Walter Pless on Football

Round-up for Saturday, 29 March and Sunday, 30 March 2008

By Walter Pless

Hobart Olympic beat reigning Premier League champions Hobart Zebras 3-2 in a thriller at KGV Park on Saturday night.

Olympic led 2-0 at the interval through Chris Tsakiris and Ben Backhaus, while Michael Bulis made it 3-0 just 8 minutes into the second half.

Ben Crosswell pulled a goal back for the Zebras on the hour with a header following a right-wing cross and, when Andrew Telega netted a second for Zebras with 7 minutes remaining, Olympic seemed rattled and appeared to be running out of steam.

Olympic held on, however, to collect the three points and occupy fourth spot on the ladder, on goal-difference, after the opening round of matches.

South Hobart are third on the ladder on goal-difference after it beat University 3-1 at South Hobart on Sunday.

University put nine men behind the ball for most of the match and South took until the 35th minute to break the Students’ resistance.

Even then, it was a stroke of luck as University goalkeeper Ryo Matsuo allowed Billy Gasparinatos’s low but powerful cross from an impossible angle on the right to squeeze through his legs and David Cooper forced the ball over the line from close range.

Tom Roach made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute when he collected Gasparinatos’s pass inside the box, turned sharply, and drove a low shot past Matsuo and into the far corner.

Alexis Bull reduced the arrears with an excellent goal in the 79th minute through sheer persistence, running past several defenders before shooting past Mark Moncur.

Four minutes later, Gasparinatos headed home from close range after Cooper’s cross from the left.

An own-goal gave Clarence United a 1-0 away win over New Town Eagles at Clare Street.

Eagles goalkeeper Nathan Pitchford produced an outstanding save, only to see the ball come back off team-mate Wade Savage and roll over the line.

Other Results:  (Premier Reserve League) Hobart Olympic 2 (C Winter 2) b Hobart Zebras 0;  South Hobart 7 (R Franklin 2, S Otte, S Burrett, G Downes, C Paske, J Ross) b University 0;  New Town Eagles 2 dw Clarence United 2.

Hobart Olympic v Tilford Zebras Match Report [Premier League, Saturday, 29 March 2008]

By Walter Pless
____________________________________________________________________

Hobart Olympic 3 (C Tsakiris 19, Backhaus 28, Bulis 53)
Tilford Zebras 2 (Crosswell 60, Telega 86)

HT: 2-0 Att: 200 Ref: K Barker

Hobart Olympic (4-4-2): Nester - Lebski, Vavoulas, P Tsakiris, Tsimiklis (Kaproulias 63) - Meredith, Mason, A Hedge (Larzabal 53), C Tsakiris (Grillas 78) - Backhouse, Bulis [Substitute not used: Plomaritis] [Coach: F Shaw]

Tilford Zebras (3-5-2): Mainella - Fagg, Telega, Venettacci - Self, Pullen (Engels 82), Cairns, C Cox (D Cox 72), Brazendale - D Lapolla (Fennell 78), Crosswell [Substitute not used: Kaden] [Coach: N Lapolla]
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Tilford Zebras began their defence of the southern Premier League title with a 3-2 loss to Hobart Olympic at KGV Park on Saturday night, the first time in many a year that such a night game had been scheduled.

Olympic most the most of their limited chances, whereas the Zebras squandered chances galore.

Chris Tsakiris had a good game for Olympic and scored the first goal and made the second.

In the 19th minute, he rifled home a great shot from the edge of the box that beat Mainella at the near post.

The Zebras should have equalised two minutes later when Crosswell gained possession just inside the box, but Nester blocked the striker’s effort at his feet. The ball rebounded to Brazendale, whose shot was blocked by Lebski.

In the 28th minute, Chris Tsakiris set up the unmarked Backhaus, who swept the ball home to make it 2-0.

Nester was forced to make a save against Brazendale on the half-hour as the Zebras rallied, while in the 32nd minute, Cairns, who was signed by the Zebras from Olympic in the summer, smashed a great shot against the outside of the right-hand post.

Three minutes later, Self had an effort saved by Nester and the signs were there that the Zebras were back in contention.

Five minutes into the second half, Nester denied Lapolla, who had been given the chance when Brazendale’s deep cross from the left towards the far post was headed down by Self.

The Zebras may have been back in contention, but it was Olympic who scored again to go to a 3-0 lead when, in the 53rd minute, Bulis fired home from the left, the ball striking the far right-hand post and cannoning into the net at the opposite corner.

Zebras’ efforts were finally rewarded on the hour when Crosswell headed home Lapolla’s right-wing cross to make it 3-1.

Self hit the side-netting with 9 minutes remaining, but five minutes later, Telega headed home a corner to make it one goal the difference.

Olympic were visibly tiring and several players went down with cramp.

Crosswell shot straight at the goalkeeper three minutes from the end, while with one minute remaining, substitute Fennell nodded Self’s right-wing cross just wide.

Another ten minutes, and the Zebras might have snatched a draw, but they simply ran out of time.

They lost to Olympic last season and still won the title, so all is not lost for the defending champions.

Olympic finished a creditable third last season and they must be confident after this win of doing even better this year.

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• Hobart Olympic coach, Farrell Shaw, said:

“It was definitely a game of two halves.

“We played okay in the first half. We did a lot of counter attacking, which we’re good at, with a bit of speed, which led to two good chances.

“Five minutes into the second half we got another goal, but after that, the Zebras deserved it more than us.

“I was always worried. It was our first 90-minute game and a lot of players went down with cramp and a lot of players getting little niggles, which they can’t run off at the moment.

“But, it was pleasing to get the three points at this time of the year.

“But, I was disappointed with the way we played in the second half.”

• Tilford Zebras coach, Nick Lapolla, said:

“Missed opportunities. They’ve had three shots and three goals.

“We’ve had God knows how many.

“It’s frustrating, but at two nil down you’ve always got hope, but we just continually failed.

“A game of missed opportunities.

“The boys showed character, though, in continually coming back.”
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STATISTICS

HOBART OLYMPIC TILFORD ZEBRAS
5 Goal Attempts 22
3 Shots on Target 10
1 Corners 4
6 Fouls Committed 16
2 Off-Sides 0
1 (Vavoulas 81) Yellow Cards 2 (Lapolla 51, Crosswell 54)
0 Red Cards 0

Hobart Olympic:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
C Tsakiris 1 1
Backhaus 1 1
Meredith 1 0
Bulis 2 1

Tilford Zebras:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Crosswell 5 2
Brazendale 5 1
Cairns 1 1
Self 5 1
Fagg 1 1
Lapolla 3 3
Telega 1 1
Fennell 1 0

Metro v Taroona Match Report (Premier League, Saturday, 29 March 2008)

By Walter Pless

Metro 3 (Guma 16, Marney, 28, Dawes 88)
Taroona 1 (Atkinson 82)

HT: 2-0 Att: 100 (North Chigwell) Ref: I Jozeljic

Metro (1-2-5-2): M McKenna - A Lawler - M Rahni, D Chaffey - A Marney, J Hope, T Kent, S Kent, A Robb - E Guma, J Dawes [Substitutes not used: R Farley, P Kelly, K McQueen, M Porter] [Coach: A Abdaltam]

Taroona (4-4-2): A Biggs - C Carey (T Dove 64), S Johnson, A Holmes, S Flonta (J Szoka 46) - D Carey, M Atkinson, J Elliot, W Roberts - S Ramirez (R Brown 83), C Cox [Substitute not used: H Macgregor] [Coach: B Horgan]
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This was an invaluable three points for Metro as they and Taroona are likely to be in the bottom half of the ladder fighting against relegation.

Metro had few chances, but converted the ones that counted, whereas Taroona squandered chance after chance.

Metro were playing into a stiff breeze and the occasional rain squall in the first half and did well to lead 2-0 at the interval.

Their first goal came in the 16th minute when Taroona goalkeeper Alex Biggs could only parry Jason Dawes’s shot and Edward Guma hammered home the rebound to register his 10th goal of the season. He scored nine in the various Summer Cup competitions in the north and south of the State.

Cian Carey forced a corner for the visitors in the 27th minute with a long-range effort that former Taroona keeper Michael McKenna did well to turn wide.

A minute later, however, it was 2-0 as Aaron Marney rifled home a half-hearted clearance by Taroona following a cross into the box from the right.

McKenna was again called into action on the half-hour when he tipped Marcus Atkinson’s long-range effort over for a corner.

Five minutes after the break, Duncan Carey’s low drive from the right whistled narrowly wide of McKenna’s right-hand post as Taroona went in search of goals against a wind that had abated somewhat.

In the 52nd minute, McKenna showed his class by brilliantly turning Santiago Ramirez’s deflected free-kick over the bar.

With 8 minutes remaining, Metro’s Adrian Lawler, who had been playing well as a sweeper, up-ended Atkinson just outside the box. Atkinson took the free-kick himself and planted the ball past McKenna to make it one goal the difference.

Taroona had thrown defence to the wind by this stage and moved centre-back Alex Holmes into the attack, but they were caught on the break with two minutes remaining.

Guma out-played an opponent on the byline on the left and crossed for Dawes to head home and kill off the game at 3-1.

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• Metro coach, Ahmed Abdaltam, said:

“I thought we had a very reasonable game, considering it was our first league game.

“It was good to win because we have a young team.

“We played reasonably and, in the end, we took our chances and won the game.

“Hopefully, we’ll get better from here on in, much, much better.

“It was very important for us to get the three points before our next game and we’ll build up from there.”

• Metro central defender, Darrin Chaffey, said:

“It was a pretty scrappy performance, really. The wind didn’t help us.

“In the second half, I guess we battled on pretty well.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys out there. Apart from Terry [Kent] and myself, we’re probably all under 21, I think. Maybe, Mohand [Rahni], too.

“There’s some good talent out there coming through. Dawes and Eddie [Guma] are two.

“It was a very valuable three points, there’s no doubt about that.

“We’ve got teams that we’re obviously eye-balling where we think we can get three points, and there are teams that we’ll try and at least get a point from.

“We’re not the best side in the league, but we’ll look at it week in, week out, but there are certainly a few points that we think we can grab.”

• Taroona coach, Ben Horgan, said:

“We had loads of chances in the second half and we didn’t take them, which killed us.

“We let a couple of silly goals in early, but I thought we were playing all right in the first half.

“We created plenty, but just didn’t take out chances.”

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STATISTICS

METRO TAROONA
11 Goal Attempts 17
3 Shots on Target 12
0 Corners 5
13 Fouls Committed 10
6 Off-Sides 1
2 (S Kent 33, J Dawes 40) Yellow Cards 1 (D Carey 51)
0 Red Cards 0

Metro:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Guma 3 1
Marney 2 1
T Kent 2 0
Dawes 2 1
S Kent 2 0

Taroona:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Holmes 2 2
C Carey 1 1
Roberts 2 2
Cox 2 1
Atkinson 4 3
D Carey 2 1
Elliot 1 0
Ramirez 2 1
Dove 1 1

Summary of Matches from 28 and 29 March 2008

By Walter Pless

Glenorchy Knights’ 20-year-old Brazilian import, Igor, scored once and set up several chances for team-mates as the Knights overcame Kingborough Lions United 3-0 at KGV Park on Friday night in the opening game of the 2008 Premier League season.

Igor - full name Igor Sao Jose - had a satisfactory debut, but was caught off-side five times from a total of eight off-sides for the Knights, and was substituted with six minutes remaining and replaced by youngster Peter Frank.

Frank had two glorious chances in the time he was on, but inexperience cost him two certain goals.

Kingborough started well and might easily have scored at least twice in the goalless opening half through striker Greg Freeman, who had been signed from Christian United.

Freeman, who played a lone role up front, found the standard far superior to Division One and missed two gilt-edged scoring opportunities.

Kingborough’s new Japanese signing, Iwao Shimizu, showed some fine touches in a subdued performance and he, too, was substituted 20 minutes from the end and with his side 2-0 down.

Kingborough suffered a huge blow two minutes after the interval when their best player, defender Garry Upton, hobbled off with a hamstring injury.

Ross Hinkley, the Kingborough utility player, was also a bit rusty so early in the season and squandered two excellent chances that he would normally have put away.

Janko Begovic put the Knights ahead in the 56th minute when he volleyed home from the edge of the box after Igor had opened up the Kingborough defence on the left following Elmer Cano’s through-ball.

Josh Fielding released Igor down the inside-left channel in the 70th minute and the Brazilian poked the ball past the advancing goalkeeper, Adam Coleman, to make it 2-0.

The third goal came in the 3rd minute of injury time. A long clearance by goalkeeper Ben Peter found Tom Huigsloot, who rammed home a powerful shot off the underside of the crossbar.

Metro earned an invaluable three points in their opening fixture at North Chigwell on Saturday when they survived intense Taroona pressure to win 3-1.

Edward Guma and Aaron Marney gave Metro a 2-0 lead at the break before Marcus Atkinson pulled a goal back from a free-kick from the edge of the box with 8 minutes remaining. Adrian Lawler, who had a fine game, conceded the free-kick when he fouled Atkinson.

Metro killed off Taroona’s challenge when Guma set up Jason Dawes for the home side’s third goal two minutes from the end.

On Saturday night at KGV Park, Hobart Olympic just squeezed home 3-2 against reigning champions Tilford Zebras.

Goals by Chris Tsakiris (19th minute), Ben Backhaus (28th) and Michael Bulis (53rd) put Olympic 3-0 up, but the Zebras fought back and goals by Ben Crosswell (60th) and Andrew Telega (86th) made for a tense finish.

Barnstoneworth United gave up the chance of a giant-killing act when they forfeited their State-wide Lakoseljac Cup match against Christian United on Saturday.

It will be interesting to see if Football Federation Tasmania fines the club for the non-appearance.

In other cup matches, Kingston Cannons held off a determined Nelson Eastern Suburbs to win 5-3 after leading 2-1 at the break and seeing Nelson claw their way back to be level at 3-3 midway through the second half.

Stuart Collins netted a hat-trick and John Demir scored twice for the Cannons, while Nelson’s scorers were Luke Wallace, with two goals, and Dean Melville.

Hobart United took the scoring honours for the day with a 6-1 triumph over Beachside, after leading 2-0 at the break.

United shared the goals around, with Akuel Guot, Peter and John Otto, Bryn Davies, Colin Banks and Aymen Abdalla grabbing a goal each.

Beachside replied with a penalty by Sebastian Milford.

In the Premier Reserve League, Kingborough Lions United downed Glenorchy Knights 2-1 at KGV Park on Friday night and Metro beat Taroona 3-1 at North Chigwell on Saturday.

Paul Hunt, with two goals, and James Millen scored for Metro, while Toby Dove replied for Taroona.

In the Northern Premier League, Devonport City trounced Launceston 9-1 and Riverside Olympic beat Launceston City 4-1.

Glenorchy Knights v Kingborough Lions United Match Report [Premier League, Friday, 28 March 2008]

By Walter Pless
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Glenorchy Knights 3 (Begovic 56, Igor 70, Huigsloot 93)
Kingborough Lions United 0

HT: 0-0 Ref: D Gadd Att: 150

Glenorchy Knights (4-4-2): B Peter - C Pringle, A Grundy, T Dzelalija (capt), E Cano (L Millington 80) - J Clay, J Fielding, J Begovic, Igor (P Frank 84) - N Harrison (B Green 66), T Huigsloot [Player-Coaches: J Begovic, J Fielding; Bench Coach: G Krambousanos]

Kingborough Lions United (4-5-1): A Coleman - R Hinkley, M Iseli, G Upton (R Bevan 47), M Marchioli (capt) - M Palmer, B Andrews, I Shimizu (J Brown 71), A Kerr, A Hinkley - Greg Freeman (M Bremner 71) [Substitute not used: J Voss] [Coach: Geoff Freeman]
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Glenorchy Knights made a winning start to their 2008 Premier League campaign with this 3-0 win over Kingborough Lions United at KGV Park.

It was not a high-standard game, with both defences clearing the ball long rather than playing it on the ground to team-mates. In the case of Glenorchy Knights, this was despite the fact that they sometimes had only Kingborough’s lone striker, Greg Freeman, to mark and had defenders to spare.

The technical ability of many players was lacking and this applied to accuracy of passing and shooting.

The Knights’ new Brazilian midfielder, 20-year-old Igor [Igor Sao Jose], scored their second goal and went close on several other occasions. He showed some good close control, but he was caught off-side five times in all [the Knights were off-side 8 times]. He was obviously coming to terms with local conditions as he had only arrived in the country recently.

His service to team-mates was generally good and might have resulted in at least two more goals but for some bad misses by the receivers. He appeared slow at first, but then showed good pace in the second half down the left. He also demonstrated an ability to squeeze past as many as two opponents in tight spaces while under pressure, but the jury is still out on his overall standing. One could say his was a satisfactory debut.

Kingborough’s new Japanese signing, Iwao Shimizu, played in a deep midfield role and showed some good passing abilities, but he still needs to get on the same wavelength as his team-mates and be more assertive. His technical skills were good.

Greg Freeman played a lone role up front and found the gap between the first division and the Premier League daunting. He should have scored at least twice, but he reacted too slowly to the opportunities that came his way.

Garry Upton was again in fine form all over the park for Kingborough, especially in defence, and when he went off injured two minutes after the interval, Kingborough’s chances took a nose dive. The Knights had not scored while he was on the park, but did so twice within 22 minutes of him coming off.

Mark Iseli again put in a lot of work in defence for Kingborough and, at times, made long attacking runs. But, he was vulnerable at times at the back. His commitment, however, was unquestioned.

Kingborough had the first chance after 7 minutes when Freeman shot straight at goalkeeper Ben Peter from close range following a cross from the right by Michael Palmer and a header down to his feet by Adam Hinkley. It was a bad miss.

A minute later, Tom Huigsloot appeared to be brought down in the box by Brett Andrews, but there was no appeal and Mr Gadd waved play on.

The Knights’ first shot came in the 26th minute from Janko Begovic, but goalkeeper Adam Coleman was untroubled.

In the 33rd minute, Igor advanced down the left, but his low cross was completely missed by Nick Harrison, who only needed a touch to score.

Four minutes before the interval, Igor beat two opponents down the left and cut inside towards the near post, but his shot was smothered.

Two minutes into injury time, a long high ball down the left by Marcello Marchioli beat Anthony Grundy and put Freeman in with a great chance, but his shot from close range was blocked by Peter.

Within two minutes of the resumption, Upton hobbled off and, a minute later, Igor had a stinging shot from the byline on the left which was blocked by Coleman.

In the 56th minute, Igor squeezed between two opponents on the left and played a one-two with Josh Fielding before crossing the ball into the middle. Kingborough only partially cleared and the ball fell for Begovic to volley home from the edge of the box and give the Knights the lead.

Harrison should have added a second in the 64th minute from Fielding’s deep cross from the left, but the tall striker headed harmlessly over the bar.

Harrison went off with a groin strain two minutes later and was replaced by Brodie Green.

In the 70th minute, Igor ran onto Fielding’s perfect pass and outpaced Palmer before firing past Coleman to make it 2-0.

Kingborough had moved Ross Hinkley from right-back to left-midfield by this stage and this gave Igor a little more freedom on the left to attack.

Kingborough replaced Freeman and Shimizu with Marcus Bremner and Jeremy Brown in the 76th minute and beefed up their attack, but it just opened up gaps at the back.

Ross Hinkley, stationed at the far left-hand post, then mis-kicked a great cross from Bevan on the right in the 79th minute. Had he scored, the Lions would have been back in the hunt.

With 6 minutes remaining, Peter Frank replaced Igor and the youngster almost immediately had two excellent chances which he failed to convert.

In the 87th minute, Huigsloot dispossessed the industrious Iseli on the left of the box and squared the ball to the unmarked Frank, but Coleman beat out his shot.

Frank had a second chance almost immediately, but this time his shot was wide of the target.

Kingborough hit back and, two minutes into injury time, a poor clearance by Peter found a surprised Ross Hinkley, whose shot at an open goal was poor and flew harmlessly wide and out for a goal-kick.

A minute later, Peter’s long clearance put Huigsloot through and he whipped in a shot off the underside of the bar to make it 3-0.

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• Glenorchy Knights joint player-coach, Josh Fielding, said:

“I’m proud of the boys.

“We played as a team and we were the underdogs tonight, and I think we thoroughly deserved the win.

“The best team on the day won.

“We brought in, obviously, the Brazilian [Igor] and it made a difference to our structure.

“Obviously, you can see the skills he’s got. He dominated the game.

“And, we took our chances for once, which is the main thing.

“We’ve got to work on this now and move on to University next week.”

• Kingborough Lions United coach, Geoff Freeman, said:

“We paid for not taking our opportunities.

“In the first half, I think we were pretty good for about twenty minutes and we created some good opportunities and we didn’t take them and they took their chances.

“Janko’s strike was a good strike from the edge of the box and then, later on, I think, when we were trying to get back into it, Huigsloot scored one late, and Igor got in behind us as well.

“Upton’s loss was a turning point. He’s torn his hamstring. It’s not a good one and he’ll be out for a little while, unfortunately, by the look of it.

“I’m not sure, but we’ll see how he comes up tomorrow, but, a big loss for us, I think.

“Five minutes in the game was really the key. Just before half-time when we should have scored.

“We had the perfect opportunity to score, and then, losing Garry [Upton] with three minutes gone in the second half, probably, we lost our shape a little bit and they hurt us.

“They were better than people expected them to be. I thought they’d be all right, and they were good.”

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STATISTICS

GLENORCHY KNIGHTS KINGBOROUGH LIONS
20 Goal Attempts 13
10 Shots on Target 7
4 Corners 3
10 Fouls Committed 14
8 Off-Sides 2
1 (Harrison 32) Yellow Cards 1 (Upton 44)
0 Red Cards 0

Glenorchy Knights:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Harrison 2 0
Fielding 1 0
Igor 5 4
Begovic 2 2
Huigsloot 5 2
Clay 3 0
Frank 2 2

Kingborough Lions United:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Freeman 2 2
Andrews 2 0
A Hinkley 2 2
Marchioli 1 1
Upton 1 0
R Hinkley 3 1
Iseli 1 0
Palmer 1 1

Premier League Preview for the opening weekend of 2008 season (28-30 March 2008)

By Walter Pless

The 2008 Premier League soccer season was officially launched at a function at Hellenic House on Wednesday evening.

Officials from all clubs, plus one player from each club clad in the new 2008 kit, attended.

The season kicks off at KGV Park on Friday evening when Glenorchy Knights take on Kingborough Lions United.

Knights will field their new Brazilian signing, Igor Sao Jose, who is noted as a prolific goalscorer in futsal, the indoor version of the game.

Defender Tony Dzelalija is also fit again and ready to resume.

Kingborough will have Andrew Kerr and Adam Hinkley back in the senior side, while new Japanese signing, Iwao Shimizu, and Greg Freeman will make their debuts.

Metro host Taroona at North Chigwell on Saturday and a winning start is vital for both sides as two teams will be relegated this season.

Metro seem the better prepared side at this early stage judging from the respective Summer Cup performances and Taroona will do well to come away with even a point.

Hobart Zebras will be without several senior players because of a wedding when they take on Hobart Olympic in a night game at KGV on Saturday.

Zebras go into this game fresh from their Summer Cup final victory, but Olympic should make a game of it and may well win.

New Town Eagles entertain Clarence United at Clare Street on Sunday and this should be a closely-fought tussle between two young sides.

“There are injury clouds over one or two players, but I’ve got a good squad to choose from,” said Eagles coach, Ian Parker.

“The squad that has been playing in the Summer Cup is pretty much the same as for this game.

“Any team on their day will beat any team in this league this season and I think Clarence and ourselves are on a par.”

Clarence had a satisfactory Summer Cup and coach Andrew Brown will be confident of coming away from Clare Street with at least a point.

In the weekend’s final game, South Hobart are at home to University at South Hobart on Sunday.

South were disappointing in the Summer Cup final, but extra training sessions during the past week may do the trick.

Jai Davids has shown potential since being signed recently and may get a place on the bench.

Several South players are carrying niggling injuries but three points against University are likely.

University have signed a young Italian, Hannes Blass, but he is in New Zealand and will not make his debut this weekend.

Tilford Zebras 3-2 South Hobart

By Walter Pless
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Tilford Zebras retained their Summer Cup trophy by downing favourites South Hobart 3-2 at KGV Park on Easter Monday.

South Hobart dominated the opening exchanges but missed some glorious chances to trail 2-0 at the interval as the Zebras rode their luck and made the most of the openings that came their way.

South Hobart’s midfield was strangely subdued throughout the match. Jonathon Ladic and Bart Beecroft were ineffective, while David Cooper was wasted at left back and was very quiet.

Tom Roach seemed slow and unfit, while Jonathon Lo rarely threatened.

South Hobart goalkeeper Mark Moncur was not at his best, which was to be proven later.

As early as the 8th minute he showed his failings when he was unable to cut out Henry Fagg’s deep cross from the right. Moncur was spared blushes as Daniel Lapolla could only loop his header harmlessly over the bar.

South’s first chance came in the 12th minute when Colin Wain worked his way across the length of the penalty area, only to finish with a shot over the bar.

South should have hit the front on the quarter-hour when Roach headed at goal from close range after a corner, but Frank Mainella produced a first-class instinctive save by tipping the ball over the crossbar.

In the 21st minute, another chance went begging for South. Wain worked the ball in from the right and Ladic released the unmarked Billy Gasparinatos down the left. But, the striker chose power rather than accuracy and the ball cannoned off the crossbar with Mainella beaten.

Four minutes later, Zebras captain Brett Pullen, who was playing well just in front of his back-three, almost scored an embarrassing own-goal, but the ball rolled wide for a corner.

In the 31st minute, Zebras took the lead against the run of play when Jon Foley-Donoghue inadvertently put the ball into his own net following Aaron Brazendale’s deep cross from the right. Moncur desperately tried to get back and scoop the ball out, but it lodged in the top corner.

Ricky Self curled a shot straight at Moncur with 10 minutes remaining, but two minutes later, he made it 2-0. Moncur needlessly raced from his goal and wiped out a team-mate as he tried to cut out a cross. The ball fell for Self, who rifled it home.

Ben Crosswell, who was struggling to create openings for Zebras, was cautioned somewhat harshly in the 39th minute.

A minute into injury time, Gasparinatos played a perfect through-ball into the box. Pullen was unable to cut it out, but the ball had a little too much pace for Lo, who was unable to reach it and had to watch it roll out for a goal-kick.

A minute after the resumption, Paul Cairns volleyed over the bar when he should have scored as the Zebras searched for a third goal to kill off the game.

In the 51st minute, Moncur redeemed himself when he somehow got to Cairns’s excellent goal-bound lob and scooped the ball out of the far top corner of the net and wide for a corner.

Three minutes later, Crosswell should have scored from 5 metres when he got to Henry Fagg’s cross from the right, but he somehow lifted the ball over the bar.

Lo had his first real shooting chance of the game in the 57th minute, but his low shot was parried wide for a corner by Mainella.

Self showed he was still a danger when he gained possession on the hour, only to volley over.

In the 63rd minute, Tom Roach headed South back into contention from Wains’ left-wing cross, while in the 70th minute, defender Matthew Brown went close with a header from a corner.

Self restored the Zebras’ two-goal buffer in the 73rd minute after fine attacking play down the right involving Dylan Fennell and Cairns.

Substitute Fennell fired over the bar five minutes later and Brazendale brought a save from Moncur after Self’s pass with 7 minutes remaining as the Zebras pressured their opponents.

South Hobart substitute Jai Davids put his side back into the game with a fine goal in the 84th minute, beating Mainella at the near post with a powerful shot from the right.

South had the last chance when Roach lobbed over the bar in the 89th minute following a long throw-in from the left.

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• Tilford Zebras coach, Nick Lapolla, said:

“A top game.

“I’m absolutely proud of the boys.

“When it gets tough and the game is up for grabs, in the last two or three weeks, it hasn’t been one hundred per cent and the boys have been struggling.

“They kept at it and kept training and working on it, and games like this, when you’re playing a bloody good side in South Hobart, everyone steps up.

“I couldn’t have been happier. A top bunch of blokes.”

• South Hobart coach, Ken Morton, said:

“It was disappointing. We didn’t turn up in the first half and played rubbish.

“In the second half we missed too many chances and we let them off the hook.

“We got one goal back and let them go through and score. You’ve got to keep it tight and keep it compact.

“Hopefully, it’s good motivation for us for the rest of the season and we’ll learn from our mistakes.

“We never got on the ball today in midfield. Our midfield has been the instigators of all our wins. They’ve played well and contributed well and they’ve been creative, but today we didn’t play.

“The best team has won on the day and good luck to them.”
_____________________________________________________________________

Tilford Zebras: Mainella; Fagg, S Telega, Connolly; Pullen; Brazendale, Cairns, Cox, Self; Lapolla, Crosswell (Substitutes: Thorpe, Fennell, Venettacci, Engels)

Booked: Crosswell 39, Brazendale 87

Goals: Foley-Donogue og 31, Self 37, 73

South Hobart: Moncur; Foley-Donoghue, Ludford, M Brown, D Cooper; Lo, Ladic, Beecroft, Wain; Roach, Gasparinatos (Substitutes: Abbott, Davids, Downes, Kruijver)

Booked: Gasparinatos 61

Goals: Roach 63, Davids 84

HT: 2-0

Ref: I Jozeljic

Att: 380 (Summer Cup Final, KGV Park, Monday, 24 March 2008)

By Walter Pless

Hobart Zebras retained their Summer Cup title when they beat South Hobart 3-2 in this year’s final at KGV Park on Easter Monday.

South started in threatening mood and might easily have led by two goals after 20 minutes.

But, Zebras goalkeeper Frank Mainella produced a brilliant save at point-blank range from a Tom Roach header, and Billy Gasparinatos hit the bar with a powerful shot after good approach work by Colin Wain and Jonathon Ladic.

An own-goal by Jon Foley-Donoghue in the 31st minute, following Aaron Brazendale’s right-wing cross, gave Zebras the lead, while Ricky Self made it 2-0 in the 37th minute after South goalkeeper Mark Moncur committed himself unnecessarily to a cross he could not reach.

Roach pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute when he headed home Wain’s left-wing cross, but Self netted his second goal of the match 10 minutes later to restore his side’s two-goal lead.

South substitute Jai Davids scored a fine goal six minutes from the end when he beat Mainella at the near post, but South was unable to find an equaliser.

South’s midfield was a disappointment and this was a major factor in the defeat.

New Town Eagles won the Division One section of the Summer Cup when a goal by Matthew Fennell early in the second half was enough to down Hobart United 1-0.

Both sides finished with ten men after a flurry of yellow cards.

South Hobart won the Reserve section final 5-1 against Clarence United, Rowan Franklin netting twice and Greg Downes, James Wilkinson and Liam Scott once each, while Nathan Cashion replied for Clarence.

In the Women’s final, Nelson beat University 5-2.  Emily Parker and Shelley Cook each scored a brace and Bliss Cantrell grabbed the remaining goal for Nelson, while Karina Tarbath netted both of University’s goals.

By Walter Pless

Hobart United will welcome back defender Alex Bellini for Easter Monday’s Division One section final of the Summer Cup competition scheduled for KGV Park at 10am.

Bellini has missed United’s past two games because of suspension.

Coach Tony Tarros reports everyone else fit and eager to contest the final, the two sides having drawn 1-1 in the preliminary rounds of the competition.

New Town Eagles will change to a 3-4-3 line-up for this match as joint-coach Marty Nidorfer said that the 1-4-4-1 formation used when the sides previously met had not worked.

“Its’ a cup final, which we know from experience will be played at a frenetic pace,” said Nidorfer.

“Our worry is that most of the squad haven’t played a final since the early 2000s and Hobart United have been involved in many big games over the past few seasons.

“The boys are fired up for this match and made a pact not to indulge in any of Easter Sunday’s celebrations in a bid to be 100 per cent for Monday.

“The key to success for us will be utilising our tall strikers’ height advantage, especially on set pieces.

“Much of our training time this week has revolved around dead-ball situations.

“Tony Tarros’s men got the honours in the 1-1 draw against us last time we met, so it will be a battle for us to get a result.”

Eagles’ squad is:  Allan Wisby, Aaron Veitch, Marcus Proud, Marty Nidorfer, Steve Louden (capt), Adam Jones, John Holliday, Brent Leonard, Steve Vernon, Damien Bones, Richard Leszczynski, Charlie Ketsimur, Richard Ketchell, Sam Calvert, Matthew Fennell.

Anthony O’Meara, Matt Williams, Ben Michell, Damien Crowle, Ashleigh Geard and Nathan Stingle are either unavailable, injured or omitted for the final.

The Reserve Section final at noon is between South Hobart and Clarence United, with South starting as a slight favourite.

The women’s section final is at 2pm with Nelson Eastern Suburbs a hot favourite to beat University.

Summer Cup Final (Premier League Section) Preview

By Walter Pless

Tilford Zebras will be without former captain and central defender, James Symmons, for Easter Monday’s Premier League section Summer Cup final scheduled for 4pm at KGV Park.

Symmons strained a hamstring in the 0-0 draw with New Town Eagles on 8 March and is still out of action.

Josh Thorpe, who is a striker, will come into the squad as a replacement, with one other as yet un-named player also to be added to the squad.

Tilford Zebras, the holders of the trophy, have everyone else fit.

Thorpe has been playing in the reserves, but he is a big-game player and is very effective when introduced as an impact player.

He has an eye for goal and had rescued the Zebras often in the past.

Michael Connolly is expected to be back from interstate holidays and will probably take his usual place at left-back.

Brett Pullen should be in the starting line-up and will probably occupy the space just in front of the defence.

The team has suffered from an inability to score goals, while its defence has also been brittle.

“We didn’t expect to get to the final, but after watching Clarence beat Kingborough Lions 2-0 and eliminate them, I thought we might be in with a chance,” said Zebras coach, Nick Lapolla.

“When Eagles could only draw with Knights, we were in, against all expectations.

“South Hobart will start as the hot favourites and it should be a top game for the spectators.”

South Hobart expect midfielders Tom Roach and David Abbott to recover from ankle injuries, which means coach Ken Morton will be able to field his strongest side.

“Tom and David trained lightly on Tuesday and they should make it,” Morton said.

“Everyone else is fit and we have trained well and are looking forward to the final.

“It should be a tactical game and an open game and I’m sure both sides will have a go.

“Zebras are a good team with good players and they’re very bright in attack, with Aaron Brazendale, Daniel Lapolla, and something special with Ben Crosswell.

“We will try and play as we did against New South Wales side Gladesville Spirit and relax in front of goal.”

• Zebras’ line-up and 3-1-4-2 formation is likely to be: Mainella; Fagg, Telega, Connolly; Pullen; Self, Cairns, Cox, Brazendale; Lapolla, Crosswell.

• South Hobart’s line-up in 4-4-2 formation is likely to be: Moncur; Foley-Donoghue, Ludford, M Brown, Cooper; Lo, Beecroft, Ladic, Abbott; Roach, Gasparinatos.