quickly finding themselves in familiar territory as they slip down the table, but they will have a chance to stop that slide when they host Launceston City. Back-to-back losses have seen the Lions drop to fourth in the league, but they remain within striking distance of the team’s ahead in the pecking order. It helps that they have the league’s leading scorer in Adam McKeown and, when available, an excellent foil for him in Ben Hamlett. Their bigger issues come at the other end of the field as they have conceded the most goals of any side in the top four. This may be a good chance to experiment a little against a Launceston City side that has scored just four goals in six games this season. It’s not like they don’t have the talent to improve on that mark, with Yasin Mohammadi and Jarrod Linger both proven playmakers and goalscorers in the league. They claimed an epic come-from-behind win against local rivals Riverside but haven’t looked particularly likely since in comfortable losses to Glenorchy and Olympia.

Key player: Andy Taylor, Kingborough Lions

Taylor missed last week’s loss and his absence had a big impact, as Kingborough lacked the defensive steel that be brings to the midfield. If he returns here it could go a long way towards the Lions reversing that result.

Clarence Zebras vs Glenorchy Knights

Date: Saturday May 22
Venue: Wentworth Park
Kick-off: 4:30 PM

2021 record:
Clarence Zebras: 1-1-4 (sixth in NPL TAS)
Glenorchy Knights: 5-1-0 (second in NPL TAS)

Top scorers:
Clarence Zebras: Riley Dillon (6)
Glenorchy Knights: Alex Walter (5)

Preview:

Two teams with contrasting form come together here in round eight, as the red-hot Glenorchy Knights face the struggling Clarence Zebras. After being held to a draw against the previously point-less Riverside Olympic, the Zebras are struggling to keep touch with the league’s midfield teams. Riley Dillon continues to thrive as an attacking option but he will be missing strike partner Matthew Pace this week through suspension. It will be interesting to see who steps up in his place in a matchup where the Zebras will need plenty of goals. The Knights may have lost Alex Walter and Joffrey Nkoso in quick succession, but they certainly haven’t had any issues putting the ball in the back of the net since. They put five goals past Launceston City last week, and against another bottom-three side here they will surely back themselves to do the same again. They will be further boosted by the mid-week acquisition of Austin Yost, and although he may not line up for the Knights straight away this weekend he will help to fill the void left by Walter and Nkoso.

Key player: Nick Mearns, Glenorchy Knights

Yost will step in as an extra attacking option, but Mearns has already been stepping up to shoulder the load. He scored twice in last week’s win over Launceston, taking his season tally to four, and he could add more in a hurry now that he is playing a bigger role.