In the first game of the round high flying Hobart Zebras will be warmly favoured to maintain their perfect start to the season as they welcome their sister club from the North, Launceston City to KGV.
City will be stung by their derby defeat last week and looking to bounce back but face a tough task against a Zebras side that has won their last three games after an opening day draw with Devonport. In those three games they haven’t conceded a goal as Peter Savill has worked his magic and made them an extremely tough side to break down, very much in the mould of his Devonport side of last season.
The Lewis/Groenewold partnership is flourishing and comes with the added bonus of Groenewold’s ability to impact to impact the scoreboard from set pieces where he is a constant target. The other towering figure who Chris Downes looks to pick out from those set pieces is Luke Huigsloot. He may have only scored the one goal this season but he has been heavily involved in a majority of their goals.
Long throw ins to his head and near post flicks on’s from corners and free kicks have often led to the loose balls in the box that predators like Mathew Sanders and Adam McKeown thrive on. So if City are any chance in this game they will need to be on their game defending set pieces.
As it was last season, goal scoring is proving an issue for City but with midfield creators like Dylan Williams, Dylan O’Connor and Jarrod Linger in the side they have the quality to unlock a defence, they just need to find more players who can sustain a 90 minute performance, as this year lapses in concentration have continued to haunt them.
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Round 5 Fixtures
Hobart Zebras v Launceston City, Saturday 8 April, 2:00pm, KGV
Clarence v Olympia FC Warriors, Saturday 8 April, 6:30pm, Wentworth Park
South Hobart v Kingborough, Sunday 9 April, 2:00pm, Darcy Street
Northern Rangers v Devonport, Sunday 9 April, 2:30pm, NTCA 2