Walter Pless on Football

2007 Southern Premier League Champions - Tilford Zebras

By Walter Pless

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Tilford Zebras won the southern Premier League championship with this 0-0 draw against eighth-placed New Town Eagles.

The point was enough to save Eagles from last place.

It was a first-up premiership for rookie coach, Nick Lapolla, a former star player with the club in the 1980s. He also took Zebras to this year’s Summer Cup trophy and to the quarterfinals of the Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy state-wide competition.

Zebras now meet Somerset, the northern Premier League champions, at Cardigan Street on 8 September to decide the State premiership.

Zebras goalkeeper Frank Mainella was in jittery form and dropped several balls he would normally have caught.

Romeo Frediani and Mark Falzon were playing their final games for Zebras before retirement.

Eagles had the first chance from a free-kick by Cormac Collins in the 22^nd minute, but Mainella saved.

Captain Brett Pullen embraces coach Nick Lapolla

Two minutes later, Alex Leszczynski’s lob towards goal was punched wide and to safety by Mainella.

In the 26^th-minute came the best move of the opening half as Ricky Self collected Michael Connolly’s pass and set up Frediani for a shot, but Eagles goalkeeper Nathan Pitchford saved comfortably.

Henry Fagg had a chance a minute later, but his shot was directed straight at Pitchford.

Daniel Lapolla then won a corner for Zebras, but it came to nothing.

Eagles proved dangerous in the 29^th minute when Scott Telega, playing as a striker, fired through a crowded penalty area, but Mainella saved.

Cormac Collins missed a sitter in the 36^th minute as Eagles began to create chances and Zebras were feeling the pressure. Michael Connolly was booked in the 38^th minute as he illegally stopped an opponent.

Josh Thorpe’s left-wing cross in the 41^st minute was easy meat for Pitchford.

Nick Lapolla title winning coach

Two minutes later, Lapolla forced a corner, from which Thorpe drove centimetres wide of the angle of crossbar and post.

In the next minute, Frediani made ground down the right, but his low cross was fielded by Pitchford.

Deep into injury time, Andrew Clark worked his way to the byline on the left for Eagles and cut the ball back for Josh Hadfield, but the youngster’s shot was poor.

The first-half ended with Frediani blazing high over the bar.

Five minutes after the interval, Leszczynski missed a glorious chance for Eagles as they pressed for the opening goal.

On the hour, Hadfield got on to the end of Collins’s left-wing cross, but his header flashed centimetres wide of Mainella’s right-hand post.

Zebras President Michael Pace embraces Nick Lapolla

Chris Cox proved the Zebras’ saviour in the 65^th minute, heading Collins’s header off the line after Mainella had completely missed a cross.

In the 73^rd minute, Brazendale cut the ball back from the right, but Lapolla fired over the bar.

With nine minutes remaining, Pullen put Brazendale away on the right with some neat footwork and the striker cut inside before unleashing a powerful drive that the airborne Pitchford punched wide for a corner.

Zebras had one last chance in injury time, but Pullen’s back-header flew wide.

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Tilford Zebras coach, Nick Lapolla, said:

“It’s a great sense of relief that we’ve finally won the championship.

“The boys were a bit flat. I don’t think it was the excitement of last week, but we were just a bit flat. We didn’t play the way we can.

“Full credit to Eagles. They had something to play for, and I’m happy for Ian Parker and all the rest of them.

“It feels nice. I’m happy for the boys who put in. We started in January and it was a big pre-season. The Summer Cup set us up for the season and I’m happy for the boys, especially for Romeo Frediani and Mark Falzon who played their last games tonight.

“We got sucked in playing their game and we ended up playing the long ball, which we haven’t done all year, and that sort of unnerved us.”

Tilford Zebras celebrate their title win

 

New Town Eagles coach, Ian Parker, said:

“We are safe now. That point keeps us safe and to end like that was great.

“We had enough chances to win, but to give Zebras credit, they’ve been the best side all year.

“Tonight, I thought we shaded them a bit and we certainly had enough chances to win.

“I thought young Clark played well, and Jones at times did well, and Pitchford right at the end there pulled off a good save.

“Generally, we put in a good team performance.

“We’ve drawn twice against the eventual league champions, but I just wish we could win more games against the other teams.”

New Town Eagles v Tilford Zebras - Friday 24.8.07

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Tilford Zebras (3-5-2): Mainella - Fagg, Smith, Connolly - Self (Fennell 74), Frediani, Pullen, C Cox, Thorpe (Falzon 65) - Lapolla, Brazendale

Substitute not used: D Cox

Booked: Connolly 38

New Town Eagles (1-2-5-2): Pitchford - A Telega - Stingle, Nutting - Leszczysnki, Hadfield, Rybak, Clark, Collins - Jones, S Telega

Substitutes not used: Page, Ferrall, Cooper, Nelson

Booked: Collins 35, Jones 85

Attendance: 200 (KGV Park, Friday, 24 August 2007)

Referee: M Sprod

Match Officials - Michael Sprod (centre) Allira Barker (left) and Awak (right)

By Walter Pless

This weekend throws up some fascinating encounters in the Premier League, with the title finally to be decided and with possibly the last dice to be thrown in the relegation play-off battle.

Tilford Zebras should clinch the title by beating third-last New Town Eagles at home at KGV Park on Friday night.

That should make Sunday’s match at Olinda Grove between University and second-placed South Hobart a non-event.

Hugh Ludford - South Hobart

But, stranger things have happened in football.

But, let’s deal with first things first.

Eagles managed to hold Zebras to a 1-1 draw at Clare Street on June 10 in their first-round clash.

It was Eagles’ first point of the season.

Eagles recently beat Glenorchy Knights 1-0 at KGV Park, which was a bit of a surprise. Considering the Knights’ poor form in the latter half of the season, though, it wasn’t entirely unexpected.

Eagles coach Ian Parker

Barring any shock, though, Zebras should win comfortably and collect the silverware.

South Hobart should have few problems against a University outfit that will be without midfield dynamo Mark Rapley, who is unavailable. Rapley, who also has a broken finger - which didn’t keep him out of last weekend’s game - has gone on a three-week skiing holiday and last Sunday’s game against Clarence was his last at senior level for the club.

Mark Rapley - career at the top level over 

“Mark Rapley is away on a skiing holiday for the next three weeks and so has finished,” said University coach, Matthew Shaw.

“He does not intend to play at this level again, but may appear in the social leagues.

“Family and work mean that he cannot afford the time commitment to continue.

“Mark has played at University since 1994 and was an integral part of our title-winning sides in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003.

“Mark was also part of the State-wide Cup winning side last season.

“He is one of the best players I have played with in my time at University and the competition will be poorer for not having someone of his ability playing in it anymore.

“Apart from Mark, everyone else who played last week should be available before they all disappear on planned holiday for the university break after the game.

“It would be nice for the side to put on a good performance for what is the final run this season for most.

“We know we will be up against it and that we must cut out some of our lapses.

“This season has seen a number of players who have rarely played at Premier League level get a consistent run in the side and have a chance to test themselves at this level.

“They have acquitted themselves quite well and, hopefully, will be better for the experience in coming seasons.”

University defender John Merry is injured, but he may be included on the bench, while striker-cum-midfielder Aaron Hindmarsh is definitely ruled out because of injury.

It’s starting to look good for Metro-Claremont, who must face University in a replay on 1 September.

At the other end of the ladder, the fight against a relegation play-off continues, with bottom-side Metro-Claremont away to second-last Taroona at Kelvedon Park on Saturday.

Taroona hope to have striker Martyn Wells fit, while winger Jon Mathers is available after returning from interstate.

 
Martyn Wells -  fitness hope

Striker Julian Timmins may be promoted to the seniors after impressing in the reserves last weekend.

“We were disappointed with our performance last week and will be looking for a big improvement this week to make sure we get a win and avoid the relegation play-off,” said Taroona’s Ben Horgan.

“At least we defended better in the second half against South Hobart, and our guys will have learnt a lot from playing against such high-quality opposition.

“We always look better when we try and attack teams and a defensive style of play doesn’t suit us, but we do need to work a lot harder when we lose possession.

Matthew Gasparin

The team won’t be finalised until we see how everyone puts in at training on Thursday night, but coach Greg McVeigh has already indicated there are likely to be some changes to last week’s side.”

Metro have a game in hand - against University on 1 September, and a game that is looking increasingly easier for Metro to win - but they must still beat Taroona they are to avoid the relegation play-off.

The visitors will adopt an attacking formation with three up front - Shane Kent, James Hope and Adam McKeown.

New signing from Hobart United, Mohand Rahni, will be in the starting line-up in place of the injured Darrin Chaffey.

 
Mohand Rahni - first eleven

Metro have trained this week on a pitch marked out to the same dimensions as Kelvedon Park and practised game situations likely to be encountered.

“After a wasted opportunity last week against the Eagles, you can be assured that Metro FC will come out full of enthusiasm against the Taroona Soccer Club this Saturday,” said Metro coach, Matthew Gasparin.

“The team will attack this game with a ‘nothing to lose’ attitude knowing that the lads from Taroona are in a precarious position of trying to hold onto their three-point buffer.

“With nothing to lose, Metro FC will be playing a very attacking brand of soccer this week. We’ll more than likely have three up front for the majority of the game.

Metro scrum

“Partnering captain Shane Kent up front will be James Hope and possibly Adam McKeown.

“This will allow Mohand Rahni to make his first full appearance for Metro, more than likely in a defensive role, at the expense of Darrin Chaffey, who is still recovering from a heavy knock to the head sustained against Eagles last week.

“Training this week has been particularly pleasing, with youngsters Phil Curran and Adrian Lawler carrying on their good form from previous weeks in simulated games, played on the same sized pitch as Kelverdon Park will present this weekend.”

Clarence United cannot be displaced from fourth spot and will field a young side for the trip to Lightwood Park on Saturday to take on sixth-placed Kingborough Lions United.

Clarence will miss experienced midfielder Scott Hadley, who has work commitments, while Chris Hunt (back/ankle) and Dwayne Walsh (groin) are doubtful because of injury.

 
Veteran Scott Hadley will miss the final match prior to retiring

Goalkeeper Michael Moschogianis returns after work commitments kept him out last weekend.

“We’re looking forward to finishing off what has been a very good year for CUFC,” said Clarence coach, Andrew Brown.

“Women’s Premier League side in the final of SWC, men’s Premier League side fourth, the reserves second, and the under-19s champions.

“The Academy program was always going to be a success, but the appointment of Michael Edwards ensured the Academy was an outstanding success.

“CUFC shall look to bear the bountiful fruit of the Academy for seasons to come.

“On Sunday, I shall again offer opportunities to young and aspiring players from the Academy, against a Lions outfit that has under achieved in 2007.

“I expect a high-quality game, with both clubs parading some of the future young stars of our beautiful game.”

The remaining match of the weekend is at the Athletic Centre on Sunday, where third-placed Hobart Olympic entertain fifth-ranked Glenorchy Knights.

Olympic could lose third spot to Clarence if they go down to the Knights and if Clarence beat Kingborough, so the home side will be in determined mood.

Olympic will be without suspended striker Kosta Grillas, who is suspended after being sent off against Kingborough last week, having scored both goals in the 2-2 draw.

Kosta Grillas - will be missing due to suspension

Knights will miss defender Jayden Wiggins, who has work commitments, and midfielder Josh Fielding, who has an ankle injury.

Janko Begovic and Nick Harrison return from suspension, while Kellan Pringle is available again after missing last week’s game.

Youngsters Lindsay Millington, Brodie Green and Martin Cairns will be included in the squad.

Only four senior Knights players trained this week and the rest of the group were under-19s, so things are looking good for Olympic.

Premier League Standings (as at 19 August 2007)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Tilford Zebras	17	13	3	1	59	17	42 : 9
South Hobart	17	12	3	2	42	13	39 : 12
Hobart Olympic	17	10	3	4	37	19	33 : 19
Clarence United	17	9	4	4	32	26	31 : 21
Glenorchy Knights	17	7	3	7	31	36	24 : 28
Kingborough Lions United	17	6	3	8	25	30	21 : 31
University	16	4	3	9	25	33	15 : 37
New Town Eagles	17	2	5	10	14	33	11 : 41
Taroona	17	3	2	12	16	46	11 : 41
Metro-Claremont	16	1	5	10	20	48	8 : 44

By Walter Pless

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University defender Taka Manaka chases down the ball

Tilford Zebras have all but won the southern Premier League title with just one round of matches remaining.

Zebras are three points ahead of second-placed South Hobart and have a vastly superior goal-difference.

Zebras would have to lose to eighth-placed New Town Eagles next Friday night and South Hobart would have to thrash University by at least 12 goals for South Hobart to pip the Zebras at the post. And, that just isn’t going to happen.

On Friday night, Zebras romped home 4-0 against the deposed league champions, Glenorchy Knights, who barely managed a shot at goal.

At one point, Zebras goalkeeper Frank Mainella dropped the ball and the Knights had a half-chance, but Henry Fagg booted it to safety.

Eagles Chris Stingle and coach Ian Parker at half time 

The Knights were without the suspended Janko Begovic and Nick Harrison, and the injured Josh Fielding and Matthew Brown, but their dismal display was an embarrassment.

Two goals in each half did the damage, the first coming in the 19^th minute when Jayden Wiggins headed the ball straight to Aaron Brazendale. He advanced on goal and scored with a curling chip that gave Ben Peter no chance.

In the 35^th minute, it was 2-0. Brett Pullen won possession in his own half and released Ricky Self, who raced towards goal. Self then played the ball wide to the right to Pullen, who was in support, and he cut inside before scoring with a low shot.

The two remaining goals came in the final nine minutes through substitute Dylan Fennell, who had aligned his sights by scoring twice in the Reserve League curtain-raiser.

Craig Stockdale tackles George Stevens

In the 81^st minute, Fennell’s glancing header from Brazendale’s right-wing cross beat Peter, while in the 86^th minute, Self released Fennell down the inside-right channel and he held off Peter Frank and Tony Dzelalija before scoring off the underside of the bar.

All credit to Fennell, but it must make newspaper readers who know little about the local game wonder about the standard of the competition. How can someone play in the reserves and then double up for the seniors and score twice in each game? It must seem like a Mickey Mouse league. I cannot think of another top-flight sport where this can happen.

South Hobart were on a goal hunt against Taroona, but managed only one goal in the second half after leading 4-0 at the interval.

David Cooper and Julius Ross both struck the woodwork in the second half, while Taroona goalkeeper Michael McKenna produced some excellent saves in one-on-one situations to deny South Hobart double figures.

Taroona pressured South Hobart for the opening quarter of an hour, but once Bart Beecroft scored South’s opener in the 17^th minute from a corner, the visitors were on the back foot.

Danger for Taroona at South Hobart corner

It was South’s third corner in quick succession and a clear indication that the tide was turning.

In the 26^th minute it was 2-0 as Tom Roach, stationed at the far post, headed home Nathan Robinson’s pin-point cross from the left.

Five minutes before the break, Julius Ross netted his first goal at senior level from a corner taken by Beecroft to make it 3-0.

David Abbott added a fourth two minutes later with a superb free-kick from the right that dipped under the bar and gave McKenna no chance.

Ten minutes after the resumption, Abbott was on hand to sweep home the rebound and make it 5-0 after Cooper’s shot smashed against the crossbar.

Taroona’s only chance of the half came in the 63^rd minute when former South Hobart player Billy Gasparinatos fired against Mark Moncur’s left-hand upright. The ball rebounded across the face of goal before spinning out of play for a goal-kick.

South’s Jonathon Lo lunges for the ball against Taroona’s Hamish MacGregor 

Third-placed Hobart Olympic had to be content with a 2-2 draw against sixth-ranked Kingborough Lions United at the Athletic Centre on Saturday.

Warren Iles put the visitors ahead when he got a toe to Ross Hinkley’s low cross from the left.

Kosta Grillas made it 1-1 after the interval and he then put Olympic ahead with a marvellous volley from Fletcher Tracey’s left-wing cross.

Grillas was sent off shortly afterwards for using foul and abusive language. He must have almost broken his hand after bashing a hurdle on the athletics track as he made his way to the dressing room.

The Lions had another ‘goal’ by Iles disallowed for off-side, although the decision seemed contentious.

A clinical volley by senior debutant Alex Beaumont made it 2-2.

Taka Manaka takes a tumble

On Sunday, Metro-Claremont and New Town Eagles drew 0-0 in a bottom-of-the-table clash at North Chigwell that saw Metro remain last and Eagles move up a place at the expense of Taroona.

Metro have goalkeeper Neil Biggar to thank for the point as he pulled off a remarkable save from Andrew Clark in the first half.

Clarence United fielded a very young side but came out a 3-2 winner against University at Wentworth Park.

University goalkeeper Ashley Winter produced a brilliant save against one of his own players to prevent an own-goal, while later in the match, he managed to catch a ball that had been looped over his head and came back off the underside of the bar and into his arms. His momentum almost carried him over the line with the ball, but he was able to stop just in time.

Kenyi Emmanueli, Chris Nicholson and Ben Hamlett netted for Clarence, while Craig Stockdale and Gerard O’Brien were University’s marksmen.

University’s Colin Shepherd lays off a pass

Premier League Standings (as at 19 August 2007)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Tilford Zebras	17	13	3	1	59	17	42 : 9
South Hobart	17	12	3	2	42	13	39 : 12
Hobart Olympic	17	10	3	4	37	19	33 : 19
Clarence United	17	9	4	4	32	26	31 : 21
Glenorchy Knights	17	7	3	7	31	36	24 : 28
Kingborough Lions United	17	6	3	8	25	30	21 : 31
University	16	4	3	9	25	33	15 : 37
New Town Eagles	17	2	5	10	14	33	11 : 41
Taroona	17	3	2	12	16	46	11 : 41
Metro-Claremont	16	1	5	10	20	48	8 : 44

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University’s Iain Fletcher closes in on a his Clarence opponent

In the Reserve League, champions South Hobart downed Taroona 4-2 at South Hobart on Saturday.

Gavin Wailes, Callan Paske, Mitch Grueber and an own-goal gave South the win, while Alex Edwards hit both goals for the visitors.

Tilford Zebras accounted for Glenorchy Knights 6-2 at KGV Park on Friday evening. Dylan Fennell and Luke Engels scored a brace apiece, while Esteban Gonzalez and Bruno Palermo netted one goal each.

Ivan Vucica and Giovanni Vasile replied for the Knights.

Second-last Metro-Claremont drew 1-1 with bottom-side New Town Eagles at North Chigwell on Sunday, Jamie Bingham netting for Metro and Steven Vernon for the visitors.

A first-half strike by Stefan Hamilton gave second-placed Clarence a 1-0 win over sixth-ranked University.

A worried Matthew Gasparin

Reserve League Standings (as at 19 August 2007)

RESERVE LEAGUE (As at)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
South Hobart	17	15	1	1	61	20	46
Clarence United	17	10	3	4	43	23	33
Kingborough LionsUnited	17	10	3	4	41	28	33