Walter Pless on Football

By Walter Pless

Premier League, North Chigwell, Sunday, 29 July 2007

Metro-Claremont 3 (S Kent 38, 53 pen, Dawes 80)

Kingborough Lions United 1 (Hinkley 14)

HT: 1-1 Att: 100 Ref: M Sprod

Metro-Claremont (1-3-4-2): N Biggar - T Kent - A Lawler, J Saunders, P Curran - J Dawes, R Dutton, A McKeown, S Hope - A Marney, S Kent [Substitutes not used: S Land, E Guma, R Murtagh, M Gasparin] [Coach: M Gasparin]

Kingborough Lions United (4-4-2): A Coleman - M Marchioli, M Iseli, I Cannon, C McConnon (G Upton 74) - G Kerr, B Andrews, C White, R Hinkley - M Palmer, W Iles [Substitutes not used: J Brown, G While, J Voss] [Coach: G Freeman]

Warren Iles flattened by Jarrod Saunders

Metro-Claremont obtained their first win of the league season with this 3-1 win over fifth-placed Kingborough Lions United and they are now just a point adrift of second-last New Town Eagles and two points behind eighth-placed Taroona.

Eagles and Taroona have three games remaining, but Metro have four after Football Federation Tasmania ordered a replay of their game against University.

University had won that game 5-1, but a timing error by the referee - he played two vastly different length halves - may be a Godsend for Metro.

Charlie White just fails to get in a header

Kingborough had the better of the opening half but had only one goal to show for it, a 14^th-minute striker by Ross Hinkley.

Shane Kent, the Metro captain, volleyed a spectacular equaliser in the 38^th minute.

Warren Iles was fortunate to be able to continue after Jarrod Saunders clattered into his back. Iles went off for treatment, but he did last out the game.

Neil Biggar saved well from Hinkley early in the second half, while Hinkley also failed to get a shot in when presented with a fine cross from the right.

Adam Coleman produced a great save from Shane Kent, only to concede a penalty a few minutes later when he fouled Aaron Marney.

Adam Coleman - conceded penalty 

Shane Kent confidently struck home the spot-kick to give the home side a 2-1 lead.

Iles then prodded a chance wide and Charles White just cleared the crossbar with a powerful header as Kingborough searched for an equaliser.

Gordon Kerr fired narrowly wide of the far left-hand post midway through the half as Metro defended desperately under the guidance of the experienced Terry Kent.

Garry Upton came on for Kingborough with 16 minutes remaining and immediately had an impact with his physical presence and ball skills.

But, it was Metro that added to their lead in the 80^th minute following a counter-attack. Adam McKeown and Shane Kent held up the ball nicely and it was Jason Dawes who rifled it home inside the far post to make it 3-1.

Gordon Kerr tries to head at goal 

“I think in the first half we played really well to be one nil up,” said Kingborough Lions United captain, Charles White.

“It probably should have been more as we were getting wide really well.

“And then we conceded a really well-taken goal by Shane Kent from a free-kick about half-way and that set the tone of the second half.

“They then played long balls from inside their own half and we didn’t deal with it very well.”

Metro-Claremont coach, Matthew Gasparin, who has announced his retirement as a player, was thrilled with Metro’s first win of the season.

 
Ross Hinkley scores for Kingborough

“I’m absolutely stoked,” Gasparin said.

“To get our first win under these circumstances in playing a lot of young kids was pretty fantastic.

“We really stood up, guys like Dawes, Adam McKeown and James Hope, have just continually stepped up over the past couple of weeks and it was a well-deserved win.

“It was great.

“It certainly helped our survival chances.

“After the first half, when we made it to one all, it gives you a lot of confidence to win 3-1 through the determination and the on-going maturity that we’re showing from week to week, it can only help us.

Terry Kent tries to clear from Warren Iles

“I think we can survive. Out of the next four games, we’ve got two games which are more than winnable.

“The other ones we’ll have to work hard for, but we’ll take it a week at a time and we’ve got the Knights next Friday night and we’ll see how we go there.

“The replay against University is a bonus for us because, if it comes down at the end and there’s only a point in it, it’ll be nice to replay that game and hopefully pinch a point that we may need, so it could be invaluable.”

Ross Hinkley lunges at Metro’s Stuart Hope

METRO-CLAREMONT		KINGBOROUGH
9	Goal Attempts	16
5	Shots on Target	7
1	Corners	6
10	Fouls Committed	15
2	Off-Sides	1
1 (Saunders 57)	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0

Metro-Claremont:

PLAYER	GOAL ATTEMPTS	SHOTS ON TARGET
McKeown	2	0
Marney	1	0
S Kent	4	4
Hope	1	0
Dawes	1	1

 

Kingborough captain Charles White launches an attack

 

Kingborough Lions United:

PLAYER	GOAL ATTEMPTS	SHOTS ON TARGET
Hinkley	3	3
Palmer	3	1
White	3	0
Kerr	3	1
Iles	1	0
Upton	2	1
Cannon	1	1

By Walter Pless

Hobart Zebras took a 3-point lead at the top of the Premier League ladder with three rounds remaining when they beat seventh-placed University 3-0 at KGV Park on Friday night and second-placed South Hobart was held to a 2-2 draw at home by second-last New Town Eagles on Saturday.

Metro goalkeeper Neil Biggar 

Third-placed Hobart Olympic and fourth-ranked Clarence United virtually destroyed their title hopes when they fought out a 2-2 draw at the Athletic Centre on Saturday in a game that saw three players sent off.

Zebras, without injured midfielder Mark Falzon, adopted a 4-4-2 formation, with Brett Pullen at the back, Romeo Frediani in midfield, Josh Thorpe wide on the left flank and Aaron Brazendale partnering Daniel Lapolla in attack.

University were missing three key players and lost striker Julian Proud for the second half through injury, but they still created enough chances to worry the home side.

Proud, Aaron Hindmarsh and Craig Stockdale all had chances that they should have converted into goals, but they were either off target or allowed Frank Mainella to make comfortable saves.

Ricky Self put Zebras ahead in the 7^th minute from close range when he was left unmarked dead in front and Chris Cox nodded Thorpe’s cross to the far post down to his feet.

Cox missed a sitter in the 21^st minute, but a minute later, Brazendale demonstrated courage and speed to race on to a long ball out of defence by Henry Fagg and beat the advancing goalkeeper, Ashley Winter, to stroke home goal number two from just outside the box.

Charles White shields the ball from Adrian Lawler

Lapolla hit the crossbar just before the end of the first half, but five minutes into the second, Thorpe made it 3-0 with a delightful chip from wide on the left, the ball sailing over Winter and lodging just inside the far post.

Thorpe should have had another three minutes later, but he somehow mis-kicked from close range at the far post, while in the final minute, Brazendale attacked down the right and his shot skimmed the top of the crossbar.

Clarence led Olympic 1-0 at the break through a Paul Bremner goal from close range in the 40^th minute after Chris Hunt’s corner hit the far post and ricocheted off a couple of Olympic defenders.

Olympic striker Ben Backhause was sent off on the stroke of half-time after collecting two yellow cards within seconds of each other for dissent.

Matthew Hedge, who had come on at half-time as a replacement for the injured Lee Mason, equalised four minutes after the resumption from a penalty, awarded after Toby Ling and Ben Parker had sandwiched Michael Bulis.

Olympic’s Youssef Mohamad and Clarence’s Paul Bremner were sent off two minutes later by referee Jessica Manuela for violent conduct.

Hedge put Olympic in front in the 55^th minute, knocking home the rebound after Clarence goalkeeper Michael Moschogianis back-pedalled desperately and turned Peter Tsakiris’s free-kick against the bar.

Chris Hunt levelled for Clarence on the hour, volleying home Dwayne Walsh’s cross after he had been put away down the right by Kenyi Emmanueli.

Jarrod Saunders clears from Warren Iles

South Hobart had most of the chances against Eagles but only managed to score through Bart Beecroft, with a penalty, and Daniel Brown, while Matthew Rybak and Adam Shackcloth replied for Eagles.

On Sunday, bottom-side Metro-Claremont inched closer to safety from relegation in the Premier League with a 3-1 home win over fifth-placed Kingborough Lions United at North Chigwell.

Third-last Taroona lost 4-1 at home to Glenorchy Knights at Kelvedon Park on Sunday and two points now separate the bottom three sides.

Metro have 6 points, New Town Eagles 7 and Taroona 8 with three rounds remaining, but Metro have four games to play after Football Federation Tasmania ordered a replay of their game against University because of a timing error by the referee.

Brad Hughes (Lions trainer) tends to Warren Iles after a clash of heads

Ross Hinkley gave Kingborough the lead against Metro in the 14^th minute, but a marvellous volley by Metro captain Shane Kent in the 38^th minute made it 1-1 at the interval.

Kent put Metro ahead with a 53^rd-minute penalty, awarded for goalkeeper Adam Coleman’s foul on Aaron Marney.

Jason Dawes made it 3-1 ten minutes from the end with a powerful low drive after a Metro counter-attack involving Kent and Adam McKeown.

Two goals by Tom Huigsloot and one apiece by Jonathon Ladic and Josh Fielding gave Knights the three points against Taroona, who replied through Martyn Wells.

Neil Biggar thwarts Warren Iles

Beachside opened up a 12-point lead at the top of the Division One ladder by beating fourth-placed Kingborough Lions United 3-0 away at Lightwood Park on Saturday.

Ben Davis fired Beachside into a 13^th-minute lead, while Alex Holmes made it 2-0 in the 37^th minute.

Jacob Kavanagh sealed the match with Beachside’s third two minutes later.

Sixth-placed Hobart United, inspired by midfielder Mohand Rahni, downed bottom-side Huon Valley 3-0 at home at Pontville on Saturday, all the goals coming in the second half, with Benjamin Wolyan netting twice and Robert van der Wielen once.

Second-placed South Hobart continued their chase of leaders Beachside with a 2-1 win over Northern Suburbs-DOSA at Wellesley Park on Sunday, Hew Jarvis and Rowen Franklin grabbing the goals. Derek Story scored a penalty for DOSA.

Nelson Eastern Suburbs beat Kingston Cannons 4-3 at North Warrane on Sunday with Bill Hanley and Paul Gazzignato both scoring twice. Tuach Huseyin netted once and Nazih Abbas twice for Cannons.

Abbas was later sent off for dissent, while Steve Giudici had a penalty saved by Nelson goalkeeper Joe Martinez.

In the Reserve League, South Hobart won the championship with three rounds remaining after downing second-last New Town Eagles 4-0 at South Hobart on Saturday.

Ian Haertel hit a hat-trick and Julius Ross grabbed the remaining goal to bring out the champagne.

Second-placed Olympic cannot overhaul South after they lost 2-0 at home at the Athletic Centre to fourth-placed Clarence United on Saturday.

Stefan Hamilton and Nick Mayne were Clarence’s marksmen.

Fifth-placed University stayed a point ahead of sixth-ranked Hobart Zebras when they drew 2-2 at KGV Park on Friday night.

A goal by Dylan Fennell gave Zebras a 1-0 lead at the break, but the match ended all-square with a further goal by Fennell and two strikes by University’s Michael Driessen.

Warren Iles takes on Jarrod Saunders

On Sunday, Kingborough downed Metro 4-2 despite having Stewart Sharples sent off.

David Rietveldt hit a hat-trick and Alexander Beaumont scored once for Kingborough, while Edward Guma and Nicholas Butterworth netted for Metro.

A late goal by Alex Edwards gave Taroona a 1-0 win over Knights.

 

By Walter Pless

Premier League, Athletic Centre, Saturday, 28 July 2007

Hobart Olympic 2 (Hedge 49 pen, 55)

Clarence United 2 (Bremner 40, Hunt 60)

HT: 0-1 Att: 100 Ref: J Manuela

Hobart Olympic (1-3-4-2): D Nester - P Tsakiris - Y Mohamad, N Vavoulas, R Lebski - C Tsakiris, L Mason (M Hedge 46), F Tracy, D Djekanovic - M Bulis, B Backhaus [Substitutes not used: C Winter, P Kaproulias, L Southam] [Coach: F Shaw]

Clarence United (4-4-2): M Moschogianis - B Parker, S Cannamela, T Ling (A Wraight 73), J Huigsloot - C Hunt, J Stevens, K Emmanueli, C Nicholson - P Bremner, D Walsh [Substitutes not used: J Wise, J McMahon, S Sweetten] [Coach: A Brown]

Hobart Olympic and Clarence United almost certainly blew their chances of the title with this 2-2 draw that saw three players sent off - Ben Backhaus and Youssef Mohamad of Olympic and Paul Bremner of Clarence.

Backhaus was sent off on the stroke of half-time when he received two yellow cards in quick succession for dissent.

Mohamad and Bremner went six minutes after the resumption. Mohamad landed on top of Clarence’s Dwayne Walsh after a tackle and, as the pair wrestled and pushed each other on the ground, Bremner ran over and pushed Mohamad just as he got off Walsh and stood up.

Miss Manuela immediately brandished the red card at Mohamad and Bremner.

It was not a violent game and it was disappointing to see such young players losing self control, as did an Olympic supporter who tried to confront the officials as they walked to their dressing room at half-time. Another off-duty referee intervened, as did Olympic officials in the end.

The three match officials were all teenagers and they must have felt quite intimidated. If such behaviour is tolerated, it will drive people, including referees, away from the game. One prominent coach who was watching the game left at half-time and said he could not stand to see such unruly behaviour.

The game was not a great one, and both sides could have won, given their chances.

The shooting was quite poor and Clarence’s Walsh and Olympic’s Fletcher Tracy should have done better from free-kicks in the opening quarter of an hour.

Nektar Vavoulas, who can be lethal at corners and set pieces given his height had a good chance from a corner in the 25^th minute, but he directed his header straight at Clarence keeper Michael Moschogianis.

Olympic’s goalkeeper, Dmitri Nester, did well in the 26^th minute to block Chris Nicholson’s dangerous corner.

A minute later, Walsh again went very close with a free-kick that flew just wide of the right-hand post.

Olympic squandered a fine chance in the 38^th minute following Chris Tsakiris’s corner from the left. Tracy headed the ball back into the goalmouth, but Backhaus headed over the crossbar.

Clarence took the lead from a corner in the 40^th minute. Chris Hunt drove the corner firmly towards the far post and the ball came back off the inside of the post and ricocheted off two Olympic players before Bremner got a touch and forced it over the line.

Miss Manuela signalled a goal, despite the protests by the Olympic defenders, who said the ball had not crossed the line.

Olympic were level four minutes after the interval through a penalty conceded by Ben Parker and Toby Ling, who sandwiched Michael Bulis as he raced into the box on the right.

Matthew Hedge, who had replaced the injured Lee Mason (toe injury) at the break, despatched the spot-kick with ease to make it 1-1.

Olympic hit the front in the 55^th minute when a Peter Tsakiris free-kick from near the half-way line found Moschogianis too far off his line.

The keeper back-pedalled desperately, but succeeded only in pushing the ball onto the crossbar. Hedge was lurking and smashed the rebound into the roof of the net from close range to make it 2-1 for the home side.

Clarence were back on level terms on the hour when a free-kick from the right eluded Walsh, but Hunt volleyed home a superb shot from the left side of the box to make it 2-2.

Three minutes later, Moschogianis did well to get down to a Chris Tsakiris shot at the right-hand post.

In the 77^th minute, a poor pass in midfield by Vavoulas gave possession to Kenyi Emmanueli, who released Walsh down the right. His cross into the six-yard box caused chaos, but it was Vavoulas who miraculously appeared amid the confusion to clear off the goal-line and atone for his earlier error.

With 9 minutes remaining, Olympic had a wonderful opportunity to score, but Hedge and Bulis got in each other’s way and the chance went begging.

In the closing minutes, Clarence went on the attack while Olympic defended resolutely.

Walsh fired straight at a relieved Nester and Moschogianis managed to hold a shot from Bulis, while the excellent Emmanueli had a shot blocked and deflected for a fruitless corner.

“I’m not really disappointed with the draw,” said Hobart Olympic coach, Farrell Shaw.

“I am disappointed with having two players sent off and Lee Mason injured.

“We battled hard and I’m happy with the draw.

“I was disappointed in that we actually got in front and then let the lead slip. That is disappointing.”

Shaw was happy with the performance of substitute Matthew Hedge, who scored both goals.

“I was happy with that, especially considering that his last appearance lasted for about 30 seconds,” Shaw said. “So, I was happy he actually lasted as long as he did.

“It was a bit hard for him as we played only one up front having lost two players to red cards.

“I thought the red cards were a little bit rough, some of them. Maybe they could have been yellows, but they were there and the referee gave them.

“At the end, I think we should have won it. There was a little mix up between Hedge and Michael Bulis, but we should have pinched it.

“Nektar Vavoulas also did clear off the line from an earlier mistake he’d committed.”

Clarence United coach, Andrew Brown, said: “It was a chance missed. We always knew it would be a dour affair.

“Olympic are very physical and a very competitive football team.

“I played two more young children today. Two 16-year-olds made their debut and I thought they handled themselves very well, considering, and they didn’t let the seniors down at all.

“I thought the send-offs were both justified and I’m very disappointed in my player for running in there and making himself a target.

“The referee had the game well in control and she was going to do the right thing I’m assured.

“As she brandished the red to the Olympic player, unnecessarily my player was sent off and that, in my opinion, cost us three points.

“There’s absolutely no doubt we could have won it, based on chances only, and with the two extra players, game over.”

HOBART OLYMPIC		CLARENCE UNITED
11	Goal Attempts	10
7	Shots on Target	4
7	Corners	5
15	Fouls Committed	19
4	Off-Sides	6
2 (Backhaus 45, 45)	Yellow Cards	0
2 (Backhaus 45, Mohamad 51)	Red Cards	1 (Bremner 51)

Hobart Olympic:

PLAYER	GOAL ATTEMPTS	SHOTS ON TARGET
Tracy	2	1
P Tsakiris	1	0
Vavoulas	2	2
Backhaus	1	0
Hedge	2	2
C Tsakiris	1	1
Bulis	2	1

Clarence United:

PLAYER	GOAL ATTEMPTS	SHOTS ON TARGET
Walsh	4	1
Bremner	1	1
Huigsloot	1	0
Hunt	1	1
Wraight	1	0
Emmanueli	2	1

By Walter Pless

Premier League, KGV Park, Friday, 27 July 2007

Tilford Zebras 3 (Self 7, Brazendale 22, Thorpe 50)

University 0

HT: 2-0 Att: 100 Ref: P Angel

Tilford Zebras (4-4-2): F Mainella - H Fagg, B Pullen (D Cox 65), R Smith, M Connolly - R Self, C Cox (D Fennell 75), R Frediani, J Thorpe - A Brazendale, D Lapolla [Substitute not used: J Smith] [Coach: N Lapolla]

University (1-2-5-2): A Winter - M Andrews - J Andrews, J Merry - M Shaw, H Richardson, C Stockdale, M Rapley, T Manaka - J Proud (A Mills 46), A Hindmarsh [Substitutes not used: R Bladel, C Shepherd, C Thomas] [Player-Coach: M Shaw]

Mark Falzon missing through injury

This was an important three points for Premier League leaders, Tilford Zebras. It put them four points clear of second-placed South Hobart, who were due to play the next day against second-last New Town Eagles.

Zebras were never in trouble, although it might have been a lot closer if University had converted four excellent chances that came their way.

Julian Proud should have scored in the 9^th minute when put clear on the right by Aaron Hindmarsh. With only the goalkeeper to beat, Proud shot tamely and Frank Mainella was able to turn the ball out for a corner.

On the half-hour, a ball into the box by Takayuki Manaka was misjudged by both Proud and Mainella and the chance went begging.

A minute before the break, a throw-in on the right by Mark Rapley put Hindmarsh through on goal, but Mainella produced a good save.

Frank Mainella - had little to do

Two minutes after the resumption, Craig Stockdale, who had moved into the attack following the departure of the injured Proud at half-time, headed the ball straight at Mainella from close range while unmarked.

Zebras, without injured midfielder Mark Falzon, opted for a 4-4-2 formation, with Brett Pullen at the heart of defence and Aaron Brazendale partnering Daniel Lapolla in attack.

 
Craig Stockdale had a good chance for University

Joshua Thorpe came into the starting line-up and assumed Brazendale’s usual position wide on the left flank.

Zebras took the lead in the 7^th minute when Thorpe crossed from the left and Chris Cox, stationed at the far post, knocked the ball down to the unmarked Ricky Self to score from 6 metres from dead in front.

Romeo Frediani, who was playing in midfield, took advantage of a defensive error in the 12^th minute to have a shot, but the ball flew just wide of the left-hand post.

Lapolla forced a corner on the quarter-hour and Ryan Smith went just wide with a diving header.

In the 18^th minute, Lapolla shot wide, while seconds later, Thorpe’s chip was caught easily by Ashley Winter.

 
Ashley Winter - University goalkeeper

Zebras missed a glorious chance in the 21^st minute. Brazendale’s corner from the right was blocked and, when the ball came straight back to him, he hammered it low and hard across the face of goal. Chris Cox, stationed at the far post, only had to tap it in, but he side-footed wide.

A minute later it was 2-0 as Henry Fagg’s marvellous through-ball out of defence put Brazendale away. He bravely beat the advancing Winter to the ball through sheer speed and stroked it home from just outside the box.

 
Aaron Brazendale - scored for Zebras and also hit the crossbar 

Brazendale almost netted a third for the Zebras in the 27^th minute direct from a corner, but the ball just went wide of the far post as everyone looked on.

Four minutes before the interval, Self’s deep cross from the right was met by Lapolla, whose volley hit the crossbar.

Thorpe made it 3-0 five minutes into the second half with an exquisite chip from wide on the left, the ball sailing over Winter and lodging inside the far post.

Thorpe should have had another three minutes later, but he somehow mis-kicked from close range at the far post.

In the final minute, Brazendale attacked down the right and his shot skimmed off the top of the crossbar.

Mark Rapley  - University captain

“It was a good win for us tonight,” said Tilford Zebras goalkeeper, Frank Mainella.

“It puts the pressure on South Hobart tomorrow to get a result because we’re four points clear now.

“They had a few chances in the first half and a chance in the second half, but other than that I had a pretty easy night, which was good.

 “I think we can definitely go on and win the title. At least we’ll give it a go. Let’s see how we go.”

University midfielder and captain, Mark Rapley, said: “We did have some good chances. It was a good game against some good opposition.

“We were under-strength and it’s been that way for a lot of the time this season for us.

“But, I think the boys who played tried their hardest and put in a good performance against really good opposition.

Brett Pullen played in defence 

“We would have liked to have Jules [Julian Proud] for the whole game, but that didn’t happen.

“I think the people that were out there tried as hard as they could.”

TILFORD ZEBRAS		UNIVERSITY
23	Goal Attempts	8
11	Shots on Target	4
7	Corners	7
12	Fouls Committed	13
0	Off-Sides	2
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0

Tilford Zebras:

PLAYER	GOAL ATTEMPTS	SHOTS ON TARGET
Brazendale	5	4
Self	2	1
Frediani	2	1
Lapolla	4	1
Thorpe	5	3
C Cox	1	0
Pullen	1	0
R Smith	1	0
Fagg