Round-up for the Weekend of 1-3 June 2007

By Walter Pless

Hobart Zebras extended their lead at the top of the Premier League ladder to 6 points after they downed Glenorchy Knights 3-1 on Friday night at KGV Park and second-placed Clarence United lost 2-0 to sixth-ranked University at Olinda Grove on Saturday.

South Hobart moved into second spot after a late goal by Bart Beecroft, following David Cooper’s free-kick, gave them a 1-0 away win over eighth-placed Taroona at Kelevdon Park on Saturday.

Knights appear to have no chance of making it three premierships in a row after a disappointing performance against Zebras which left them in sixth place and 9 points off the pace with half the league season almost gone.

Knights survived a scare in the opening minute, but counter-attacked superbly to hit the front in only the second minute.

Jonathon Ladic relieved the pressure at the back with a long ball out of defence to Josh Fielding, who played it wide to Tom Huigsloot.

Huigsloot spotted goalkeeper Frank Mainella off his line and scored with a precise chip from the edge of the box.

Zebras then increased the pressure as Ricky Self forced a great save from Ben Peter and Daniel Lapolla hit the crossbar.

They were rewarded in the 24th minute when Henry Fagg toe-poked the equaliser following a corner.

Lapolla made it 2-1 shortly after the interval, his thunderbolt from 25 metres striking the bar and ricocheting into the net off the back of goalkeeper Ben Peter.

Chris Cox made it 3-1 for the league-leaders in the 63rd minute when he nodded home Self’s right wing cross.

The Knights had further chances through Huigsloot, who missed a sitter, and Fielding, whose chip hit the crossbar.

Second-half goals by Mark Rapley and Craig Stockdale gave University their win over Clarence in a dour struggle at Olinda Grove.

Both sides missed easy chances, University through Stockdale, Julian Proud and Rapley, and Clarence through Dwayne Walsh and Paul Bremner.

Bottom-side New Town Eagles earned their first point of the Premier League season with a 2-2 home draw against second-last Metro-Claremont at Clare Street on Sunday.

The draw ended a run of seven straight league defeats for Eagles and gave the New Town side a glimmer of hope as they remain two points adrift of Metro and four behind eighth-placed Taroona.

Eagles began strongly, with Chris Stingle, Alexander Leszczynski and Cormac Collins in lively form, and their efforts were almost rewarded in the 12th minute when Graham Reeks fired against the Metro woodwork.

Metro were, however, dangerous on the counter-attack and Eagles goalkeeper Nathan Pitchford was at full stretch in the 20th minute when turning Adam McKeown’s chip wide for a corner.

The home side took the lead in the 35th minute when Leszczynski cut in from the left and placed a low shot past Neil Biggar and inside the far post.

Stuart Hope equalised five minutes after the break with a magnificent shot that flew in off the underside of Pitchford’s crossbar.

Shane Kent ran on to Terry Kent’s pass in the 67th minute to make it 2-1 for the visitors, with the Eagles defence appealing for off-side.

Four minutes into injury time and, with 10 players, including goalkeeper Pitchford, in attack, Eagles substitute Daniel Grabek sent over a cross from deep on the right and Reeks powered home a header to make it 2-2.

Hobart Olympic moved into second place on goal-difference after downing Kingborough Lions United 2-0 away at Lightwood Park on Sunday through a goal in each half by Michael Bulis.

Bulis is now the league’s top scorer with 8 goals.

Chris Tsakiris also hit the Kingborough woodwork as Olympic had the better of the game.

PREMIER LEAGUE (As at 3 June 2007)

TEAM

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Tilford Zebras

8

7

1

0

32

6

22 : 2

Hobart Olympic

8

5

1

2

17

9

16 : 8

South Hobart

8

5

1

2

16

9

16 : 8

Clarence United

8

4

3

1

16

9

15 : 9

University

8

4

1

3

17

12

13 : 11

Glenorchy Knights

8

4

1

3

14

14

13 : 11

Kingborough Lions United

8

2

2

4

12

16

8 : 16

Taroona

8

1

2

5

9

20

5 : 19

Metro-Claremont

8

0

3

5

5

27

3 : 21

New Town Eagles

8

0

1

7

6

22

1 : 23

In the Reserve League, Glenorchy Knights beat Tilford Zebras 4-2 at KGV Park on Friday evening through two goals by Nick Harrison and one apiece by Adam Dermody and Sacha Puclin, while Tom Howells and Adam McGuire replied for Zebras.

Two goals by John Wise gave Clarence a 2-0 win over University on Saturday at Olinda Grove, while Ben Horsley’s goal gave South Hobart a 1-0 away victory against Taroona at Kelevdon Park the same day.

On Sunday, Kingborough Lions United and Hobart Olympic drew 0-0 at Lightwood Park, while bottom-side Metro-Claremont beat second-last New Town Eagles 3-1 at Clare Street through two goals by Wayne Jackson and one by Jamie Bingham. Patrick Watts replied for Eagles.

It was Metro’s first win of the season, but they remain last on goal-difference and level on points with Eagles.

RESERVE LEAGUE (As at 3 June 2007)

TEAM

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

South Hobart

8

7

0

1

30

9

21 : 3

Kingborough Lions United

8

5

2

1

22

11

17 : 7

University

8

5

0

3

19

12

15 : 9

Hobart Olympic

8

4

1

3

15

13

13 : 11

Clarence United

8

3

2

3

15

14

11: 13

Glenorchy Knights

8

3

1

4

16

22

10 : 14

Tilford Zebras

8

3

0

5

22

23

9 : 15

Taroona

8

3

0

5

11

21

9 : 15

New Town Eagles

8

1

2

5

10

20

5 : 19

Metro-Claremont

8

1

2

5

9

24

5 : 19

South Hobart took over the lead in Division One on goal-difference from Beachside after both won on Saturday to stay level on 16 points.

South demolished bottom-side Huon Valley 10-0 at Ranelagh, while Beachside beat second-last Christian United 3-0 at Gormley Park.

Rowen Franklin hit a hat-trick for South Hobart and Travers Wailes and Paul Jarvis each netted a brace, while Tom Veness, Phil Cooper and Andy Wilson grabbed a goal apiece for South, which led 4-0 at the break.

Jacob Kavanagh gave Beachside a 1-0 lead at the break before second-half goals by Jamie Walker and Sebastian Milford completed the win against Christian, who had a late penalty saved by Michael Soszynski.

On Sunday, Kingston Cannons stayed third after beating Kingborough Lions United 3-1 at Sherburd Park through goals by Andy White, Tuach Huseyin and Eddie Margetts. Warren Iles netted for Kingborough.

Hobart United drew 1-1 with Nelson Eastern Suburbs at Pontville, Festo Taban giving United the lead and Nelson equalising near the end through an own-goal.

DIVISION ONE (As at 3 June 2007)

TEAM

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

South Hobart

6

5

1

0

27

7

16 : 2

Beachside

7

5

1

1

30

12

16 : 5

Kingston Cannons

6

5

0

1

22

16

15 : 3

Kingborough Lions United

6

3

0

3

21

14

9 : 9

Northern Suburbs-DOSA

6

3

0

3

10

12

9 : 9

Hobart United

6

2

1

3

9

8

7 : 11

Nelson Eastern Suburbs

6

2

1

3

5

13

7 : 11

Christian United

6

1

0

5

6

21

3 : 15

Huon Valley

7

0

0

7

9

36

0 : 21

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