Walter Pless on Football

By Walter Pless

Premier League, South Hobart, Sunday, 29 April 2007

South Hobart 2 (Cooper 9, Brown 41)

Glenorchy Knights 3 (Huigsloot 43, Ladic 75, Clay 82)

HT:  2-1   Att:  120   Ref:  D Gadd

South Hobart(1-3-4-2):  S Kruijver  -  J Foley-Donoghue (J Gasparinatos 87)  -  H Ludford, A Hedge, M Hill  -  C Wain,B Beecroft, T Roach, J Lo  -  D Brown, D Cooper (A Gordon 75) [Substitutes not used:  D Abbott, M Grueber]  [Coach:  S Adkins]

Glenorchy Knights (1-3-4-2):  B Peter  -  C Smith  -  J Wiggins, J Begovic, A Grundy (R Gosney 60)  -  J Clay, J Ladic, S Hickey, J Fielding  -  L Conquest (N Harrison 60), T Huigsloot [Substitute not used:  A Dermody]  [Player-Coaches:  T Huigsloot, R Huigsloot]

Reigning Premier League champions Glenorchy Knights came back from 2-0 down to beat South Hobart 3-2 away at South Hobart.

South Hobart were missing experienced defender Nathan Robinson through injury, while the Knights were without suspended defender Tony Dzelalija.

Adam Hedge came into the South Hobart line-up and his task was to mark Tom Huigsloot.

The Knights were coached jointly by Tom Huigsloot and Robbie Huigsloot.  Eamonn Kelly, who had resigned earlier in the week as coach, was watching from the stands.

There were several controversial refereeing decisions in this match involving off-side, while six Knights players received yellow cards despite the side committing only 8 fouls to South Hobart’s 15.

Referee’s assistant Mr Ivan Jozeljic had his flag raised before South Hobart scored their second goal, but Mr Gadd ignored the signal, and the same happened at the other end after the Knights scored, with Mr Dirk Gadd ignoring Mr Jacob Huigsloot’s raised but quickly lowered flag, despite the protests by the South Hobart defenders.

South had their first chance less than a minute after kick-off, with David Cooper’s fierce shot from the right taking a deflection off Jayden Wiggins and cannoning off the near post and out for a corner.

In the 5^th minute, Tom Roach played a perfect square ball for Daniel Brown, but the lanky striker blazed over the bar from 15 metres with the goal beckoning.

David Cooper put South ahead in the 9^th minute after Adam Hedge had put him away down the right and he beat Janko Begovic for pace before shooting low past Ben Peter and into the far corner of the net.

Jonathon Ladic launched a fine Knights attack in the 13^th minute with a pin-point diagonal pass that put Jade Clay away on the right, but the youngster shot wide.

Two minutes later, Ladic sent a free-kick high over the crossbar, while in the 16^th minute, Josh Fielding got his shot in but could only direct it straight at goalkeeper Sam Kruijver.

Hugh Ludford initiated a quick counter-attack on the half-hour by playing a long ball down the left for Cooper, who forced a corner.  Matthew Hill gained possession from the corner and unleashed a powerful rising shot that Ben Peter did well to tip over the bar.

Knights were almost level in the 36^th minute when Begovic found Huigsloot with a free-kick from deep on the right and the tall striker’s header scraped the top of the crossbar.

A minute later, Knights had a penalty appeal turned down when Jon Foley-Donoghue appeared to bring down Lincoln Conquest in the box.  Again, Mr Huigsloot had his flag up momentarily, but Mr Gadd chose to ignore it and waved play on, much to the disgust of Conquest.

Six minutes before the interval, South should have extended their lead after an error at the back by Corey Smith, who gave the ball away to Roach, whose pass put Brown clear.  The alert Peter was off his line with lightning speed, however, and smothered the shot at the striker’s feet.

An extraordinary sequence of events in the 41^st minute led to South Hobart taking a 2-0 lead.

Colin Wain’s thunderbolt from 30 metres struck Peter’s right-hand post and the ball rebounded to Brown.

Mr Jozeljic had his flag raised for off-side as Brown became active, but Mr Gadd ignored it.  Brown hammered the ball at goal, but Peter parried it and the ball rebounded to Begovic, who, in an apparent fit of pique and thinking the off-side had belatedly been given, struck the ball towards his own net.  The ball was still in play, however, and it miraculously struck the post instead of the back of the net and rebounded again to Brown, who gleefully struck a volley beyond Peter and scored.

Tom Huigsloot headed home Begovic’s free-kick two minutes later, despite the off-side flag again being raised, lowered and ignored, to make it 2-1 for South Hobart at the break.

Nine minutes into the second half, Brown again missed a sitter.  Jonathon Lo cut the ball in from the left, but Brown, leaning backwards, lifted his shot over the bar.

In the 56^th minute, Peter did very well to deny Brown from close range after the South Hobart striker had left two defenders sprawled on the ground as he manoeuvred into a shooting position.

The Knights made two changes on the hour, bringing on Nick Harrison and Rob Gosney for Lincoln Conquest and Anthony Grundy.

Ten minutes later, Kruijver did well to save a header from Huigsloot.

Jonathon Ladic rifled home a superb equaliser for the Knights from 25 metres with 15 minutes remaining after stealing the ball in midfield, while Jade Clay headed the winner following Begovic’s long throw-in and a flick on by Hickey 8 minutes from the end.

The Knights continued to attack and, with 5 minutes left, Fielding glanced a header wide following Wiggins’s deep cross from midfield.

Lo almost sneaked an equaliser for South Hobart in the 87^th minute, but his firm, low drive from the left whistled centimetres wide of the far post.

The win did not prevent the Knights from slipping a place to seventh, while South Hobart also dropped one place to fifth.

South Hobart:

Glenorchy Knights:

By Walter Pless

Premier League, Olinda Grove, Saturday, 28 April 2007

University 2 (Rapley 3 pen, O’Brien 34)

Taroona 2 (Gasparinatos 14, Mathers 81)

HT: 2-1 Att: 70 Ref: I Colhoun

University (1-2-5-2): A Winter - T Andersen - J Merry, C Stockdale - G O’Brien (J Wilson 75), C Shepherd, H Richardson (J Andrews 75), A Bull, A Hindmarsh - M Rapley, J Proud [Substitute not used: M Andrews] [Player-Coach: M Shaw]

Taroona (1-2-5-2): M McKenna - C Carey - F Abetz, S Flonta - C Cox, S Gates (M Kennedy 61), B Schaap, M Atkinson, J Mathers (B Horgan 82) - B Gasparinatos, D Palmer (K De Jong 75) [Substitute not used: R Hortle] [Coach: M Rhodes]

Taroona earned their first point in the top flight with this 2-2 away draw against University in drizzly conditions at Olinda Grove.

They are adapting much better than previously promoted teams such as Hobart United and DOSA.

Both sides might easily have won, but a combination of poor finishing and sheer bad luck ensured the match ended in a draw.

Marcus Atkinson deserved a goal for Taroona, but his ferocious shot from wide on the right in the 27^th minute smashed off the inside of the far post and rebounded into play, much to the relief of University goalkeeper Ashley Winter.

In the 37^th minute, Daniel Palmer was put through by Billy Gasparinatos, but he sent in a tame shot from the edge of the box that flew straight into Winter’s arms.

Craig Stockdale missed two good chances when faced with only Michael McKenna to beat, while McKenna did very well late in the match to turn Mark Rapley’s powerful shot onto the bar and out for a corner.

And, University substitute John Wilson lobbed the ball harmlessly over the bar with just two minutes remaining.

University got off to the perfect start when they earned a penalty after just 48 seconds, McKenna having brought down Hugh Richardson. Mr Colhoun and his assistant, Mr Barker, then had to check the goal net before allowing the spot-kick to be taken and it was in the 3^rd minute of the match that Rapley beat McKenna straight down the middle to put the home side in front.

Billy Gasparinatos equalised in the 14^th minute. After playing a neat one-two with Chris Cox on the right, Gasparinatos made space for himself and planted a splendid left-foot shot from the edge of the penalty area beyond Winter and inside the far post.

Gerard O’Brien restored University’s lead in the 34^th minute when a team-mate dummied a pass and the youngster scored with a low shot inside McKenna’s right-hand post.

Midway through the second half, Alexis Bull unleashed a tremendous low drive that McKenna just managed to get a finger to and deflect for a corner.

With 9 minutes remaining, Jon Mathers ensured Taroona of a point when he converted Chris Cox’s centre from the right to make it 2-2.

Taroona’s Gasparinatos and Felix Abetz received yellow cards, as did University’s Stockdale.

University coach, Matthew Shaw, said: “I think we got the result we deserved.

“We switched off and let them score and we were a bit soft at times. Their first goal was a good goal, but at the same time, it shouldn’t have happened so easily as people backed off.

“The second goal, we let the cross come in.

“We created some chances, but we lacked intensity, or consistency of intensity, and it’s something we need to work on for the rest of the season.”

“It was a hard-fought game and we fought it out right to the end,” said Taroona coach, Matthew Rhodes. “I think we deserved the point at the end.

“Unfortunately, we lost three players injured on Thursday night so it was a really good effort to get a point today. It was a big result for us.

“I think we turned the corner last week [3-2 loss to Clarence United] with more self belief and it showed today. From here, I think it’s upwards and onwards. I think we’re quite competitive.”

By Walter Pless

Premier League, KGV Park, Friday, 27 April 2007

Tilford Zebras 5 (Lapolla 9, Smith 40, Frediani 67, Thorpe 90, 92)

Hobart Olympic 2 (Vavoulas 7, Djekanovic 75)

HT: 2-1 Att: 300 Ref: C Phillips

Tilford Zebras (3-5-2): F Mainella - H Fagg, R Smith, M Connolly - A Brazendale, C Cox, B Pullen (E Nicholson 45), M Falzon, R Self - D Lapolla, R Frediani (J Thorpe 87) [Substitute not used: A Venettacci] [Coach: N Lapolla]

Hobart Olympic (4-4-2): D Nester - Y Mohamad, P Tsakiris, N Vavoulas, C Tsimiklis - B Backhaus, C Tsakiris, P Cairns, F Tracy - D Djekanovic, K Grillas [Substitutes not used: E Lesa, R Lebski, L Southam] [Coach: F Shaw]

This was Hobart Olympic’s biggest hurdle yet, and they were found wanting.

They could have had four goals in the opening half, but had only one to show for their efforts.

Tilford Zebras were fragile at the back with three defenders and Olympic found it relatively easy to penetrate until midway through the first half, when Brett Pullen dropped back to make it a back-four. This effectively plugged the gaping holes.

When Pullen was replaced by Eoin Nicholson at half-time because of a groin injury, Zebras reverted to a back-three, but Olympic failed to take advantage.

Olympic took the lead in the 7^th minute when Chris Tsakiris released Danijel Djekanovic down the left with a free-kick and his cross was nodded home by Nektar Vavoulas.

Zebras were level 2 minutes later. Romeo Frediani went down when hit in the midriff by a fierce shot and, while everyone looked on, Daniel Lapolla hit a marvellous volley into the roof of the net from 25 metres. Dmitri Nester seemed to flap at the ball and he might have done better as it flashed past close to his body. But, it was 1-1.

Ben Backhaus squandered a great chance to put Olympic ahead again when he glanced a header wide of the far post from Djekanovic’s left-wing cross in the 12^th minute.

In the 17^th minute, Aaron Brazendale crossed the ball towards the far post from the right and Romeo Frediani steered a delicate header against Nester’s right-hand post. It was a lucky escape for Olympic.

In the 27^th minute, Olympic missed two glorious chances within seconds of each other. First, Backhaus’s perfectly timed pass put Kosta Grillas through, but the alert Frank Mainella was able to block with his feet. The ball fell for Djekanovic, who failed to score with the goal at his mercy when he completely missed the ball with his kick.

Two minutes later, Grillas was put through again, but a timely intervention by Henry Fagg saved the day for the Zebras as Mainella could only look on anxiously.

With 5 minutes of the first half remaining, Chris Tsimiklis conceded a corner while under pressure. It was the Zebras’ first corner of the match and they struck pay dirt, Brazendale floating the ball over from the right and Ryan Smith rising above the defenders to head home powerfully and give Zebras a 2-1 lead.

Paul Cairns went close with a long-range shot in the 61^st minute, but Zebras extended their lead in the 67^th minute when Ricky Self slipped the ball through for Frediani to hammer home from the edge of the box.

In the 75^th minute, a ricochet from a Zebras defender put Backhaus through and he put the ball in the net, but Mr Phillips had already blown for a foul by Mark Falzon.

Amid uproar from the Olympic supporters, Djekanovic allayed their fury when he stepped up and curled a superb left-footed free-kick over the defensive wall and into the roof of the net to make it one goal the difference again.

Zebras substitute Josh Thorpe had only been on the field for three minutes when he made it 4-2. Mainella sent a free-kick down the right for Self, whose cross was met by Thorpe ahead of a slow Nester and he nodded the ball down and into the net before the keeper could intercept.

In the 92^nd minute, Falzon put Thorpe through the Olympic defence and, although Nester did very well to parry the striker’s initial shot, the ball rebounded to Thorpe, who stroked it home to make it 5-2.

The win put Zebras three points clear at the top, while Olympic stayed second on goal-difference.

Zebras retain their perfect record for the season with four league wins and five Summer Cup victories from nine outings.

WHAT THEY SAID:

Nick Lapolla (Tilford Zebras coach)

“That was one of the worst games we’ve played. I’m not happy with it, but to come away with five goals was great.

“That’s the only good thing about the game.

“All credit to Olympic. They pressured us.

“But, next week is another week.”

Brett Pullen (Tilford Zebras midfielder)

“It wasn’t pretty soccer, but it was good for the crowd. A good finish and we ran it out.

“We couldn’t disown it.

“That’s the sort of soccer we want to be playing week in and week out. We didn’t give in.

“There was a little bit of controversy. It would have been a good game for the spectators and, obviously, it was a good three points for the year.”

Farrell Shaw (Hobart Olympic coach)

“The first half, we played well, but we didn’t take our chances. We took it up to them.

“In the second half, we came out and we changed a few things.

“We pushed them again. They got a good goal and carried on.

“The last two goals flattered them a bit. We were really pushing for an equaliser and pushing men forward. It happens.

“Young Danijel [Djekanovic] played well wide on the left and a few others worked their butts off as usual.

“In the end, we weren’t smart enough. We weren’t really smart enough.”

Tilford Zebras:

Hobart Olympic:

By Walter Pless

Glenorchy Knights will be under the command of brothers Tom and Robbie Huigsloot when the reigning champions take on South Hobart, at South Hobart, on Sunday in the Premier League competition.

The club indicated in a media release yesterday that the Huigsloot brothers would oversee both the seniors and reserves following the resignation earlier in the week of Eamonn Kelly, who coached the Knights to the past two league titles.

The media release wished Kelly well and hoped he would stay with the club in some capacity.

Both sides will be desperate to win this match after losses last weekend so that they stay in touch with the leading trio, Tilford Zebras, Hobart Olympic and Clarence United.

South’s chances of winning will improve if striker David Cooper is fit. He came off after 9m minutes against Tilford Zebras and South lost 3-1 despite having several excellent chances, particularly in one-on-ones with the goalkeeper.

South coach Steve Adkins felt that Cooper may have put those chances away.

It promises to be a crackerjack of a match and a team that has a new coach often lifts its performance first up, so South Hobart will need to be wary of the wounded Knights.

On the surface, Tilford Zebras appear much too strong for Hobart Olympic when they clash at KGV Park on Friday night.

Both sides have three wins from three outings and share top spot with Clarence United. Goal-difference keeps the Zebras’ noses in front.

Hobart Olympic beat Riverside Olympic 2-1 on Wednesday in the Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy state-wide competition, but the win was unimpressive and took its toll physically, with Hobart Olympic’s players looking exhausted after the match.

“It’s going to be very hard to bounce back,” said Olympic coach, Farrell Shaw.

“It’s not a matter of attitude and being switched on, but rather about recovery and being physically ready after playing on Wednesday.

“It’s lucky I’ve got a big squad because we’ve got some players carrying injuries.”

Tilford Zebras should be at full strength and coach Nick Lapolla should have his strategy worked out. He was in the stands watching Wednesday’s game and must have been unconcerned.

Fifth-ranked University entertain second-last Taroona at Olinda Grove on Saturday and will need to be wary after Taroona’s 5-2 morale-boosting win over Hobart United in the cup on Wednesday.

“Hugh Richardson is struggling to shake off a knock he took against the Knights,” said University coach, Matthew Shaw. “He had to come off again on the weekend against Eagles and missed training on Tuesday.

“The only other injury concern from the weekend is me. I rolled my ankle on my brief foray onto the pitch and it is still fat and blue.

“Aaron Hindmarsh played in the reserves last week because of work commitments and should return to the squad in my place.

“We expect Taroona to be well organised and difficult to break down so we will need to be sharp and inventive if we are to win this game.

“We also need to start to put a run of wins together over the next month if we are to challenge the Zebras at the top of the table.

“They are looking extremely good at the moment and must now be favourites for the title after beating South last week.

“It is, however, still very early days.”

Taroona’s win must be taken in context, however. They were held to 2-2 in normal time by a 10-man Hobart United and only ran out 5-2 winners in extra-time after United were reduced to eight players by two send-offs.

Having said that, it was far from Taroona’s strongest line-up. Coach Matthew Rhodes played at least six second-string players in order to rest some of his established players.

Survival in the Premier League is obviously the priority for Taroona.

Clarence United should be much too powerful for Metro-Claremont at Wentworth Park on Saturday, while seventh-ranked Kingborough Lions United appear too good for eighth-placed New Town Eagles at Lightwood Park on Sunday.

Metro went down 2-0 to Northern Rangers on Wednesday in the state-wide Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy competition and this can hardly have done their confidence any good ahead of this difficult fixture.

Clarence will miss injured midfield schemer Scott Hadley through injury, while youngster Aaron Wraight has a knee injury and may also be out.

Kingborough knocked off Knights last weekend and this has given them confidence, whereas Eagles are in the opposite situation with morale low.

Kingborough had slim pickings in its first two outings, losing both games 4-1, but against an Eagles side that are struggling, this could be a goal feast.

By Walter Pless

Beachside and South Hobart are threatening to race away from the pack in the Division One competition.

They are very evenly matched, with six points apiece and an identical goal-difference.

They are only separated on the ladder by the fact that Beachside have scored a goal more than South Hobart.  But, they have also conceded one more than South.

It should be business as usual for both sides this weekend, but Beachside has arguably the more difficult task as they come up against the unpredictable Kingston Cannons.

Cannons, of course, have an outstanding pedigree, having once been known as Rapid.

That was before political correctness became the vogue in soccer circles and ethic names were banned.  Perhaps Football Federation Tasmania could explain the appearance of Ethiotas in the lower leagues?

The Cannons blasted their way to a win against Northern Suburbs-DOSA last weekend and they cannot be dismissed as a potential winner against Beachside, although this is unlikely.

Stranger things have happened at Sherburd, however, and Beachside will need to play well.

South Hobart have a relatively easy task against bottom-side Christian United, who are having a wretched season.

Christian certainly won’t turn the other cheek, but they will struggle to earn three points against a South Hobart side that has players challenging for selection in the club’s higher-ranked teams.

Hobart United are a team that everyone desperately wants to love because they are different and they were a breath of fresh air when they first came on the local scene.

But, they have huge problems, one of which is ill-discipline.  They had two players sent off midweek in the 5-2 loss to Taroona and this is becoming too common an occurrence.

They also had two bad injuries, one of them serious, which will deprive them of the services of Brad Gilroy.  He dislocated a knee and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Alexander Newman, who scored the two goals against Taroona, was also injured and must be doubtful for Saturday’s game against DOSA at Pontville.

Hobart United will be missing the suspended Akuel Guot and Jacob Taban-Kuel, who were the players sent off against Taroona.

DOSA are likely to be at full strength and are in with a good chance of grabbing all three points, especially away from the notorious Showground surface.  It’s difficult to believe that Tasmania played China at that venue in the mid-70s.  The Chinese won 2-1 and Tommy Wright scored the opener for the locals.

Second-last Huon Valley entertain third-last Nelson Eastern Suburbs at Ranelagh on Sunday.

Paul Gazzignato is unavailable for Nelson, but Jayden Andrews returns.

“The team is looking forward to this game and hoping to carry the good mid-week form from the Lakoseljac Trophy win over DOSA into the league,” said Nelson coach, Michael Roach.

Kingborough Lions United have the bye.

South Hobart should stay top of the Premier Reserve League ladder by beating second-last Glenorchy Knights at South Hobart on Sunday.

Following the resignation of Knights’ senior coach Eamonn Kelly earlier this week, Robbie and Tom Huigsloot will be sharing the coaching of the seniors and reserves.

University and Taroona meet at Olinda Grove on Saturday in what should prove a close contest as both sides have 6 points and only goal-difference puts University above their opponents on the ladder.

Clarence United, in seventh place, should prove too strong for bottom-side Metro-Claremont at Wentworth Park on Saturday.

In Sunday’s remaining match, fourth-ranked Kingborough Lions United are at home to eighth-placed New Town Eagles at Lightwood Park and should win.

On Friday evening, second-placed Hobart Zebras play fifth-ranked Hobart Olympic at KGV Park.  With both teams level on 6 points, this should be a close contest.

By Walter Pless

Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy, Qualification Round 3, KGV Park, Wednesday, 25 April 2007

A minutes silence is observed for ANZAC Day

Hobart Olympic 2 (Grillas 36, Backhaus 70)

Riverside Olympic 1 (Rundle 80)

Captains ready for the toss

HT: 1-0 Att: 60 Ref: I Jozeljic [Assistants: Jessica Manuela, Hanna Manuela]

Hobart Olympic (4-4-2): Nester - Y Mohamad (R Lebski 35), P Tsakiris, N Vavoulas, C Tsimiklis - F Tracy, L Mason, C Tsakiris, B Backhaus - K Grillas (C Larzabal 75), D Djekanovic (E Lesa 58) [Substitutes not used: P Kaproulias, L Southam] [Coach: F Shaw]

 
Riverside Olympic (3-5-2): Littlechild - T Colgrave, A Gray, R Hughes - D Oosterloo, A Kerr, P Oosterloo, J Colgrave (W Guy 45), T Rundle - S Gubrandson, D Gaetani (C Jackson 45) [Substitute not used: A Boon] [Coach: P Sawdon]

Referee Mr Ivan Jozeljic refused to allow this game to be played at the Athletic Centre because the goal frames were unstable.

Match officials

The match was switched to KGV Park at very short notice and, to the credit of Football Federation Tasmania and, particularly their CEO, Martin Shaw, who opened the ground, the match started only half-an-hour late.

A minute’s silence was observed before the match because it was ANZAC Day.

 
Riverside Olympic kick-off 

Riverside Olympic deserved a better result as their play was often superior to Hobart Olympic’s.

Two costly mistakes in defence, however, cost the northerners the match.

By the time they did pull a goal back, it was too late to retrieve the situation.

 
Ball watching by Olympic leaves Riverside’s Gaetani free

Hobart Olympic looked exhausted at the end and must now front at the same venue on Friday night to take on Premier League leaders and arch rivals, Tilford Zebras.

Hobart Olympic failed to take advantage of having four naturally left-footed players. Had they utilised this factor, they might have retained their shape and had a well-balanced side.

They rarely used the space down the right flank, while their advantage in having left-footers on the other side was wasted by crowding the middle of the park, as well as by a lack of pace on the left.

Ben Backhaus crosses from the right

Kosta Grillas and Fletcher Tracy squandered early chances for the home side, while Riverside Olympic should have taken the lead in the 16^th minute through a fine move down the left.

Ty Rundle crossed to the far post and David Oosterloo brought the ball down skilfully and knocked it inside to Andrew Kerr, whose shot was blocked.

Robert Lebski replaced the injured Youssef Mohamad in the 35^th minute as Hobart Olympic prepared to take a corner from the left.

Good marking by Riverside with their sweeper Andrew Gray free but a little square

Chris Tsakiris floated the corner towards the far post where one of the shortest players on the field, Grillas, headed home to give the southerners a 1-0 lead.

Tracy should have added a second three minutes before the break when Danijel Djakanovic reached the byline on the left and cut the ball back, but he blazed high over the bar.

Goalkeeper Mark Littlechild, normally an outfield player, produced a brilliant save on the hour when he dived to his left to turn Grillas’s shot wide.

 
Grillas effort blocked by Littlechild

Ten minutes later, it was 2-0. Grillas attacked down the left and took the ball along the goal-line, where two defenders failed to block his run and allowed him to slip the ball inside to Ben Backhaus, whose shot into the far top right-hand corner of the goal from 15 metres almost burst the net.

Riverside Olympic continued to have the better of the play and went close on several occasions, with half-time substitutes Colin Jackson and Will Guy livening up the northerners’ attack.

Grillas prepares to head Hobart Olympic in front from a corner

Ten minutes from the end, a long ball from midfield by Pieter Oosterloo found Rundle, who controlled the pass and rounded goalkeeper Dmitri Nester to walk the ball into the net and make it one goal the difference.

But, Hobart Olympic managed to hang on for the win and progress to the next round.

“It was probably the worst game we’ve played in a long time and we were very lucky to get away with it,” said Hobart Olympic coach, Farrell Shaw.

 
Tsimiklis on a rare run down the left with Tsakiris ready to release him with a pass

“The goals we got were through sheer pressure and not skill, which was very disappointing.

“It was very disappointing, very disappointing.”

Riverside Olympic coach, Peter Sawdon, said: “It was a fairly hard-fought game in the first half.

“It was poor marking at a corner that cost us pretty badly and we missed a couple of really good chances right in front of goal and in the six-yard box, which I thought, if you’re to win these games, you have to bury them, and we didn’t do that.

“So, we can’t complain about the first half if we don’t finish our chances.

“The second half, I thought we totally dominated them, actually. They were sharp on the break, but I thought we were always in control and, you know, it was another mistake again that cost us the goal.

“I think it was another half of missed chances. Stephen Gubrandson missed a clear header in the six-yard box.

“Young Ty Rundle took his goal really well.

Effective man marking by Riverside

“I think, on the whole, our inexperience showed a little bit over the course of the game, but I think there was a lot of promise there for us in regards to our domination there in the second half.

“I thought we were breaking them down quite often, I thought.”

Hobart Olympic:

 
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