Tilford Zebras clinched a crucial three points up against a valiant Glenorchy Knights outfit on Friday night to kick off Round 7.
Tilford Zebras clinched a crucial three points up against a valiant Glenorchy Knights outfit on Friday night to kick off Round 7.
The Zebras ran out healthy 4-0 victors but it took until the second half for the Zebras to edge ahead after a stalemate first half.
Jono Ladic broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, burying into the bottom right to finish off an Alex Leszczynski dish into the box.
Adam McKeown created the Zebras second, sharking the ball from Knights- defender Sam Johnson at the back and dashing into the box, Johnson attempted to win it back but in the process checked McKeown and brought him down, leaving referee Brenton Kopra no choice but to reward the Zebras a penalty.
Leszczynski then put the Zebras well into control, converting from the spot.
Glenorchy chased hard to peg one back and in cruel fashion the Zebras iced the win with two goals in a minute, deep in added time.
Leszczynski assisted Clark first for a tap in at back post and then bagged his brace, knocking past Alex Woodham after reacting first to a chaos ball over the back of the Knights defence.
The win was crucial for Zebras- title hopes, helping them remain in touch with the frontrunners.
Kingborough Lions made it two wins in two weeks, upsetting Devonport 1-0 in an arm wrestle at KGV.
Devonport thought they had opened scoring early through Brody Denehey, when the young striker volleyed home at back post but the linesman-s flag left the Strikers goalless.
Denehey went close again minutes later but struck wide to the right from a Cory Vickers free kick.
Devonport continued to be frustrated by the Lions with young Kingborough goalkeeper showing his quality with a strong stop in the 20th minute keeping out a Holden drive from a free kick.
The Lions then shot ahead in the 26th minute with Lewis Verdouw heading in from a tremendous Turner cross unmarked at 6 yards at the back post.
Denehey continued the near misses for Devonport, striking the frame of the goal with a shot from range late in the first half.
Skipper Nick Cuthbertson almost added another for the Lions on the brink of half time but Casey Eaves kept it at 1-0 at the break with a strong diving save.
The arm wrestle continued in the second half with Brody Denehey again going close to claiming the visitors a goal.
With five minutes to tick, the winger toed a volley into the left upright, going agonizingly close to leveling it.
In the 88th minute, Holden saved Devonport, racing back to cut off Francis Kenyi who was out in space but despite the miss of a golden chance the Lions recorded their second consecutive victory to leapfrog the Strikers into fifth position on the table.
Northern Rangers and Olympia Warriors both missed out on a chance to go outright second, drawing 1-1 up at the NTCA.
Olympia edged ahead just two minutes in, with Nick Mearns sending in a long freekick that bounced freely at back post and into the bottom right corner.
The match ebbed and flowed with periods of momentum both ways.
Rangers gloveman Marshall Pooley produced a wonderful save to tip over a Jono Griffiths volley inside the first half and some tenacious Warriors defence kept out the Rangers until the 68th minute when Adam Edwards struck with a blistering strike, cancelling out the Warriors early goal with a screamer from 20 yards into the top left corner.
Dmitri Nester then ensured both teams left with a point, keeping the Rangers at bay with a diving save to stop a Shane Brassington header in the dying stages.
2013 Victory League Champions South Hobart are in the box seat to clinch back to back Victory League titles, with their win over Launceston City on the weekend helping them to a five point buffer at the top of the table following the first round of fixtures.
In the last game of Round 7 South Hobart comfortably took down Launceston City 6-2, but the match didn-t start according to plan for the home side, with the northerners startling the champions, clutching an opener through Mark Cristy inside the first 40 seconds of the match.
South Hobart replied in the 23rd minute after a period of pressure, with Darcy Hall netting with a deflection over Nick Abougelis, who attempted to swat it off his line.
Andy Brennan then struck in off the underside of the bar in the 30th minute and finished off a Brayden Mann cutback in the 39th minute to put South Hobart in control.
Three second half goals from South Hobart saw them dash away from Launceston City.
The first came from Brennan, who rounded out a hattrick in delightful fashion, slotting into the bottom right from an acute angle on the left.
Substitute Connor Kass then slotted from the spot after Nick Morton was brought down inside the area.
Launceston City-s Aaron Mattarozzi was then sent off with a second yellow from a poor challenge on Connor Kass, giving the City midfielder an early exit.
Kim then pulled one back with a header over Kane Pierce in the 71st minute but South Hobart iced a win with Hall racing into the box to slot his second into the bottom right corner.
South Hobart now sit five points clear at the top with Rangers and Olympia draw seeing the 2013 champions bolt further ahead in pursuit of the 2014 title.
VICTORY LEAGUE ROUND 7 RESULTS
Glenorchy Knights 0 defeated by Tilford Zebras 4 (Jono Ladic 52-, Alex Leszczynski 60- PENALTY, 90-+3, Andrew Clark 90-+3) HT 0-0
Kingborough Lions 1 (Lewis Verdouw 26-) defeated Devonport Strikers 0 HT 1-0
Northern Rangers 1 (Adam Edwards) drew with Olympia FC Warriors 1 (Nick Mearns) HT 0-1
South Hobart 6 (Darcy Hall 23-, 87-, Andy Brennan 30-, 39-, 55-, Connor Kass 56- PEN) defeated Launceston City 2 (Mark Cristy 1-, Gukhyeon Kim 71-) HT 3-1