Walter Pless on Football

By Walter Pless

Friday night will, to use a common battle cry of airforce pilots as they commence dog fights with the enemy, be ‘show time’ for Tilford Zebras.

The Premier League leaders take on reigning champions and fifth-placed Glenorchy Knights at KGV Park.

Zebras have a 4-point lead over second-placed Clarence United and are 6 points ahead of the Knights.

This will be one of the Zebras’ toughest challenges yet and, if they come through victorious, they will rightly be considered hot favourites for the title.

The game is a vital one for the Knights, too, who are precariously close to conceding their title. One more defeat and they could be history.

But, if the Knights win, they will still be in contention for a hat-trick of titles as they will be only three points off the pace.

Zebras will welcome back midfielder Brett Pullen and defender Michael Connolly. Both had niggling injuries and they were rested for the Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy meeting with Devonport City, which resulted in a 3-1 extra-time win for Zebras.

With Connolly back in defence, Zebras are likely to revert to a back-three, with Chris Cox lying just in front of the trio and trying to blunt attacks before they can present any real danger.

Cox is a versatile player, nevertheless, and Knights will need to be alert for his forward runs, when he has shown he can score.

Pullen will be pulling the strings in midfield and Knights must prevent him from dictating play, but with Knights having very attack-minded midfielders, the identity of the player assigned to shadow Pullen will be interesting.

Likewise, Zebras must neutralise the threat posed by Knights player-coach, Tom Huigsloot, who scored a hat-trick last weekend and who is the league’s second-ranked marksman with six goals.

Knights have several players to come back who missed the 3-0 win over Prospect Knights last weekend in the Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy match.

Defender Jayden Wiggins and utility player Matthew Brown should be back, at the expense of Kyle Dermody and Giovanni Vasile, while Lincoln Conquest and Anthony Grundy may earn places on the bench.

Zebras were unimpressive for most of the game against Devonport and they will have to improve if they are to win.

They rely greatly on goalkeeper Frank Mainella to pull them out of the fire at times, but they are the top-scoring side in the competition, with an average of just over four goals per game, so they are not just a one-dimensional side.

This will be a tactical, physical and technical showdown and, hopefully for the fans, an exciting one.

Clarence United can go to the top of the standings if Zebras lose and if they beat sixth-placed University away at Olinda Grove on Saturday.

This match is the annual contest for the Andrew Hoppitt Trophy, named in honour of the late University goalkeeper, who had family links with Clarence.

University holds the trophy after winning 2-0 last season in the first meeting between the sides for the year.

Clarence will be buoyed by the presence of striker Dwayne Walsh. The 18-year-old was on the verge of signing for Victorian Premier League outfit Heidelberg during the week but changed his mind at the last minute.

And, Ken Morton took a coaching session with the club during the week at the invitation of coach Andrew Brown.

Morton, who has just returned after a lengthy stint in charge of an Ethiopian club, was aware that one session was not enough to instil a tactical plan, but some of his ideas may have rubbed off on the Clarence players.

Clarence had an easy 7-0 win against first division Nelson Eastern Suburbs last Sunday in the Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy competition, but this will be much harder.

Paul Bremner weighed in with four goals and this will have given him confidence for this game. With Bremner and Walsh firing on all cylinders, University will be under intense pressure.

The Students will be far from full strength and home-ground advantage will count for little.

“This game will be for the Hoppitt Cup, in memory of Andrew Hoppitt, who was our first-team goalkeeper in 2004 and 2005,” said University coach, Matthew Shaw.

“He played his junior football at Clarence and his brother played in their first team for a few seasons.

“The Cup is played for on the first league meeting of the season between the two teams, so we are the holders having won 2-0 at Wentworth Park last season.

“We will be desperately hoping to retain this trophy.

“The commitment we showed last week against South Hobart was a significant improvement on the previous couple of weeks and we were very disappointed to lose to such a late goal.

“We still need to sharpen up when we are on the ball and maintain our concentration for the duration of the match.

“Although there are younger teams in the competition, we are this year bringing in a number of new players who have little experience at this level.

“We have regularly had seven of our starting eleven under 25, which is a significant change from the past few seasons when it was more like seven over 30.

“We have not shaken off the Dad’s Army tag yet, but there is a definite desire to expose more of those who have spent the past few seasons in our reserves to the higher level.

“These players are generally still finding their feet and working out what it takes to play against quality players week in, week out.

“Last weekend was a step forward and it is important that we take another this weekend.

“Colin Shepherd remains a doubt. We are waiting for him to receive medical clearance as he struggles to shake off a virus. Should he do so, he will come into the team.

“We have missed his strength and composure. Players of his quality are few and far between and, even if we do not get the full ninety minutes from him, anything is better than nothing.

“Definitely missing will be Alexis Bull, who is interstate for the next two weeks, but his injured ankle would have kept him out anyway.

“Brook Teale picked up his fifth yellow card of the season on Saturday, so he should be suspended. I have yet to receive official confirmation of this from FFT but am quite confident that Brook can count to five so have no reason to doubt that he will miss the match.

“Mark Rapley should be available, although he was another whose ankle took a battering last week. We will know for sure about his availability after Thursday night’s training.

“Hugh Richardson is in the same boat, although he will play. As one of Hoppy’s closest mates at the club, he is desperate to play in this match and will continue to lead the side should Shepherd remain sidelined.

“Aaron Hindmarsh has now failed to complete the last two matches and needs a week off to allow his tight hamstring to heal.

“John Merry was also feeling a little ginger at training on Tuesday so we will see how he pulls up on Thursday before working out whether he will play.

“That leaves us with a few holes to fill. Tyler Duniam and Thomas Andersen are both available this week after spending last weekend in the north of the state.

“Tyler had a family commitment, whilst Thomas, a Danish exchange student, was enjoying a cultural outing of sorts. He went to some Australian Rules match.

“Thomas is likely to play in the centre of midfield, whilst where Tyler plays will depend on the availability of others. His versatility means that he could end up in either the defence or as a wide midfielder.

“Rod Gretton has also returned after a sojourn at the Cricket World Cup, followed by a holiday interstate.

“He is a couple of weeks away from fitness. To steal a line from Rod, he spent his time away with too much rum and not enough run. But, he could fill one of the spots as a substitute.

“John Wilson is another in line for a spot on the bench, having missed the past couple of games through illness and then school commitments.”

Saturday’s other game is between Taroona and South Hobart at Kelvedon Park.

Taroona have raised eyebrows this season with the way they have adapted to life in the top flight.

They lie eighth on the ladder and have progressed to the quarterfinals of the Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy competition, which is no mean feat for a promoted team.

Coach Matthew Rhodes is certainly getting the best out of his players.

Taroona midfielder Billy Gasparinatos will be keen to impress against his former club and he has the ability to inspire the players around him, so an upset is not out of the question.

South Hobart are fourth but their form has been erratic and they have failed to score in crucial games.

Unless Daniel Brown and David Cooper take their chances, the visitors could be embarrassed, although, to be fair, Cooper hit his straps again last weekend and scored twice to give South Hobart a 2-1 win over University in the cup.

There are two important games on Sunday.

Seventh-placed Kingborough Lions United host third-placed Hobart Olympic at Lightwood Park, and bottom-side New Town Eagles are at home at Clare Street to second-last Metro-Claremont.

The Lions have fallen on lean times. They finished second in the past two seasons but appear to be struggling this year.

Olympic are doing well, but they suffered a blow to their pride last weekend when they were eliminated from the Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy by Taroona, who won 1-0.

Both sides will be desperate for a win, therefore, as they seek to either stay in touch with, or catch up with, the leaders.

New Town Eagles have an unenviable task against Metro, whom they trail by two points.

Eagles set a club record last weekend by registering a tenth straight loss. If they lose to Metro, it will be eleven, something their supporters do not even dare contemplate.

Coach Ian Parker axed four players for the cup game against Somerset last weekend, but Eagles still lost 2-0 at home.

Goalkeeper Nathan Pitchford, together with Ben Whitehall, Chris Jones and Adam Shackcloth were dropped. It will be interesting to see how many are reinstated this weekend.

There are also persistent rumours that Parker is being sought by other clubs.

Metro limbered up for this clash with a friendly against Division One side Northern Suburbs-DOSA and romped home 8-0.

This will give the Claremont side confidence going into this match, where three points will put them five ahead of Eagles.

Eagles have a great incentive. A win for them will lift them off the bottom and possibly within striking distance of Taroona.

It’s an intriguing round of matches for teams at both ends of the table, and those in the middle.

• Goran Jozeljic

By Walter Pless

Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy, North Warrane, Sunday, 27 May 2007

Nelson Eastern Suburbs 0

Clarence United 7 (Bremner 5, 17, 25, 73, Emmanueli 61, 80, Rudewych 62 o.g.)

HT: 0-3 Att: 100 Ref: S Collins

Nelson Eastern Suburbs: Martinez - Hoppitt, Sakul (Bradburn 72), Bradburn, Wallace (Gibbs 67), Wojcik, Marsh, Gazzignato, Hanley, Roach (Rudewych 35), Andrews [Substitute not used: L Wallace] [Coach: M Roach]

Clarence United: Moschogianis - Ling, Cripps, Bremner, Walsh (Emmanueli 57), McMahon, Mayne (Chapman 37), Hunt, Stevens, Parker, Huigsloot [Substitute not used: Bevan] [Coach: A Brown]

Bremner heads at goal

Clarence United became the fifth southern Premier League club to reach the quarterfinals of the Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy State-wide football competition when they beat Division One side Nelson Eastern Suburbs 7-0 away at North Warrane on Sunday.

Clarence join Hobart Zebras, Taroona, South Hobart and Glenorchy Knights from the south, and Launceston City, Somerset and Burnie United from the northern Premier League, in the last eight of the competition.

Bremner volleys home

Nelson, the last of the minnows left in the competition, were no match for their Premier League Eastern Shore rivals and trailed 3-0 at the interval to a hat-trick by Paul Bremner.

Paul Gazzignato and Bill Hanley had half-chances in the opening period but were way off the mark.

Nick Mayne was substituted by Clarence before the half was ended, perhaps because of several robust challenges he made. Andrew Brown may have decided to pull him off before he was booked.

Luke Cripps initiates a Clarence attack

Midfielder Kenyi Emmanueli came on as a substitute for Clarence in the 57^th minute in place of Dwayne Walsh and he had an immediate impact.

He was able to display his wide range of skills and had plenty of time on the ball.

Nelson coach Michael Roach gives instructions to substitute Matthew Rudewych

He scored two goals and also forced Matthew Rudewych to score an own goal while under pressure to clear after he had made an electrifying run along the right byline.

Emmanueli had been on for only four minutes when he scored with a quickly taken free-kick from just outside the box to make it 4-0, curling a low ball inside the far post and beyond the reach of Joseph Martinez.

Toby Ling clears from Jayden Andrews

A minute later, he made a slalom run along the right byline, beating several defenders on the way, before knocking the ball into the middle, where the unlucky Rudewych, in attempting to clear, succeeded only in slamming the ball into the roof of his own net.

In the 73^rd minute, Bremner got on to the end of a free-kick from the right and smashed home his fourth and Clarence’s sixth.

With 10 minutes remaining, Emmanueli finished clinically to make it 7-0.

Nelson had few chances, the best being when Paul Gazzignato, stationed at the far post, nodded Jackson Marsh’s free-kick from the left into the side-netting.

Bremner has the Nelson defender on the run

Clarence often toyed with their opponents and the Premier League outfit, who are 16 places above Nelson if one takes into account the combined ladders, could easily have reached double figures.

“My heart bleeds for them because I think they’re very genuine, they prepared very well and they worked very hard,” said Clarence coach, Andrew Brown.

“At the end of the day, they just weren’t capable technically.”

Nelson coach, Michael Roach, said: “At times we played very well and took it up to them, but we made too many silly mistakes at the back, and they did get a couple of good goals in the end too.”

Walsh crosses for Bremner to score

City keeper clears

By Walter Pless

New Town Eagles stole the scoring honours in the Women’s State-wide Cup played on Sunday with a 9-1 thrashing of Glenorchy Knights.

City attack thwarted

Northern Rangers were close behind after downing Taroona 7-1 in Launceston.

University comfortably disposed of Beachside 4-0.

South Hobart travelled to the North-West Coast and came home with a 5-0 victory over Devonport City.

City clearance cannons into a team mate

Kelly Konings netted twice for South, with Amy Whitney, Jessica Manuela and Stefanie Bishop-Hall grabbing a goal apiece.

At KGV Park, the visiting Launceston City downed Tilford Zebras 4-2 after leading 3-1 at the interval.

City’s Chelsea Smith netted a hat trick

City’s Kailee Goodwin was carried off on a stretcher in the first half after colliding with Zebras goalkeeper Isolina Ottavi.

City’s Chelsea Smith on the attack

The visitors almost took an early lead when Chelsea Smith’s corner from the left looked goal-bound, but a Zebras defender blocked the ball on the line and cleared.

Concerned players from both teams surround the injured Kailee Goodwin

Smith and Jill Crouch were worrying the home defence with their speed, mobility and technical ability and it was no surprise when Smith gave the northerners the lead with a powerful shot.

Zebras defender clears from the City attacker

Smith netted again to make it 2-0 and then completed her hat-trick.

Linsey Da Costa scored City’s fourth, while Abbie Williams and Cherri Ryan were the Zebras’ scorers.

City’s Nao Fujimoto shields the ball from her Zebras opponent

By Walter Pless

Four southern and three northern sides are through to the next round of the Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy State-wide football competition after Saturday’s first-round proper.

Holders University were knocked out by fellow southern Premier League outfit South Hobart, who won 2-1 after extra-time away at Olinda Grove.

David Cooper netted both goals for South Hobart, while John Merry equalised for the Students with a fabulous long-range cracker.

Glenorchy Knights, Hobart Zebras and Taroona are the other southern sides through, while Launceston City, Burnie United and Somerset qualified for the next round from the north of the State.

Eion Nicholson on the attack for Zebras

Three goals by Tom Huigsloot gave Glenorchy Knights a 3-0 win over Prospect Knights at KGV Park, but the Launceston outfit acquitted itself well, with Alan Eadie posing a constant threat to the southerners.

With Glenorchy Knights leading 2-0, only a brilliant save by Ben Peter prevented Eadie from putting the northerners back into the game.

Devonport City, without captain and key defender John ‘Snow’ Compagne, should have beaten a lacklustre Hobart Zebras at KGV Park, but three crucial saves by Zebras goalkeeper Frank Mainella denied the North-West Coast side and ultimately allowed Zebras to win 3-1 after extra-time.

Mark Falzon tries to halt a Devonport attack 

Mainella denied Peter Gilham twice and Chris McKenna once in one-on-one situations, while McKenna and Gilham also saw shots come back off the Zebras crossbar.

Daniel Lapolla put Zebras ahead in the 62^nd minute, but Simon Wilson headed Devonport level two minutes later.

Zebras finally gained the ascendancy in the second period of extra-time over a tiring Devonport and goals by Mark Falzon and Aaron Brazendale gave the southerners their passage to the next round.

Ricky Self climbs for a header

Kingborough Lions United led home-side Burnie United 2-0 through goals by Michael Giomataris, but the Coastal side fought back to win 3-2.

State premiers Somerset beat New Town Eagles 2-0 away at Clare Street through goals by Toby Skein and Bobby Eaves.

This set a new club record for Eagles of 10 consecutive losses, beating their previous worst run in 1970 of nine straight defeats.

Taroona caused a major upset by downing another southern Premier League side, Hobart Olympic, 1-0 at home at Kelvedon Park through an 18^th-minute goal by Jonathon Mathers.

Zebra’s Aaron Brazendale confronts his Devonport opponent

Launceston City overcame Northern Rangers 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out after the sides were level at 1-1 after extra-time.

A penalty by Alex Brownlie gave City the lead, but Simon Petrusma’s equaliser took the game into extra-time and eventually a penalty shoot-out.

Brownlie, Justin Dyer and Roger Mies netted penalties for City, while only Derek Schipper was successful for Rangers.

City goalkeeper Lino Sciuli saved two penalties.

Ricky Self (Zebras) tries for a header 

Nelson Eastern Suburbs host Clarence United at North Warrane on Sunday in the remaining match of the round.

By Walter Pless

Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy, KGV Park, Saturday, 26 May 2007

Glenorchy Knights 3 (Huigsloot 29, 38, 82)

Prospect Knights 0

HT: 2-0 Att: 120 Ref: M Sprod

Glenorchy Knights (3-5-2): B Peter - J Begovic, T Dzelalija (P Frank 45), K Dermody - J Fielding, J Ladic, R Gosney, C Smith, J Clay - G Vasile (J Morris 77), T Huigsloot [[Substitutes not used: L Conquest, J Wiggins] [Joint Coaches: T Huigsloot, R Huigsloot]

Prospect Knights (3-5-2): G Innis - N Young, T Claxton, C Cooper - S McCormick, M Baker, A Balym (C Honey 87), D Slater (J Ashdown 60), J Firth - C Pickering, A Eadie [Substitute not used: S Gartnell] [Coach: S Degac]

Prospect Knights gave a good account of themselves and Alan Eadie, in particular, constantly worried the Glenorchy Knights defence.

Eadie forced Ben Peter to a brilliant save in the 69^th minute. Peter had to dive full-length to turn Eadie’s powerful shot wide for a corner.

Glenorchy Knights again relied on player-coach Tom Huigsloot to produce the goods and he duly delivered with a fine hat-trick.

 
Shay Hickey (Glenorchy Knights)  rested for this match

Glenorchy Knights were without Nick Harrison, Shay Hickey, Lincoln Conquest, Anthony Grundy, Matthew Brown and Jayden Wiggins.

Giovanni Vasile played in attack, while Kyle Dermody was in defence. Jeremy Morris and Peter Frank came on as substitutes.

Huigsloot gave the southerners the lead in the 29^th minute, heading home Jonathon Ladic’s deep cross from the right at the far post.

Jonathon Ladic - Glenorchy Knights

Nine minutes later, Huigsloot made it 2-0 when he turned sharply and drove home inside the near post. Gallagher Innis got a hand to the ball but was unable to keep it out.

Vasile had the chance to put the home side further ahead as he beat Innis to Huigsloot’s cross in the 55^th minute, but his header was wide of the mark.

Prospect Knights missed a good chance in the 66^th minute when Chris Pickering found space down the right and flashed a dangerous cross into the six-yard box, but Eadie missed the ball completely.

Glenorchy Knight’s midfielder Josh Fielding

In the 74^th minute, Huigsloot headed Janko Begovic’s cross against the outside of the right-hand post.

With 8 minute remaining, Huigsloot and Josh Fielding combined down the left and Huigsloot completed his hat-trick with a firm shot past Innis from inside the box.

Goran Jozeljic  home from Melbourne and an interested spectator

GLENORCHY KNIGHTS		PROSPECT KNIGHTS
15	Goal Attempts	10
5	Shots on Target	6
6	Corners	2
11	Fouls Committed	7
1	Off-Sides	2
0	Yellow Cards	2 (Young 34, Claxton 84)
0	Red Cards	0

Glenorchy Knights:

PLAYER	GOAL ATTEMPTS	SHOTS ON TARGET
Huigsloot	5	4
Ladic	4	1
Clay	1	0
Smith	1	0
Fielding	2	0
Dzelalija	1	0
Begovic	1	0

 

Prospect Knights:

PLAYER	GOAL ATTEMPTS	SHOTS ON TARGET
Baker	1	0
Eadie	5	4
Balym	1	1
Pickering	1	1
Ashdown	2	0

By Walter Pless

Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy, KGV Park, Saturday, 26 May 2007

Tilford Zebras 3 (Lapolla 62, Falzon 94, Brazendale 118)

Tilford Zebras

Devonport City 1 (Simon Wilson 64)

Devonport City squad

HT: 0-0 FT: 1-1 Att: 120 Ref: I Colhoun

Tilford Zebras (4-4-2): F Mainella - E Nicholson, H Fagg, R Smith, D Cox - R Self, C Cox (T Howell 70), M Falzon, A Brazendale - R Frediani (J Thorpe 45), D Lapolla (D Fennell 86) [Coach: N Lapolla]

Zebras starting XI

Devonport City (4-4-2): A Howe - B Chilcott, Scott Wilson, N Grattan, G Ashdown - S Howe, K Douglas, Simon Wilson (K Howard 110), K Mulraney (C Douglas 77) - C McKenna, P Gilham [Substitute not used: J Gleeson] [Coach: T McGinn]

Devonport’s starting XI

Tilford Zebras were sluggish and looked anything but league-leaders in this Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy match. They will need to improve if they are to progress in this tournament.

They were without midfield playmaker Brett Pullen and defender Michael Connolly and therefore had some excuses.

In came David Cox and Eion Nicholson, while Tom Howell and Dylan Fennell were on the bench and eventually saw some action.

Brazendale (Zebras) get his pass away to a support player

Devonport City, top of the northern Premier League, were missing captain and key defender John ‘Snow’ Compagne, who could not get time off work for the journey south. “Snow’ is an institution in Tasmanian football and credit must go to Devonport for largely coping without him.

Outfield veteran Andrew Howe was in goal, and he made several fine saves which would have done a regular goalkeeper proud.

Devonport goalkeeper Andrew Howe

Devonport were unlucky to lose in extra-time as they dominated large parts of the game and struck the woodwork twice, through Chris McKenna and Peter Gilham.

Goalkeeper Frank Mainella kept Zebras in the hunt with three outstanding saves in one-on-one situations - against Gilham, twice, and McKenna.

McKenna might also have done better with a couple of headers that came his way.

Zebras were unlucky not to score when Henry Fagg’s close-range volley was blocked on the line by Sean Howe.

Devonport’s Kalim Douglas chases Daniel Lapolla

Andrew Howe also did well to deny substitute Dylan Fennell and Ricky Self during extra-time.

Lapolla put the Zebras in front against the run of play in the 62^nd minute following a pass by Chris Cox down the left. Devonport momentarily stopped, thinking the ball had gone out of play, but Lapolla continued on his run and cut inside before beating Andrew Howe.

Henry Fagg pursued by Chris McKenna

Devonport were level two minutes later when the Zebras defence failed to deal with a free-kick on the half-way line into the box and Simon Wilson headed home.

Four minutes into extra-time, Self put Mark Falzon through to make it 2-1 for the home side.

Devonport had run out of legs by the second period of extra-time, but despite intense pressure from the home team, only Brazendale was able to add to the score.

Scott Wilson (Devonport) and Daniel Lapolla (Zebras) take a tumble

TILFORD ZEBRAS		DEVONPORT CITY
18	Goal Attempts	13
7	Shots on Target	6
6	Corners	4
9	Fouls Committed	7
3	Off-Sides	0
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0

Zebras Chris Cox tangles with Devonport’s Kamil Douglas

Tilford Zebras:

PLAYER	GOAL ATTEMPTS	SHOTS ON TARGET
Lapolla	4	2
Frediani	1	0
Thorpe	5	2
Nicholson	1	0
Brazendale	2	1
Fennell	1	0
Self	2	1
Falzon	2	1

Devonport City:

PLAYER	GOAL ATTEMPTS	SHOTS ON TARGET
McKenna	6	2
Gilham	6	3
Simon Wilson	1	1

Nick Lapolla - Tolford Zebras coach