Walter Pless on Football

By Walter Pless

Hobart Zebras extended their lead at the top of the Premier League ladder to four points with a 3-1 win over sixth-placed Kingborough Lions United at KGV Park on Friday night.

Zebras dominated the opening 15 minutes after Ricky Self had put them ahead in the 4^th minute, but the Lions came back into the game following Chris Sanita’s equaliser in the 17^th minute.

Warren Iles had three good chances before the interval for the Lions, but the closest he came to scoring was when he hit the post.

Two second-half goals by defender Henry Fagg, to take his season’s tally to five, gave the Zebras their victory.

In the 62^nd minute, Fagg netted from close range after team-mate and defender Ryan Smith headed Aaron Brazendale’s corner against the crossbar.

With 8 minutes remaining, Fagg got on to the end of Brett Pullen’s free-kick and headed against a post. The ball rebounded off goalkeeper Ian Trotter and fell for Fagg, who netted to make it 3-1.

A 3^rd-minute goal by Michael Bulis, from a cross by Kosta Grillas, gave Hobart Olympic a 1-0 win over University at the Athletic Centre on Saturday and third place on the ladder.

Olympic’s victory was soured by the dismissal of Grillas five minutes from the end.

Clarence United clung to second spot despite a drab 0-0 draw away to South Hobart, at South Hobart, on Saturday.

In a physical clash, South missed several glorious chances to win, but both goalkeepers - Mark Moncur for South, and Michael Moschogianis - produced crucial saves.

“It was a fair result, but a draw is not good for us,” said Clarence’s 22-year-old midfielder, Joseph Stevens. “South Hobart played very well.”

Metro-Claremont earned a precious point in a 1-1 draw with reigning Premier League champions Glenorchy Knights at North Chigwell on Sunday.

It was the second point in as many weeks for second-last Metro, who are now two points clear of last-placed New Town Eagles, who went down 2-0 away to third-last Taroona at Kelvedon Park on Sunday.

Taroona stayed eighth on 5 points but is now within striking distance of seventh-ranked Kingborough Lions United, who have 8 points.

Knights took a 39^th minute lead against Metro through Josh Fielding, and then had two efforts in the second half by player-coach Tom Huiglsoot disallowed for off-side.

Metro counter-attacked with a free-kick from the first of these in the 47^th minute and Shane Kent took advantage of an error by Corey Smith to beat goalkeeper Ben Peter to the ball and equalise.

Matthew Brown was unlucky for the Knights in the first half when his powerful rising shot came back off the crossbar with Metro goalkeeper Neil Biggar helpless.

Eagles began strongly against Taroona and hit the woodwork twice from free-kicks in the opening 10 minutes, but a goal by Julien Timmins gave the home side, who were without injured star striker Martyn Wells, a 1-0 lead at the interval.

Chris Cox wrapped up the match with a goal in the second half to give Taroona their first win in the top flight.

Premier League Ladder (as at 20 May 2007)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts (W/L)
Tilford Zebras	7	6	1	0	29	5	19 : 2
Clarence United	7	4	3	0	16	7	15 : 6
Hobart Olympic	7	4	1	2	15	9	13 : 8
South Hobart	7	4	1	2	15	9	13 : 8
Glenorchy Knights	7	4	1	2	13	11	13 : 8
University	7	3	1	3	15	12	10 : 11
Kingborough Lions United	7	2	2	3	12	14	8 : 13
Taroona	7	1	2	4	9	19	5 : 16
Metro-Claremont	7	0	2	5	3	25	2 : 19
New Town Eagles	7	0	0	7	4	20	0 : 21

Kingborough Lions United caused an upset in Division One by trouncing leaders Beachside 5-1 away at Sandown Park on Saturday, Martin Elliott netting twice and Cam Ellis, Geoff Freeman and Tom McDonald once each.

Jamie Walker netted Beachside’s consolation goal.

Kingston Cannons moved into second place after a 7-0 thrashing of Nelson Eastern Suburbs at Sherburd Park, with John White hitting a hat-trick and Eddie Margetts, Taeed Anis, Tuach Huseyin and Karador Kadir scoring one apiece, while Hobart United beat Huon Valley 1-0.

South Hobart drew level with leaders Beachside on 13 points and with a game in hand by overcoming Northern Suburbs-DOSA 4-1 at the Showgrounds on Sunday.

Coach Stephen Pitchford was in goal for DOSA.

South, who remain second on goal-difference, netted through Paul Jarvis and a Bernhard Klasen penalty in the first half, and Travers Wailes and Tom Veness in the second.

Derek Story scored for DOSA.

Division One Ladder (as at 20 May 2007)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts (W/L)
Beachside	6	4	1	1	27	12	13 : 5
South Hobart	5	4	1	0	17	7	13 : 2
Kingston Cannons	5	4	0	1	19	15	12 : 3
Kingborough Lions United	5	3	0	2	20	11	9 : 6
Hobart United	5	2	0	3	8	7	9 : 6
Northern Suburbs-DOSA	6	3	0	3	10	12	9 : 9
Nelson Eastern Suburbs	5	2	0	3	4	12	6 : 9
Christian United	5	1	0	4	6	18	3 : 12
Huon Valley	6	0	0	6	9	26	0 : 18

Clarence produced a shock result in the Reserve League by beating leaders South Hobart 5-2 on Saturday through two goals by Alan Jablonski and one each from Luke Cripps, Tadd Mayhew and Patrick Seabrook, with Adam Hedge and Trent Pearce replying for South.

Kingborough Lions United downed Tilford Zebras 4-1 on Friday night through two strikes by David Rietveldt and one each by Michael Giomataris and Sam Griffiths. Jayden Welch scored for Zebras.

University overcame Hobart Olympic 2-1 on Saturday at the Athletic Centre, despite missing a penalty, Rod Gretton and Chris Quinn getting the goals and Saad Mohamad replying for Olympic with a penalty.

On Sunday, goals by Josh Hadfield and Chris Stingle gave New Town Eagles a 2-1 win over Taroona, who replied through Toby Dove.

Glenorchy Knights squeezed home 4-3 against Metro-Claremont at North Chigwell on Sunday through two goals by Nick Harrison and one each by Adam Dermody and Giovanni Vasile, while Metro’s marksmen were Aaron Marney, Scott Bagorski and Aaron Cooke.

Knights, who had Martin Cairns sent off, remain third-last, while Metro prop up the rest of the teams at the foot of the ladder, three points adrift of second-last Eagles.

Reserve League Ladder (as at 20 May 2007)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts (W/L)
South Hobart	7	6	0	1	29	10	18 : 3
Kingborough Lions United	7	5	1	1	22	11	16 : 5
University	7	5	0	2	19	10	15 : 6
Hobart Olympic	7	4	0	3	15	13	12 : 9
Glenorchy Knights	7	2	1	4	12	20	10 : 11
Tilford Zebras	7	3	0	4	20	19	9 : 12
Taroona	7	3	0	4	11	20	9 : 12
Clarence United	7	2	2	3	13	14	8 : 13
New Town Eagles	7	1	2	4	9	17	5 : 16
Metro-Claremont	7	0	2	5	6	23	2 : 19