Walter Pless on Football

By Walter Pless

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The Southern men’s Premier League representative squad will be unchanged for Saturday’s return leg against the North at Launceston’s Mitsubishi Park at 2.30pm.

South coach Eamonn Kelly said there were no injury problems and that the players were eager to continue where they left off last weekend.

South beat North 2-0 at KGV Park last Saturday in the first leg of the revived intrastate series.

“We’re two nil up, but we’ll go into this game as if we are at nil all and it’s the first game,” said Kelly, who has also been named as the State coach for next month’s two games against a South Australian amateur selection.

“We’ve trained three nights this week and the boys are raring to go at them again.”

Kelly also expressed dissatisfaction with the venue, saying that the surface at Prospect was poor.

In contrast, North coach, Tom McGinn, who will be Kelly’s assistant in the games against South Australia, has injury problems concerning striker Chris McKenna and John Compagne, while midfielder Toby Skene is unavailable because of work commitments.

McGinn said he would have to try and find at least two replacements to include in the squad that played last weekend.

South squad: Frank Mainella, Henry Fagg, Ryan Smith, Aaron Brazendale, Daniel Lapolla (Hobart Zebras), Janko Begovic, Jonathon Ladic, Josh Fielding (Glenorchy Knights), Michael Bulis (Hobart Olympic), Andrew Telega, Nathan Pitchford (New Town Eagles), Bart Beecroft, Tom Roach, Daniel Brown, Jonathon Lo (South Hobart), Billy Gasparinatos (Taroona).

In the women’s intrastate match on Saturday at 12.30pm at the same venue, South will seek to improve on their 3-2 win last weekend at KGV but may be without two key players.

Defender Karen Clark has work commitments and is unavailable, while striker Nicole Hale may also be missing because of junior coaching commitments.

Dannielle Raymond will be included in the squad as a replacement, but the 16-player squad will be reduced to 15 if Hale is unavailable.

“We will again give all of the players a fair amount of game time,” said South coach, Matthew Shaw.

“The goalkeepers will again keep for a half each, with Isoline Ottavi starting this time and Chelsea Thomas keeping for the second half.

“We will be looking to build on last week’s performance.

“Everyone made a positive contribution during the game, but all know that there were things we could have done better.

“It was a good, competitive game and we know that we will need to be sharp to contain what was a very good opponent.”

North coach, Jason Jones, will include defenders Krystine Jeffery and Sally Lewis, who missed last week’s match.

“The game last week was the first game together for the girls and they’ll be keen for this return meeting,” Jones said.

“We only had one sub last week and the girls ran out of legs near the end and we conceded the winning goal.

“We’ll be fully fit for this return and have a full squad.”

By Walter Pless

Futsal Tasmania’s summer season has commenced at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre and grading matches have already been played.

More than one thousand junior players participated on the first evening, Wednesday, 5 September.

Grading for senior men’s and women’s teams will follow and the season will actually kick-off on Wednesday, 26 September.

“There were over 40 junior teams competing on the first night and this is growing, with entries flowing in for the start of the roster,” said Corey Smith, one of the organisers.

“There looks, at this stage, that seniors will be approaching anything up to 100 teams come the start of the roster.

“With numbers soaring and the possibility of having almost 150 teams in juniors and seniors together, Futsal Tasmania and The Tasmanian Hockey Centre have now looked at the possibility of expanding to an extra night per week.

“All the feedback so far has been extremely positive and, once we install the nets dividing the courts next week, the competition will be set to kick off in a frenzy.”

In October, more than 100 Tasmanian school children will travel to Melbourne for the 2007 Vikings Australasian School Futsal titles involving players from schools throughout Australia.

“This is the biggest event as far as participation goes for school children in the Southern Hemisphere, including all sports,” said Smith.

“From the Australasian school titles, these kids will get the opportunity to be looked at by selectors for upcoming overseas tours with Vikings Australia.

“In the past, we have had several Tasmanian players invited to these and recently we had four Tasmanian youths travel overseas in representative sides to Brazil and New Zealand.”

* * * * *

Midfielder Tom Roach has been named as South Hobart’s Premier League players’ player of the year and he was also the team’s leading goalscorer.

Roach and fellow midfielder Bart Beecroft won the ‘best player’ award, while Jon Foley-Donoghue and David Abbott were the ‘most imporved’.

Goalkeeper Mark Moncur and sweeper Nathan Robinson took out the coach’s award, while midfielder Colin Wain won the ‘most consistent’ award.

Moncur also earned life membership of South Hobart.

Other South Hobart Awards announced at the club dinner on 8 September were: (Club Leading Goalscorer) James Wilkinson, (Junior Clubman) Rory McCallum, Trent Pearce, (Clubman of the Year) Barry and Margaret Davies, (Chairmans Award) Simon Burrett (Presidents Award) Mark Moncur; Womens Div 1 (Leading Goal-scorer) Zenah Husari, (Most Improved) Emy Bostock, (Coach’s Award) Joy McConnochie, (Most Consistent) Joy McConnochie, (Players’ Player) Jessica Manuela, (Best Player) Jessica Manuela; Premier League Women (Leading Goal-scorer) Kelly Koning, (Most Improved) Sahar Mohamad, (Coach’s Award) Lizann Gibbons, (Most Consistent) Danielle Raymond, (Players’ Player) Hanna Manuela, (Best Player) Lizann Gibbons; Men’s U-19: (Leading Goal-scorer) James Wilkinson, (Most Improved) J Muldoon, (Coach’s Award) Michael Voss, (Most Consistent) Brenton Kopra, (Players’ Player) Patrick Foley-Donoghue, (Best Player) James Wilkinson; Men’s Div 1 Reserves: (Leading Goal-scorer) Simon Burrett, (Most Improved) Rory McCallum, (Coach’s Award) Phan Ho, (Most Consistent) Simon Burrett, (Players’ Player) Simon Burrett, (Best Player) Dexter Franklin-Paddock; Men’s Div 1: (Leading Goal-scorer) Rohan Franklin, (Most Improved) Adam Hill, (Coach’s Award) Travis Wailes, (Most Consistent) Travis Wailes, (Players’ Player) Hugh Jarvis, (Best Player) Hugh Jarvis; Men’s Pemier Reserves: (Leading Goal-scorer) Callan Paske, (Most Improved) Joey Summers, (Coach’s Award) Trent Pearce, (Most Consistent) Tom Gordon (Players’ Player) Callan Paske, (Best Player) Nathan Wardle.

Women’s Intrastate Challenge Series

By Walter Pless

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Jill Couch showed her class by scoring both goals for North, who were level at 1-1 at the break and 2-2 midway through the second half.

A goal five minutes before the end settled the matter in South’s favour.

Emily Parker was excellent on the left for South and her runs down the wing were dangerous, while Bliss Cantrell netted twice in a fine performance.

South started strongly and Parker made a run down the left in the first minute, only to shoot straight at the goalkeeper.

North lost goalkeeper Amanda Newson after a mere 12 minutes when she sustained a blow to the back of the head.

South goalkeeper Chelsea Thomas had to be at her best in the 21^st minute when an error by Claire Farquhar allowed Krystine Jeffery and Chelsea Smith to fire in shots.

On the half-hour, Thomas could only parry Nao Fujimoto’s long-range shot and Couch blasted home the rebound to give North the lead.

Parker made it 1-1 in the 41^st minute after Cantrell’s shot hit the post.

South took the lead in the 56^th minute when Cantrell headed home Kath Prescott’s left-wing cross.

In the 65^th minute, South’s substitute goalkeeper Isoline Ottavi made a brilliant save as she tipped Smith’s clever lob over the bar after the North striker had broken through the home defence.

Smith took the corner and Crouch, stationed at the far post, nodded home to make it 2-2.

With five minutes remaining, Cantrell made the most of a defensive error to grab her second goal of the game and the winner for the home side.

The sides meet again next Saturday at Mitsubishi Park in Launceston.

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· South coach, Matthew Shaw, said:

“It was enjoyable and it was nice to see some goals and some good saves from both the keepers.

“Obviously, that probably means some of the defending got a bit lax at times, but it’s nice to see them knock the ball around.

“It would have been nice if we’d knocked it around a little more some of the time because we sometimes panicked and hoofed it forward to no great effect.

“But, it was fun and I think they enjoyed it. Hopefully, the people watching enjoyed it, too.”

· North coach, Jason Jones, said:

“I was really pleased with the contribution of the girls.

“They haven’t played together before and we haven’t been able to have a practice match the way the roster’s been scheduled.

“So, for them to come out and play the way that they did their first time together, I’m just really, really pleased.

“We ran short of fit players. We started with two players pulling out before the game so we didn’t have enough fresh legs and it really showed in the last ten minutes when they scored.

“I look forward to next week.”

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South: Thomas; Parker, L Jarman, K Presott, Cantrell, L Prescott, Jones, Saito, Manuela, Farquhar, Barnes.

(Subs: Ottavi, Hale, Clark, Gibbons, Dixon)

Booked: Farquhar

Goals: Parker 41, Cantrell 56, 85

North: Newson; Berger, Norton, Ayton, McCulloch, Smith, McGregin, Brazendale, Couch, Fujimoto, Goodwin.

(Subs: Jeffrey, Shatton, Crack, Jones, Rolfe)

Goals: Couch 30, 66

Att: 200

Ref: I Colhoun

Intrastate Men’s Challenge Series

By Walter Pless

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South had beaten the North 5-3 in an exhibition match in Launceston in July and they won this first leg of the Intrastate Challenge Series comfortably at KGV Park with a goal in each half.

The second goal was an own-goal, although Aaron Brazendale was claiming it, saying that the ball had already dipped under the crossbar and over the line before Tim Claxton chested it into the net.

It was, however, Tom Roach who had created the chance with a shot against the right-hand post and a goal was a fitting reward. The ball rebounded wide, where Brazendale gained possession and floated a cross into the six-yard box

North goalkeeper Marshall Pooley received a knock early on and was a little clumsy in his handling for the rest of the match.

Begovic wins a header deep in defense for South

Alex Brownlie blocked a Jonathon Ladic shot on the line in the 11^th minute as South exerted early pressure.

North’s first chance did not come until the 29^th minute when Thataetsile Kakadumane blazed high and wide of the target.

In the 40^th minute, a back-header by Brownlie to his keeper saw Pooley drop the ball, but he recovered just before South’s lurking attackers could take advantage.

A minute before the break, great play down the left by South saw Brazendale nutmeg a defender inside the box and send a low cross towards the far post, where Roach hammered home the opening goal.

 Substitute Michael Bulis forced a corner for South on the hour with a dangerous shot that took a slight deflection.

In the 66^th minute, Ben Crosswell released Kakdumane down the inside-left channel, but Frank Mainella blocked the shot and conceded a fruitless corner.

The second goal 16 minutes from the end killed off the contest.

The sides meet again next Saturday at Mitsubishi Park in Launceston.

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• South coach, Eamonn Kelly, said:

“I thought we most probably played the better football on the day.

“We kept positive, we kept shape and I think the back-four were absolutely magnificent and didn’t put a foot wrong all day.

“The same with the midfield. We couldn’t fault any one person today.

“Everyone put in 110 per cent effort and everyone played well and we just seemed to click as a team and play well as a team.

“That was the difference between us and them. We didn’t play as individuals and we played as a team.

• North coach, Tom McGinn, said:

“I thought they were by far the better team in the first half.

“I thought it was a really scrappy game and I thought we probably showed them too much respect, a few young lads in our team.

“I thought in the second half we came into the game and had a couple of chances. If we’d finished them off early on, well.

“I thought the second goal was a bit unlucky…just the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Once again, I think the better team won on the day.”

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South (4-4-2): Mainella - Begovic, A Telega, Smith, Fagg - Roach, Beecroft, Ladic, Lo - Brown, Brazendale.

(Substitutes: Bulis, Fielding, Gasparinatos, D Lapolla, Pitchford)

Goals: Roach 44, Claxton 74 og

North (4-4-2): Pooley - Claxton, Hingston, Brownlie, Johnson - Crosswell, Schipper, Douglas, Tabrett - Kakadumane, McKenna.

(Substitutes: S Howe, Skene, De Bomford, A Howe)

Booked: Brownlie 68, De Bomford 81

Att: 350

Ref: C Phillips

By Walter Pless

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Metro-Claremont survive in the Premier League despite losing 1-0 to Division One champions Beachside in this second-leg match in the promotion-relegation play-off at KGV Park.

Metro won the first leg 3-1 last Sunday at North Chigwell and, therefore, win 3-2 on aggregate.

Beachside complained that the Football Federation Tasmania rules for the play-off give them victory on away goals, but anywhere else in the world, it’s the aggregate score that counts and this will undoubtedly be so at the end of the day.

Beachside dominated this match and could easily have won by more than enough goals to make any arguments about the rules superfluous.

But, Metro defended resolutely and created some excellent chances of their own.

Metro’s best chance of the first half came in the 13^th minute when Aaron Marney was given time and space to control the ball inside the box, but the youngster side-footed the chance wide of the right-hand post.

Beachside has even better opportunities, however, but were denied by poor finishing and good goalkeeping by Neil Biggar.

In the 11^th minute, Sebastian Milford blazed over the bar when he should really have hit the target, while in the 27^th minute, Sam Howarth shot straight at Biggar.

In the 31^st minute, Milford took advantage of a rare error by Terry Kent to cut inside and shoot, but Biggar blocked with his feet. Milford also had Jacob Kavanagh unmarked to his left and as pass to him may have been more effective.

A terrible back-pass by Marney led to Beachside’s goal in the 35^th minute. Marney collected the ball in midfield and inexplicably tried to pass it back to the edge of his own box.

Milford gratefully accepted the pass and knocked the ball to Kavanagh, whose shot was parried by Biggar, but only to Milford, who scored with ease.

Eight minutes after the resumption, Shane Kent made a good run down the left but finished with a tame shot straight at goalkeeper Michael Soszynski.

Beachside suffered a major set-back in the 71^st minute when defender Anthony Grzinic was sent off after having won a free-kick. He made his feelings known to the Metro player who had fouled him and the assistant referee signalled for referee Mr Gadd.

After a brief consultation, Mr Gadd brandished the red card. He said later Grzinic was sent off for using foul and abusive language towards an opponent.

Beachside still managed to attack and in the 72^nd minute, Milford’s header almost put Kavanagh and Jonathon Greenwood through on goal, but the alert Biggar intercepted.

Metro, with a one-man advantage, managed to launch a few dangerous counter-attacks and, in the 94^th minute, found themselves in a three against one situation in attack. Adam McKeown’s shot, however, was turned wide for a corner by Soszynski.

From the corner, Metro created two more chances, but McKeown and Jason Dawes were thwarted in quick succession by the post and by Soszynski.

Mr Gadd blew the final whistle in the 95^th minute and it was the Metro supporters who went wild.

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• Beachside coach, Tony Kavanagh, said:

“It came down to a little bit of luck, and we needed just a little bit of luck today.

“We did enough to win. We stuck to our game plan and everyone played well and nobody let us down.

“Just a little bit of luck. I thought we were dealt with pretty harshly on the send-off and it cost us the promotion.”

• Metro-Claremont coach, Matthew Gasparin, said:

“It was a tough game, but credit to our boys today. We battled for the full ninety minutes.

“Our soccer was pretty ugly for most of the game, but we battled hard.

“I feel a bit sorry for Beachside. They had a week and a half of good soccer, so commiserations to them.”

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Beachside (1-2-5-2): Soszynski - Holmes - Grzinic, Johnson - MacDonald, Greenwood (Klasen 65), Howarth, Davis, Westland - Kavanagh, Milford.

(Subs not used: Dae Won, Gardner, Reason)

Booked: Milford

Sent-off: Grzinic

Goals: Milford 35

Metro-Claremont (1-3-4-2): Biggar - T Kent - Dutton, Chaffey, Curran (Herring 87) - Marney, McKeown, Rahni, Dawes - Guma (Hope 65), S Kent.

(Subs not used: Saunders, Kaden)

Booked: Chaffey, Dutton, Dawes, S Kent

Att: 350

Ref: D Gadd

By Walter Pless

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Referee Stephen Pitchford walked off an hour into a practice match on Wednesday evening at KGV Park between the southern Tasmanian Premier League representative team and Premier League club Hobart Olympic.

The southern representative side were having their final hit-out before Saturday’s match against the northern Premier League representative side at KGV Park.

Southern Tasmania were leading 3-0 through goals by Aaron Brazendale, Daniel Brown and a penalty by Jonathon Lo when Pitchford became fed up with the dissent being shown by the Olympic players and abandoned the match.

“I was concerned for the safety of the players and I didn’t really want to send anyone off, so I ended the match,” Pitchford said. “I had already cautioned one Olympic player and I have sent a report to Football Federation Tasmania about the match.”

The South beat the North 5-3 in July in Launceston in an exhibition match at Aurora Stadium, which was the curtain-raiser to the A-League Cup match between Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United.

Saturday’s match, which kicks off at 2.30pm, is the first leg of a home-and-away series between the North and South, which was re-introduced last season after a break of many years.

Last year, South won 4-1 in Launceston and drew 1-1 in Hobart.

The coach of the North, Tom McGinn, has named 14 players for the match.

“We’re pretty excited,” said McGinn. “Any representative game at any level is exciting.

“We’ve got people injured and others on holiday because it’s the end of the season and the 14 lads selected are the best players available.

“The 14 players are really dedicated and I’m confident we’ll be competitive.

“We’ve had three training sessions and the players have gelled as a team.

“We’ve lost John Compagne through injury, but Thataetsile Kakadumane, who played with Hobart Olympic and University before moving to Launceston, is one of the best players in the State.”

McGinn said the 5-3 defeat in July was not a true indication of the strength of the North as he had made many substitutions in order to give everyone a game.

“I changed half the team because it was an exhibition game,” McGinn said. “The South are a fast, flowing team, but we think we can match them and even go a step further.

“With two representative games against South Australia coming up in October, this will be a chance for players to show their wares.”

North: Marshall Pooley, Thataetsile Kakadumane, Derek Schipper (Northern Rangers), Alex Brownlie (Launceston City), Chris McKenna, Kamil Douglas, Shaun Howe (Devonport City), Brian Tabert (Ulverstone), Ben Crosswell, Jeremy De Bomford, Kamen Johnson (Burnie United), Todd Hingston, Toby Skene (Somerset), Tim Claxton (Prospect Knights).

South coach, Eamonn Kelly, was not due to name his final squad until Friday.

South Hobart midfielder, Jonathon Lo, 21, who is certain to make the cut, said: “We’ll do quite well as we’ve progressed well at training and there’s a good understanding between the players.

“We’re definitely playing well and there’s a lot of talking out on the pitch.

“I’m hoping to start the game and I’m happy to do any job Eamonn wants me to do because it’s an honour to play in this team and we’re all looking forward to it.”

Meanwhile, Beachside, champions of Division One, can gain promotion to the Premier League for next season if they beat Metro-Claremont 2-0 at KGV Park on Saturday.

Metro, the Premier League wooden-spooners, won the first leg of the promotion-relegation play-off 3-1 last Sunday at home at North Chigwell.

A 2-0 win for Beachside would make it 3-3 on aggregate, but Beachside’s away-goal would then count double, giving Beachside a 4-3 win.

This is all speculation, of course, and there are several possible outcomes, depending on the score. What is certain is that if Metro get on the score-sheet it will make things very difficult for Beachside, who had to give up home-ground advantage for this crucial second-leg match because the local council has already closed Sandown Park as far as football is concerned.

Beachside coach, Tony Kavanagh, said he is not overly concerned about that because the better surface at KGV suits his team’s ball players.

Kavanagh said he would have to rely on his club’s young brigade as the older players were feeling the effects of a long season.

“Midfielder Sam MacDonald will make his second start for the senior side, while Bernhard Klasen hasn’t trained and will start on the bench,” said Kavanagh.

“Our young guys are all fit and we hope they can drag us across the line because the senior players are struggling.

“Jonathon Greenwood has a hamstring problem and he played too long when he came on last weekend.

“If we can start the way we finished last week, we’ll be okay, but the winner will be the toughest side on the day.”

Metro will have striker and captain Shane Kent back from interstate, but coach Matthew Gasparin may start with the same eleven that began last week’s match as Edward Guma and Aaron Marney tested the Beachside defence with their speed and mobility.

Everyone else is fit and, with a 2-0 lead, Metro must be confident of at least drawing, which would keep them in next year’s Premier League.

Defenders Jarrod Saunders and Adrian Lawler are two other players who might be in contention for a place this weekend in the match which kicks off at 4.30pm.

The southern Tasmanian women’s representative side take on the northern Tasmanian selection at 12.30pm in the first game of a three-match programme.

The southern squad is: Lisa Jarman (Kingborough) Emily Parker, Lauren Barnes, Milly Jones, Nicole Hale, Karen Clark (Nelson), Laura Prescott, Rie Saito, Kath Prescott, Chelsea Thomas (University), Bliss Cantrell (New Town Eagles) Claire Farquhar, Hanna Manuela, Liz Gibbons (South Hobart), Isoline Ottavi (Hobart Zebras) Marlugu Dixon (Clarence). [Dannielle Raymond (South Hobart) is the emergency and will come into the squad should any players be late withdrawals.]

“Vanessa Johnson has had to withdraw through injury, which is a shame because she is a player of immense quality,” said southern coach, Matthew Shaw. “Her absence does, however, present an opportunity for one of the other players to impress.

“The squad is a truly representative one, with players from seven different clubs.

“There is also a good blend of youth and experience, with Lisa Jarman, Karen Clark and Nicole Hale having been dominant players in the women’s competition for much of the past decade.

“Emily Parker has experience from the women’s national league and can be electrifying in full flight.

“There is quality throughout the squad and all players should get a decent amount of game time.

“Bliss Cantrell scored 27 goals this season and is one of the most accomplished strikers in the state.

“The side will also have a goal threat from midfield with Laura Prescott and Lisa Jarman both averaging a goal a game during the season.

“Defensively, Chelsea Thomas and Isoline Ottavi will share the time in goals, while Lauren Barnes, Rie Saito, Claire Farquahar, Hanna Manuela and Karen Clark all add a variety of speed and strength and all are comfortable on the ball.

“Hopefully, we will be able to contribute to an enjoyable and competitive game and show the quality that the women bring to the game.”

State champion Launceston City should provide the bulk of the northern side.

By Walter Pless

Premier League-Division One Promotion/Relegation Play-off, 1^st Leg, North Chigwell, Sunday, 9 September 2007.

Metro-Claremont 3 (McKeown 9 pen, Guma 28, Chaffey 90)

Beachside 1 (Milford 52)

Match officials Michael Thain, Kim Barker & Steve Fagg

HT: 2-0 Att: 250 Ref: K Barker (Assistants: S Fagg, M Thain)

Metro-Claremont (1-2-5-2): N Biggar - T Kent - D Chaffey, R Dutton - J Dawes (J Saunders 79), A McKeown, S Hope, M Rahni, P Curran - E Guma, A Marney [Substitutes not used: A Herring, A Cooke, T Kaden] [Coach: M Gasparin]

Beachside (1-3-4-2): M Soszynski - A Holmes - S Johnson, B Davis, K Dae Won (A Reason 70) - A Grzinic (S Howarth 59), J Westland, B Klasen (J Greenwood 43), T Sherman - J Kavanagh, S Milford [Substitute not used: S MacDonald] [Coach: A Kavanagh]

Metro-Claremont breathed an audible and collective sigh of relief when central-defender Darrin Chaffey headed home Phil Curran’s corner in the final minute to give the home-side a 3-1 win over Division One champions Beachside in this promotion-relegation play-off at North Chigwell.

The result puts Metro in a commanding position as they fight for their Premier League survival.

The return leg is at KGV Park next Saturday. Beachside had to give up their home-ground advantage as their Sandown Park pitch has already been stripped of the goalposts and the ground prepared for athletics.

Beachside clear

Beachside coach, Tony Kavanagh, does not mind the change of venue because he believes the good surface at KGV will suit his team.

The talk for much of the week before this game was about ‘team stacking’. Beachside were accused of it when they signed South Hobart midfielder Bernhard Klasen on the Friday before the match.

Counter-accusations were levelled at Metro because of the signing of midfielder Mohand Rahni from Hobart United.

Neither claim carries much substance. Klasen has hardly played in South Hobart’s Premier League side this season and his appearances in the club’s lower-league sides were limited because of injury. Indeed, he limped off just before the interval in this game with a strained hamstring. His contribution up until then has been negligible and he must be in doubt for the return leg.

Beachside’s Ben Davis watches the outcome of an aerial tussle

Rahni was signed many weeks ago by Metro, and well before they knew they would be in the relegation play-offs.

It was all a storm in a teacup, according to Beachside coach, Tony Kavanagh.

Metro were without striker and captain, Shane Kent, but the experienced Terry Kent returned from suspension and lined up at sweeper. He was excellent in the first half, but his game fell below expectations in the second period as Metro had their backs to the wall and threatened to crumble.

Kim Dae Won played for Beachside, first at left-back and then in midfield. The Korean, who is in his 40s and has experience in the NSL and in the Korean top flight, showed some wonderful close ball skills when confronted by strong physical challenges, but his passing, especially over distance, sometimes left a lot to be desired.

Metro led 2-0 at the interval and appeared comfortable, but Beachside came back strongly in the second half and pulled a goal back early in the half to make for a tense finish.

While the last-minute goal will prove invaluable for Metro as they go into the return leg at KGV Park with a two-goal advantage, Beachside will be pleased that they at least scored an away goal.

Beachside goalkeeper, Michael Soszynski, received a nasty cut to the chin in a collision with Metro’s Edward Guma in the 39^th minute and play was held up for five minutes while the keeper received treatment.

                       
Soszynski with bandaged jaw and saving at the feet of Metro’s Guma

Soszynski saw out the game, however, and made a crucial save in the second half in a one-on-one situation with Guma.

Beachside’s Tom Sherman missed two good chances in the second half as Metro started to give the ball away in midfield, but both efforts flashed wide of the far post.

An Adam McKeown penalty, awarded for Sam Johnson’s foul on Guma in the 9^th minute, gave Metro the perfect start, while Guma headed the second into an empty net in the 28^th minute after Soszynski could only beat out McKeown’s ferocious shot.

Sebastian Milford scored for Beachside with a cracking shot in the 52^nd minute after Metro keeper Neil Biggar did well to parry a stinging low drive from substitute Jonathon Greenwood.

As the game wore on, Beachside looked satisfied with a one-goal deficit going into the second leg, but Metro’s supporters in the large crowd went wild when Chaffey popped up in the last minute with a vital third goal for the home side.

Soszynski thwarts Metro’s Darrin Chaffey

“That third goal was a God-send and it certainly sets us up for next week,” said Metro coach, Matthew Gasparin.

“It would have been pretty nervy if we’d stayed at 2-1.

“But, credit to Beachside. I thought they really battled well.

“They started well early in the first half, while in the second they really took it up to us.

Metro’s Stuart Hope & Aaron Marney challenges the Beachside defence

“We panicked a fair bit and we were very undisciplined, but next week’s another ball game and we’re looking forward to it.

“At half-time we felt pretty confident. That’s probably one of the most frustrating things about it.

“At half-time we spoke about just making sure we kept disciplined. We were determined and we shut their space down nice and early as we did in the first half.

Injured duo Bernhard Klasen and Michael Soszynski

“It fell away a bit, but credit again to Beachside. They took it up to us and they deserved to win Division One, that’s for sure.”

Beachside coach, Tony Kavanagh, said: “It was a scrappy affair and we could have done a little bit better.

“I thought we did enough to score some goals, but we could have done a little bit better.

“The third goal was a blow. We don’t normally concede goals from corners because we’re normally strong in the air.

“But, we left someone free and paid the price.

             
Beachsides’s Jonathon Greenwood in action

“We were always in the game at 2-1. I thought we were always in the game. I never thought we were out of it. Even in the first half going 2-0 down, I never thought we were out of it.

“I had confidence in the boys, but it just didn’t come.

“We had our chances in the second half. It’s been the same all year. We scored 60 odd goals and could have trebled that. We’ve just got to put our chances away.”

Metro’s Aaron Marney takes on Sam Johnson while Jonathon Greenwood looks on

Metro-Claremont:

Metro’s Darrin Chaffey (extreme right) heads home to make it 3-1

Beachside: