Walter Pless on Football

By Walter Pless

Premier League, Athletic Centre, Saturday, 30 June 2007

Hobart Olympic 2 (Grillas 49, Bulis 80)

Metro-Claremont 1 (S Kent 19)

HT: 0-1 Att: 100 Ref: C Phillips

Hobart Olympic (1-3-4-2): D Nester - C Tsakiris - N Vavoulas, R Lebski, H Nagarathnam - A Abdalla (D Djekanovic 46), L Mason, F Tracy, K Grillas - C Winter (A Pinkus 76), M Bulis [Substitutes not used: E Roussos, L Southam] [Coach: F Shaw]

Metro-Claremont (4-4-2): N Biggar - J Saunders, A Herring, D Chaffey, M Gasparin - A Lawler (A Marney 67), A McKeown, T Kent, P Curran - S Kent, R Dutton [Substitutes not used: S Land, J Dawes, S Hope] [Player-Coach: M Gasparin]

Hobart Olympic stayed third on the southern Premier League ladder as a result of this win and closed to within 5 points of leaders Tilford Zebras and a point behind second-placed South Hobart.

It was bad news for Metro-Claremont. They dropped to last place on goal-difference because New Town Eagles managed a 1-1 draw against University at Clare Street the same afternoon.

Lee Mason was excellent in midfield for Olympic. He won a lot of possession and generally used the ball wisely to put his side into attack.

Royston Dutton worked hard for the visitors. He played as a striker but was always ready to defend inside his own penalty area when Metro were under pressure. His height allowed him to head clear at corners and put his side back into attack.

Adam McKeown and Shane Kent were lively for Metro and were always in the thick of the action in attack.

Kosta Grillas started at left-midfield for Olympic. In the second half, he played a more orthodox striking role and it was no surprise when he grabbed the equaliser 5 minutes after the break.

Michael Bulis again showed why he is the league’s leading scorer, his winner in the 80^th minute being an excellent strike.

Metro looked dangerous in the opening 20 minutes and it came as no surprise when Shane Kent put them ahead with a superb strike in the 19^th minute.

Jarrod Saunders took a long throw-in from the right, which was nodded on by Dutton, and Shane Kent volleyed home in spectacular style.

Grillas headed Olympic level in the 49^th minute from Daniejel Djekanovic’s cross following a corner. The left-footer had replaced Aymen Abdalla at the interval.

Hermanathan Nagarathnam was somewhat unfortunate to collect a second yellow card in the 59^th minute, which meant a red from Mr Phillips.

Olympic maintained their composure, however, and Bulis scored a marvellous winner 10 minutes from the end after Djekanovic crossed from the left and Grillas chested the ball down.

“It was very disappointing,” said Metro’s player-coach, Matthew Gasparin. “We were 1-0 up at half-time and then, against the run of play, they scored.

“Our goal was a superb goal. Shane Kent is a class act. It was very well taken and I was very pleased with that.

“We’ll just keep battling. The hardest part is we’ve got to learn to win. I don’t know how you do that, but we’ll work on it in the weeks to come.

“Like always, we’ll never give up.”

Olympic coach, Farrell Shaw, was banned from the bench for this game and watched from the stands.

“It was a very important win to come from behind,” said Shaw. “We didn’t do it easily.

“The first half was very ordinary, I thought, and we just couldn’t put things together.

“In the second half, we made a change and the lads seemed to click just a little bit.

“Disappointed to lose a player being sent off in that sort of circumstances, but the lads fought it out for the three points.

“We’re still within striking distance of the leading pair and our next two games are very important for us, games against Zebras and South Hobart.

“That’ll make our season, virtually.”

HOBART OLYMPIC		METRO-CLAREMONT
9	Goal Attempts	10
6	Shots on Target	3
7	Corners	2
20	Fouls Committed	12
1	Off-Sides	0
2 (Nagarathnam 33, 59)	Yellow Cards	2 (S Kent 36, Herring 88)
1 (Nagarathnam 59)	Red Cards	0

Hobart Olympic:

PLAYER	GOAL ATTEMPTS	SHOTS ON TARGET
Vavoulas	1	1
Abdalla	2	2
Grillas	4	2
Djekanovic	1	0
Bulis	1	1

Metro-Claremont:

PLAYER	GOAL ATTEMPTS	SHOTS ON TARGET
McKeown	3	0
S Kent	2	1
T Kent	2	1
Dutton	1	1
Curran	2	0

By Walter Pless

Premier League, KGV Park, Friday, 29 June 2007

Tilford Zebras 2 (Thorpe 8, C Cox 74)

South Hobart 2 (Robinson 72, Beecroft 77 pen)

HT: 1-0 Att: 200 Ref: I Jozeljic

Tilford Zebras (3-5-2): F Mainella - H Fagg, R Smith, M Connolly - A Brazendale, C Cox (D Cox 75), B Pullen, M Falzon, R Self - D Lapolla, J Thorpe (D Fennell 72) [Substitute not used: J Smith] [Coach: N Lapolla]

South Hobart (1-3-4-2): M Moncur - N Robinson - H Ludford, J Foley-Donoghue, M Hill - C Wain, T Roach, B Beecroft, J Lo - A Gordon (D Cooper 62), D Brown [Substitutes not used: D Abbott, J Ross, S Kruijver] [Coach: S Adkins]

Tilford Zebras led South Hobart by four points at the start of this match and by four at the end after a controversial 2-2 draw that would have given the chasing pack some hope.

Zebras maintained their unbeaten record for the season, while for South Hobart, it was their eighth match without defeat in a row.

There were two important turning points in the match - the dismissal of South Hobart’s Hugh Ludford, and the penalty awarded to South Hobart.

Ludford was shown the red card in the 31^st minute when he brought down Aaron Brazendale in full flight, with the Zebras leading 1-0. It was a crude tackle, but Brazendale consoled his opponent as he began the long walk to the dressingrooms, so there were obviously no hard feelings on the victim’s part.

Some said it should have been a yellow card, but the tackle was late and it did stop a promising attacking move. It could also have caused injury. And, it certainly looked deliberate.

The penalty came in the 77^th minute, with South Hobart trailing 2-1. Ryan Smith was adjudged to have handled as he tried to prevent Daniel Brown from getting to a high ball into the box.

There is no doubt that Smith handled the ball. The questions were about whether it was deliberate and whether it was inside the box. Video replays suggested it was just outside, and I thought Smith slipped at the crucial moment and that the handball may not have been deliberate.

But, Mr Jozeljic awarded the penalty and Bart Beecroft despatched his spot-with ease to make it 2-2.

 

Neither side was particularly tactically astute.

Zebras, who were without the injured Romeo Frediani, persisted in playing with just the two strikers, even when South Hobart had been reduced to ten men and had changed from a sweeper and three markers to just three at the back.

Had they then pushed Mark Falzon up to join Daniel Lapolla and Josh Thorpe, they would have provided South with genuine problems.

At the back, Zebras’ back-three were often too square and South failed to exploit this, scoring both their goals through set pieces.

The inclusion of Brown was a surprise, especially with the speedy David Cooper on the bench. When he did come on, in place of the unfortunate Alexander Gordon, he caused problems immediately.

Gordon again showed some exquisite skills, but his finishing was not what it usually is. He squandered two good chances, after doing the lead-up work very well.

There was often a lack of width by both sides, with play cramped into almost a quarter of the pitch at times. Zebras should have exploited the extra man by having players wide and stretching South Hobart.

The replacement of Thorpe also caused raised eyebrows. He was always dangerous and his departure took some of the sting out of the home side’s attack.

Indeed, it was Thorpe who had the first chance of the match when, in the 4^th minute, he blazed just wide after a good run down the right by Brazendale.

Colin Wain provided South’s first chance when, in the 6^th minute, he was released with a quickly taken free-kick. Wain got inside the box on the right and flashed a dangerous low ball across the face of goal, but no-one was able to take advantage.

Two minutes later, Thorpe showed what a good goalscorer he is when he hit the target from long range on the right, the ball flashing into the far top corner of the net with Mark Moncur airborne but clutching thin air.

In the 12^th minute, Gordon produced one of his repertoire of tricks. He chested a remarkable pass back to a supporting player and turned beautifully before running on to the return ball and beating Smith to get inside the box. That’s where he let himself down. With the goal beckoning, he placed his shot wide.

Zebras demonstrated their outstanding counter-attacking ability three minutes later when Thorpe released Brazendale through the middle. He ran 50 metres past several opponents before being brought down just outside the box. Brazendale took the free-kick himself but shot high over the bar.

Zebras had the ball in the net in the 20^th minute, but the effort was disallowed because of off-side.

Midway through the half, only a fine save by Frank Mainella denied Jonathon Lo an equaliser after a quickly taken free-kick on the right saw the ball lofted towards the left post.

Thorpe’s goal-bound shot in the 25^th minute took a deflection for a corner as Zebras searched for a second goal.

Then came Ludford’s dismissal and South changed to a simple back-three of Nathan Robinson, Jon Foley-Donoghue and Matthew Hill, the latter switching from left-back to right-back.

Lapolla collected a needless yellow card minutes later for petulant behaviour.

In the 36^th minute, yet another free-kick to South Hobart almost paid dividends. Robinson took a shot, but the ball took a deflection and flew straight into Mainella’s arms.

 

With five minutes remaining, Bart Beecroft played Colin Wain through on the right, but the South Hobart midfielder shot wide.

A minute after the resumption, Brown made ground down the left, but his finish from a difficult angle was weak and Mainella fielded the ball easily.

South were rather dangerous in the second half, despite being a man down, and Tom Roach might have done better than head a free-kick towards the far post straight at Mainella in the 56^th minute.

On the hour, they had another glorious chance when Brown set up Gordon, but with only the goalkeeper to beat, the youngster shot straight at Mainella.

Cooper replaced Gordon three minutes later and immediately had an impact, winning the ball through sheer speed and setting up Brown, who fired into the side-netting.

South won their first and only corner of the game in the 72^nd minute and it was Robinson who volleyed home the equaliser from close range.

Zebras were ahead again within two minutes, however, as Brazendale forced a corner, which he took, and from which Chris Cox stabbed the ball home from close range past a static South defence.

The penalty came three minutes later and it was 2-2, providing for a tense finish in which neither side could break the deadlock, although Zebras came close when Falzon just failed to reach Brazendale’s cross at the far post.

“I was not very happy with the refereeing tonight,” said an angry Tilford Zebras coach, Nick Lapolla. “Absolutely not.

“I think if you have a look at the replays, that penalty was quite clearly out.

“And I mean, to give a penalty and then to go over to your linesman and ask, after the penalty has been taken, whether it was a penalty, that’s just atrocious.

“Absolutely atrocious.

“Yes, most definitely, we should have won it with a one-man advantage.

“I think we let them into the play more and we lost the middle of the park.

“A few little niggling injuries put us back a bit, but yes, we should have carried on with it.

“We’re comfortable with our four-point lead and the team is a confident team and they go out to win every game.

“Four points or one point, we’re right.”

South Hobart coach, Steve Adkins, was content with a point, given the circumstances.

“It was a bit of a shock for us having ten men for probably three-quarters of the game,” said Adkins.

“The boys knuckled down, especially against a team that hasn’t been beaten this year and it was a fantastic effort.

“I told them at half-time that our season was on the line.

“We had to shuffle our midfield across the park instead of playing a zonal game because we had to cover that extra player coming through all the time.

“It was about guts and determination and the will to win.

“I thought we could have snatched it at the end because I thought we looked more dangerous than them in the second half.

“The first half hour of the second half we probably had most of the play, and Zebras probably came back in the last 15 minutes, as they should with the extra player.

“I think we could have snatched it. When Cooper came on he gave us a little bit more bite as a fresh player and he created a couple of chances which, with a bit of luck, maybe, we could have converted.”

TILFORD ZEBRAS		SOUTH HOBART
11	Goal Attempts	10
2	Shots on Target	4
5	Corners	1
19	Fouls Committed	9
4	Off-Sides	3
2 (Lapolla 35, Fagg 79)	Yellow Cards	1 (Brown 22)
0	Red Cards	1 (Ludford 31)

Tilford Zebras:

PLAYER	GOAL ATTEMPTS	SHOTS ON TARGET
Thorpe	4	1
Brazendale	2	0
Falzon	3	0
Pullen	1	0
C Cox	1	1

South Hobart:

PLAYER	GOAL ATTEMPTS	SHOTS ON TARGET
Gordon	3	0
Lo	1	0
Robinson	2	2
Wain	1	0
Roach	1	1
Brown	1	0
Beecroft	1	1

South Hobart won the Reserve League curtain-raiser 5-4 after leading 4-3 at the break.

David Abbott netted twice and Julius Ross, Tom Gordon and Callan Paske once, while Dylan Fennell, with two goals, and Esteban Gonzalez and Luke Engels replied for Zebras.

South had Darcy McCallum sent off by referee Stephen Pitchford for an inappropriate gesture directed at either the referee or another player.

By Walter Pless

Beachside could well extend their 3-point lead at the top of the Division One ladder this weekend, but iy will depend on other results rather than their own.

Jacob Cavanagh - rising star for Beachside 

They must surely beat bottom-side Huon Valley away at Ranelagh on Saturday and collect three points.

Beachside beat Huon Valley 6-2 in the first round at home at Sandown Park and must be a strong favourite to do the double.

Ben Davis - starring in defence for Beachside

The goals are being shared throught the Beachside team and this highlights the all-round strength of Tony Kavanagh’s side.

Nick Gibson - star striker for Beachside

Second-placed South Hobart must also be the favourites against seventh-placed Nelson Eastern Suburbs at Wellesley Park on Sunday.

Owen Roberts - South Hobart stalwart

A South Hobart loss could see Beachside open up a lead of at least four points and possibly six, but this will depend on how third-placed Kingston Cannons go against sixth-ranked Northern Suburbs-DOSA at Sherburd on Saturday.

Andy Wilson - key player for South Hobart

The remaining match of the round is at Sherburd on Sunday when second-last Christian United host fourth-placed Kingborough Lions United.

Nelson will have John Wallace, Paul Gazzignato and Corey Upton back for the game against South Hobart.

They replace Bill Hanley, who is interstate, Troy Hoppitt, who has had his wisdom teeth extracted, and Aaron Wojcik, who is injured.

“We were not good enough last week against Beachside to get a result and have a number of changes this week due to player unavailability,” said Nelson coach, Michael Roach.

“The players coming in should give a good account of themselves, however.”

Nelson lost 2-0 to South Hobart in the first round and this will be even more difficult as it is away from home.

DOSA coach, Stephen Pitchford, has no illusions about the task facing his side against the Cannons.

“Having been stung by the 3-0 loss to Cannons in the first round, there will be no complacency when DOSA visits Sherburd Oval for the re-match,” said Pitchford.

“Having found some goal-scoring form in the second half last week against Huonville, we will be taking the same formation into the game in the hope that the 7 goals can be repeated this week.

“Attackers Derek Story, Mark Wakefield and Ryan Murphy will be supported by attacking midfielders Richard Korn and Rob Wilson.

“Calvin Frith will be on the bench, as will Derek Parry, despite him scoring a hat-trick in the reserves last week.”

Christian United will have Isaac Lucas back in the starting line-up after an injury concern confined him to the substitutes’ bench for the first half of last week’s 2-2 draw with Hobart United.

Scott Nicholson may also make a comeback to the senior side after recovering from a hamstring injury which kept him out for the past six weeks.

“It’s likely to be a scrappy match against Kingborough due to the quality of the pitch,” said Christian United spokesman, Jonathon Wierenga.

“The last time these two teams met, the score-line was a blow-out [7-0 for Kingborough], but this time it should be much closer.”

Fifth-placed Hobart United have the bye.

In the Reserve League, leaders South Hobart travel to KGV park on Friday evening to take on fifth-placed Tilford Zebras.

South Hobart won the first-round encounter 4-2 and should be untroubled in making it a double.

Second-placed Hobart Olympic are at home at the Athletic Centre on Saturday against second-last Metro-Claremont.

Olympic beat Metro 2-0 at North Chigwell earlier in the season and should gain another three points from this encounter, particularly with Hermanathan Nagarathnam regaining fitness in this side since returning from Malaysia.

Third-placed Kingborough Lions United trounced Glenorchy Knights 5-2 in their first meeting of the season at KGV park and may well repeat the dose at Lightwood Park on Sunday.

Lions will be without the suspended Chase McConnon.

Fourth-placed University will be weakened by the enforced promotion of several players to the senior side and this may give an advantage to bottom-side New Town Eagles.

Mark Broadbent’s Eagles outfit may just earn the three points that would move them off the foot of the ladder.

Sixth-ranked Clarence United travel to Kelvedon Park to tackle eighth-placed Taroona.

Taroona won the first-round encounter 2-1 away at Wentworth Park and will be confident on their own turf.

By Walter Pless

Second-placed South Hobart have the chance to prove whether they are championship material when they take on Premier League leaders Tilford Zebras at KGV Park on Friday night.

With four points separating the sides, a win for South Hobart will put them in the box seat for the title.

A defeat for South will mean a giant step towards the championship for the Zebras because their lead will be extended to 7 points.

All the signs point to a Zebras victory.

Zebras are the only unbeaten team in the competition and, although South have won their past four games, they remain unconvincing because of the manner of those victories.

On paper, South appear genuine title challengers, having collected 19 points from a possible 21 from their past seven games, but their performances leave a lot to be desired.

South Hobart coach, Steve Adkins, has experimented with a number of strikers, including Alex Gordon, David Cooper and Daniel Brown, but the side has never managed to win by more than two goals.

Against the fast and physical defence of Zebras, South will be hard-pressed to score, while at the other end, the quick, versatile and hard-shooting Zebras attack should find a way past South’s defenders.

Zebras will be strengthened by the return of striker Romeo Frediani, who was rested last weekend against Metro-Claremont because of a few twinges in the groin and hamstrings.

Frediani is looking leaner and fitter than he has for many a moon and his inclusion spells danger to South.

Hobart Olympic, in third place, will be without suspended defender Paul Kaproulias when they entertain second-last Metro-Claremont at the Athletic Centre on Saturday.

Paul Kaproulias - suspended for Olympic

Kaproulias incurred a three-week suspension after being sent off in the first half of Olympic’s 3-0 win over Taroona last Sunday.

Defenders Peter Tsakiris, Chris Tsimiklis and Youssef Mohamad, as well as striker-cum-midfielder Ben Backhaus, will again be missing for Olympic, but Michael Bulis, the league’s leading scorer, and left-footed speedster Danijel Djekanovic are likely to return after injury.

The exciting Kosta Grillas is Olympic’s trump card and he is capable of winning this game single-handedly.

Kosta Grillas - ace goalscorer for Olympic

Metro coach Matthew Gasparin will make positional changes, with youngster Adam McKeown likely to be in the attack and tall striker Royston Dutton reverting to his more customary role as a centre-back.

Young defender Adrian Lawler may also be used in an attacking role, while the robust pair of Jarrod Saunders or Darrin Chaffey could slot in at right-back.

Phil Curran, who has an ankle injury, and Shane Kent, who has a troublesome hamstring, must undergo fitness tests before being considered for selection, while Aaron Marney may get a start after scoring against Zebras last Sunday.

“After the disappointment of losing to Zebras last weekend, the focus for the game against Olympic is concentrating for a full 90-minute period,” said Metro-Claremont coach, Matthew Gasparin.

“Training on Thursday night focused on ball movement and the ability to create a contest for a full 90 minutes.

“Discussion this week revolved around commitment, with selection being primarily based around attendance and efforts at training versus reputation.

“As a club, we have decided that the second half of the year revolves around improving on the efforts of the first round of games with the focus being on developing the young players within the club for season 2008.”

Sixth-placed University will field virtually a reserve side against bottom-side New Town Eagles at Clare Street on Sunday as the academic holidays, injuries and suspensions take their toll.

Goalkeeper Ashley Winter, player-coach Matthew Shaw, defender Thomas Andersen, striker Aaron Hindmarsh and midfielders Tyler Duniam and Gerard O’Brien are all away, while goalkeeper Ryo Matsuo is injured.

Andersen, an exchange student, has returned to Denmark.

Mark Rapley has work commitments, Alexis Bull, Luke Temby and Hugh Richardson are carrying injuries, while Brook Teale is suspended.

Coming back are Colin Shepherd, Taka Manaka, Rod Gretton, Michael Andrews, John Wilson and Chris Quinn, who will join the survivors of last week’s game, Craig Stockdale, Julian Proud, John Andrews and John Merry.

Stockdale will only play the first half, however, as he starts his work shift at about 4pm.

“This weekend represents an opportunity for those who have been out of the side to show that they should be in it,” said University coach. Matthew Shaw.

“They have all played in the first team and all are capable players.

“As a team, we have been putting a lot of energy and effort into each game, but we need to put 90 minutes in where we show our quality on the ball.

“Too often our passing gets ragged and we make life hard for ourselves because every misplaced pass requires the effort of getting the ball back again.”

If Eagles are ever going to turn the corner and win a game this season, this has to be the one.

Nathan Pitchford - potential match winner for New Town Eagles against University

They face a depleted University outfit and must surely be able to take advantage.

Fourth-placed Clarence United travel to Kelvedon Park on Sunday to take on eighth-ranked Taroona without Luke Cripps, who has moved to France to work, but Adam Mahoney and Julian McMahon may return from injury and Ben Parker is back after suspension.

Taroona will miss star goalkeeper Michael McKenna, who is out for the rest of the season with a back injury. His replacement is Rob Hortle, while Jack Elliot returns from injury.

Michael McKenna - back injury has ended his season

“I am looking forward to my first trip down to John Ross’s hallowed turf for many years,” said Clarence coach, Andrew Brown.

“I have very distinct memories of not being allowed to warm up in the goal area for fear of the backlash from the diminutive Mr Ross, and I am a little sad that he is no longer with us as he was such a character.

“Taroona have adjusted far better to life in the Premier League than their predecessors, Hobart United, and were desperately unlucky not to take points from their visit to Wentworth Park in round one.

“We hope to have learnt from that experience and shall not be underestimating our visit to Kelvedon Park.

“Sadly, we have lost Luke Cripps as he has taken a position in France and left on Monday.

Luke Cripps - moved to France

“Luke was a great servant to the club and shall leave a big hole, both on and off the field.

“With the impending retirement of Scott Hadley at season’s end, it means that although the club is blessed with an abundance of talented youth, we have very few mature players able to guide these young players.

Clarence veteran Scott Hadley  - final season

“The club will seriously look at recruiting several mature and seasoned Premier League players in 2008 in a hope to complement the youngsters currently at the club.”

Kingborough Lions United will be without striker Chris Sanita, who has signed for Brunswick in Melbourne, for Sunday’s home game against Glenorchy Knights, while midfielder Gordon Kerr is doubtful because of an ankle injury suffered at training.

Warren Iles - possible recall in the absence of Chris Sanita 

Mercury Article

By Walter Pless

Northern Suburbs-DOSA moved up a place to fifth on the Division One ladder after thrashing bottom-side Huon Valley 7-0 away at Ranelagh on Saturday.

DOSA led 2-0 at the interval and were never in trouble against the Valley, who have yet to win or even draw in the league this season.

This is a pity as Huon Valley represent an important provincial outpost of the game and they did remarkably well last season to promote the sport in their region.

The health of clubs such as Huon Valley and New Norfolk are important in the development of the game in Tasmania.

For the record, Derek Story and Ryan Murphy both scored a brace for DOSA, while Daniel Skinner, Rob Wilson and Richard Korn scored a goal apiece.

Fourth-placed Hobart United were held to a 2-2 draw away by second-last Christian United at Sherburd on Saturday.

Christian took the lead through John Manasseh, but Hobart United’s David Nead struck twice before the interval to give the visitors a 2-1 advantage at the break.

Peter Rae hit the equaliser for the home side with a quarter of an hour remaining.

On Sunday, Beachside opened up a 3-point lead at the top of the Division One ladder after they beat seventh-placed Nelson Eastern Suburbs 5-0 and equal leaders South Hobart went down 3-1 away to sixth-ranked Kingborough Lions United.

Nick Gibson, Ben Davis, Jacob Kavanagh, Alex Holmes and Sam Howarth were on target for Beachside.

Tom McDonald, Hamish Cunningham and an own-goal did the damage for the Lions against South Hobart, who replied through a Travers Wailes penalty.

DIVISION ONE (As at 24 June 2007))

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Beachside	9	7	1	1	40	13	22 : 5
South Hobart	9	6	1	2	33	13	19 : 8
Kingston Cannons	8	6	0	2	26	22	18 : 6
Kingborough Lions United	9	5	0	4	28	20