A dominant second half powered Clarence United past Northern Rangers and saw them jump into sixth on the table with a commanding 4-0 victory on the road at the NTCA.
Strikers Overcome Warriors To Stay Top
Devonport 5 (Brayden Mann 24’, 79, Miles Barnard 41’, 55’, Kieran Mulraney 53’)
Olympia 2 (Gavin Hoy 6’, Daniel Syson OG 43’)
The Devonport Strikers secured a massive 3 points as they defeated the Olympia Warriors 5–2 at Valley Road. The win keeps Devonport at the top of the PS4 NPL Tasmania ladder.
Olympia opened the scoring in the 6th minute with a controversial goal, it appeared that Gavin Hoy was well off-side when the pass was made to him, bu despite the appeals from the Devonport players and crowd, the linesman’s flag stayed down and Hoy converted the shot calmly to give the Warriors the early lead.
Devonport were able to level the score in the 24th minute through some great defensive pressure, Daniel Syson, robbing Shae Hickey of the ball and sliding it through to Brayden Mann’s who fired a powerful shot from the top of the box on his non preferred left that sailed into the back of the net.
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South Hobart Too Strong for Lions
South Hobart 3 (Ben Hamlett 10’, Alex Leszczysnki 53’, Alex Walter 81’)
Kingborough Lions 0
South Hobart overcame an improved Kingborough Lions 3-0 this afternoon at Lightwood Park to ensure they stay in the leading trio of teams at the summit of the PS4 NPL Tasmania ladder. In a game that was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests, South Hobart were wasteful in front of goals at times, whilst the Lions lacked polish when it counted.
South Hobart started the game rapidly and opened the scoring in the 10th minute as Darcy Hall, who had a blinding opening 35 minutes to the game, played a perfect ball to the back post to Ben Hamlett. Hamlett had time to control before advancing on the exposed Mark Grace in the Lions goal and slotting past him into the bottom right corner.
In the 22nd minute, a cutback from Hamlett found Nick Morton who smashed a shot into the right hand post. Both teams continued trading blows until the 27th minute when a massive clash of heads between Nick Cuthbertson and Hamlett occurred. Both were split open and required stitches and both suffered concussions. Cuthbertson was walked from the field and was very proppy, whilst Hamlett came off the worse of the two and required a stretcher and an ambulance later to attend to him. Reports after the game suggested he has not suffered any more than a concussion which is great news for the unlucky striker but he is expected to miss the next 2-3 weeks.
The Lions kept attacking South and in the 35th and 40th minutes they had two great chances to level it up. Both came as a result of Jack Gates getting in behind the South defence and both times he slightly miscued his efforts and they went wide, squandering a chance to head into half time on parity.
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Second Half Surge Powers Reds Past Rangers
Northern Rangers 0
Clarence United 4 (Andrew Robb, 48’ 62’ Adam Hedge 50’, Paul Bremner 74’)
Two goals in two minutes early in the second half after a cagey first 45 stunned the hosts, who had appeared to have momentum heading into the break and they never recovered.
The Reds added two more goals to secure a 4-0 win, including a bizarre goal to Paul Bremner when Rangers keeper Luigi Cordova threw the ball into the back of his head and it deflected past him for a fourth goal that summed up the second half for the Rangers.
It was the hosts who had started the brighter, the pace of Bruce Bown looked to be causing problems with Nick Lanau-Atkinson pulling the string in midfield but the defence of Clarence, led by the makeshift defensive pairing of Grant Malcolm and Adam Hedge was solid as they denied the Rangers attackers room to get shots off and held firm in what was a very accomplished display from a pair that wouldn't have played together before. Hedge in particular was a standout, on multiple occasions he blocked shots at the last moment or was on hand to get in the path of dangerous crosses.
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Zebras edge out City to Keep Pace at The Top
Launceston City 1 (Dom Rossi 75’)
Hobart Zebras 2 (Adam McKeown 52’, 71’)
The Italian Derby was hotly contested contest right up until the last minute as expected, but it was the southerners Hobart JEEP Zebras that got the 3 points once more, Adam McKeown hitting a brace to secure a valuable 2-1 victory despite a late rally from Launceston City.
The first half was a real arm wrestle with neither side able to hit the lead and chances were hard to come by. It was the Zebras who created the first opening and they forced City keeper Dave Smith into action mid-way through the first half. In the 21st minute Dwayne Walsh had a chance to put Zebras up when he got through one on one with only Smith to beat, but the big man came to the rescue as he does time after time and saved with his legs. He was called into action soon after when a free kick next to the corner flag spilled to Sherman and Mckeown at the back post who between them managed an effort on goal that forced another fine save from Smith who tipped it past the post.
City finished the half strongly with Rossi starting to run amok out on the right wing. His mazey runs and crosses started to cause havoc and lead to a chance for Aaron Campbell who had his shot well blocked. But the score remained 0-0 and someone needed to bob up and be a hero for their team on the day.
Zebras came out of the sheds the hungrier of the two sides and it was Adam Mckeown that got them on their way. The goal sneak skipped past his marker in the box and almost took too long to get his shot off as a last ditch City tackle almost took his opportunity away, but the ball landed in his path and he placed it beyond Smith to make it 1-0 on the 52 minute mark.
City then skipped into life forcing fine saves out of Graham Wright in the Zebra goal. First saving from Omenihu and then a corner that found Butler towering over everybody but Wright was equal to both tasks. The Zebras weathered the storm though and in the 71st minute it was that man again, Adam Mckeown that nodded the Zebras to a 2-0 lead after Smith who felt he was unfairly nudged, couldn't hold onto a cross falling to the Zebras attacker who made no mistake.
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