Walter Pless on Football

By Walter Pless

Premier League leaders Tilford Zebras will need to be wary when they meet second-last Metro-Claremont at North Chigwell on Sunday.

The Zebras thrashed Metro 8-0 in the first round at KGV Park, but this should be a much closer contest.

Zebras drew away to last placed New Town Eagles a couple of weeks ago and this match has the potential to be more difficult than it looks on paper.

Zebras are the only unbeaten team in the competition, while Metro are still looking for their first win

Both sides should be at full strength and Metro will give a good account of themselves on their own turf and in front of their own fans.

Second-placed South Hobart are not scoring many goals and are missing numerous chances and they will find the going tough against sixth-placed Kingborough Lions United at Lightwood Park on Saturday.

But, South have put together an impressive run of six games without defeat - five wins and a draw - without exactly setting the world on fire.

Kingborough Lions United have emerged from their slumber and have won their past two games and should provide a challenge to the visitors.

Kingborough will miss striker Chris Sanita, who is in Melbourne for trials with Brunswick.

Third-placed Hobart Olympic are at home to eighth-ranked Taroona at the Athletic Centre on Sunday and should have captain and sweeper Peter Tsakiris available after a back injury sidelined him last weekend.

Defender Chris Tsimiklis is still in Adelaide and Youssef Mohamad is overseas in Syria, while striker Michael Bulis is doubtful because of injury.

Striker Matthew Hedge is still injured and Hermanathan Nagarathnam has only just returned from Malaysia and will play in the reserves, but Kosta Grillas is likely to start.

Taroona hope to have striker Martyn Wells back from interstate, but Julien Timmins is interstate for a month and Jack Elliot is injured.

Llewyn Tubb and Hamish Mcgregor, two 17-year-olds, will be included in the squad by coach Matthew Rhodes.

Fourth-placed Clarence United entertain bottom-side New Town Eagles at Wentworth Park on Saturday without defender Ben Parker, who was sent off in the 2-1 win over Glenorchy Knights last Sunday.

Defender Jacob Huigsloot comes back from suspension and will replace Parker.

Eagles are better than their results indicate and, once they learn how to find the net, should start to earn some points and climb away from the relegation zone.

They have recalled Richard Leszczynski from the social leagues, but the former star striker may take a little time to regain his sharpness at this level.

Reigning champions and fifth-placed Glenorchy Knights take on seventh-placed University at KGV Park on Friday night.

University will be missing Colin Shepherd, Aaron Hindmarsh and Gerard O’Brien, but Alexis Bull should be back and Luke Temby will play after returning from Hobart United.

This will be exchange student Thomas Andersen’s final game before he returns to Denmark.

The Knights seem to have lost direction, but they are a more potent force at KGV and should win against an under-strength University.

Knights will have Jade Clay and Shay Hickey back, but midfielder Jonathon Ladic is suspended and midfielder Rob Gosney has a back injury which will keep him out.

Corey Smith is likely to miss the remainder of the season because of a knee injury.

PREMIER LEAGUE (As at 17 June 2007)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Tilford Zebras	10	8	2	0	35	7	26 : 4
South Hobart	10	7	1	2	19	9	22 : 8
Hobart Olympic	10	6	1	3	19	10	19 : 11
Clarence United	10	5	3	2	18	11	18 : 12
Glenorchy Knights	10	5	1	4	16	16	16 : 14
Kingborough Lions United	10	4	2	4	14	16	14 : 16
University	10	4	1	5	17	15	13 : 17
Taroona	10	2	2	6	11	23	8 : 22
Metro-Claremont	10	0	3	7	6	30	3 : 27
New Town Eagles	10	0	2	8	7	25	2 : 28