Walter Pless on Football

By Walter Pless

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The Southern men’s Premier League representative squad will be unchanged for Saturday’s return leg against the North at Launceston’s Mitsubishi Park at 2.30pm.

South coach Eamonn Kelly said there were no injury problems and that the players were eager to continue where they left off last weekend.

South beat North 2-0 at KGV Park last Saturday in the first leg of the revived intrastate series.

“We’re two nil up, but we’ll go into this game as if we are at nil all and it’s the first game,” said Kelly, who has also been named as the State coach for next month’s two games against a South Australian amateur selection.

“We’ve trained three nights this week and the boys are raring to go at them again.”

Kelly also expressed dissatisfaction with the venue, saying that the surface at Prospect was poor.

In contrast, North coach, Tom McGinn, who will be Kelly’s assistant in the games against South Australia, has injury problems concerning striker Chris McKenna and John Compagne, while midfielder Toby Skene is unavailable because of work commitments.

McGinn said he would have to try and find at least two replacements to include in the squad that played last weekend.

South squad: Frank Mainella, Henry Fagg, Ryan Smith, Aaron Brazendale, Daniel Lapolla (Hobart Zebras), Janko Begovic, Jonathon Ladic, Josh Fielding (Glenorchy Knights), Michael Bulis (Hobart Olympic), Andrew Telega, Nathan Pitchford (New Town Eagles), Bart Beecroft, Tom Roach, Daniel Brown, Jonathon Lo (South Hobart), Billy Gasparinatos (Taroona).

In the women’s intrastate match on Saturday at 12.30pm at the same venue, South will seek to improve on their 3-2 win last weekend at KGV but may be without two key players.

Defender Karen Clark has work commitments and is unavailable, while striker Nicole Hale may also be missing because of junior coaching commitments.

Dannielle Raymond will be included in the squad as a replacement, but the 16-player squad will be reduced to 15 if Hale is unavailable.

“We will again give all of the players a fair amount of game time,” said South coach, Matthew Shaw.

“The goalkeepers will again keep for a half each, with Isoline Ottavi starting this time and Chelsea Thomas keeping for the second half.

“We will be looking to build on last week’s performance.

“Everyone made a positive contribution during the game, but all know that there were things we could have done better.

“It was a good, competitive game and we know that we will need to be sharp to contain what was a very good opponent.”

North coach, Jason Jones, will include defenders Krystine Jeffery and Sally Lewis, who missed last week’s match.

“The game last week was the first game together for the girls and they’ll be keen for this return meeting,” Jones said.

“We only had one sub last week and the girls ran out of legs near the end and we conceded the winning goal.

“We’ll be fully fit for this return and have a full squad.”

Intrastate Men’s Challenge Series

By Walter Pless

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South had beaten the North 5-3 in an exhibition match in Launceston in July and they won this first leg of the Intrastate Challenge Series comfortably at KGV Park with a goal in each half.

The second goal was an own-goal, although Aaron Brazendale was claiming it, saying that the ball had already dipped under the crossbar and over the line before Tim Claxton chested it into the net.

It was, however, Tom Roach who had created the chance with a shot against the right-hand post and a goal was a fitting reward. The ball rebounded wide, where Brazendale gained possession and floated a cross into the six-yard box

North goalkeeper Marshall Pooley received a knock early on and was a little clumsy in his handling for the rest of the match.

Begovic wins a header deep in defense for South

Alex Brownlie blocked a Jonathon Ladic shot on the line in the 11^th minute as South exerted early pressure.

North’s first chance did not come until the 29^th minute when Thataetsile Kakadumane blazed high and wide of the target.

In the 40^th minute, a back-header by Brownlie to his keeper saw Pooley drop the ball, but he recovered just before South’s lurking attackers could take advantage.

A minute before the break, great play down the left by South saw Brazendale nutmeg a defender inside the box and send a low cross towards the far post, where Roach hammered home the opening goal.

 Substitute Michael Bulis forced a corner for South on the hour with a dangerous shot that took a slight deflection.

In the 66^th minute, Ben Crosswell released Kakdumane down the inside-left channel, but Frank Mainella blocked the shot and conceded a fruitless corner.

The second goal 16 minutes from the end killed off the contest.

   

The sides meet again next Saturday at Mitsubishi Park in Launceston.

_____________________________________________________

• South coach, Eamonn Kelly, said:

“I thought we most probably played the better football on the day.

“We kept positive, we kept shape and I think the back-four were absolutely magnificent and didn’t put a foot wrong all day.

“The same with the midfield. We couldn’t fault any one person today.

“Everyone put in 110 per cent effort and everyone played well and we just seemed to click as a team and play well as a team.

“That was the difference between us and them. We didn’t play as individuals and we played as a team.

• North coach, Tom McGinn, said:

“I thought they were by far the better team in the first half.

“I thought it was a really scrappy game and I thought we probably showed them too much respect, a few young lads in our team.

“I thought in the second half we came into the game and had a couple of chances. If we’d finished them off early on, well.

“I thought the second goal was a bit unlucky…just the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Once again, I think the better team won on the day.”

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South (4-4-2): Mainella - Begovic, A Telega, Smith, Fagg - Roach, Beecroft, Ladic, Lo - Brown, Brazendale.

(Substitutes: Bulis, Fielding, Gasparinatos, D Lapolla, Pitchford)

Goals: Roach 44, Claxton 74 og

 

North (4-4-2): Pooley - Claxton, Hingston, Brownlie, Johnson - Crosswell, Schipper, Douglas, Tabrett - Kakadumane, McKenna.

(Substitutes: S Howe, Skene, De Bomford, A Howe)

Booked: Brownlie 68, De Bomford 81

Att: 350

Ref: C Phillips

   

By Walter Pless

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Men’s State Premiership

The game

Somerset – Tilford Zebras, Cardigan Street, Somerset, Saturday, 8 September 2007 (2 pm)

The stakes

Somerset were aiming for the treble of northern Premier League championship, Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy and State Premiership. They won the northern title but lost last weekend’s Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy final to Launceston City 2-0. This will be their only chance of picking up a second piece of silverware.

Tilford Zebras won the southern Premier League title and the pre-season Summer Cup, but they lost in the quarterfinals of the Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy, so this can still be their treble.

The players

Somerset’s Bobby Eaves is the northern Premier League’s leading goalscorer with 15 goals from 16 matches. Sam Cocks has netted 7 goals and Andrew Considine 6.

Aaron Brazendale of Tilford Zebras finished with 9 goals to be the club’s leading scorer, while Daniel Lapolla was just behind with 8 goals, followed by Chris Cox with 7 goals. Zebras played two more league matches than Somerset, but Somerset had 14 wins and the Zebras only 13.

Zebras scored more goals in the league than Somerset this season, and the sides have both conceded 17 goals, but remember, Zebras have played two more games.

Zebras will be without utility and impact player Josh Thorpe, often a super-sub who can turn a game on his own. He is in Los Angeles. His powerful shooting will be missed.

Brazendale is inconsistent. A player with pace and tremendous skills, he can be a match-winner on his day, if he is in the mood.

Frank Mainella is one of the best goalkeepers in the State, but his form in the past couple of games has been erratic. If he is at his best, he will be difficult to beat. It was another goalkeeper, Lino Sciulli, of Launceston City, who probably cost Somerset last weekend’s cup final.

The past

Somerset and Tilford Zebras have met three times in the past. All these meetings were in State-wide cup competitions.

In 1996, Zebras won 8-0. In 2004, Zebras were triumphant 1-0, while in 2006 Zebras won 2-1, so the winning margin has been getting smaller each time. Will the tide turn this time?

The words

“Deciding the State premiership over two home-and-away legs would have been preferable as you can have an off-day and lose it in a one-off game. After all, the promotion and relegation play-off is over two legs, so it should be the same for this, but, in the end, we can only do what we’re told to do. Everyone except Josh Thorpe, who is overseas, is available and fit. I watched Somerset last Saturday and the loss wasn’t a reflection of their true ability. They’ll come back, especially at home, and it should be an exciting game.” - Nick Lapolla (Tilford Zebras coach)

“We won the Northern Premier League title and that was our main focus for the past ten months. We have a few little niggling injuries, but nothing that won’t be right by Saturday. We have trained pretty well and worked on a lot of things. We think we’ve identified some weaknesses in the Zebras team and we’ll try and exploit those.” Craig Macey (Somerset coach)

By Walter Pless

Launceston City beat Somerset 2-0 at Valley Road on Saturday to collect the Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy.

Somerset, the northern Premier League champions, had several good chances in the opening quarter of an hour, including one shot from Ricky Eaves that hit the post.

But, City took the lead in the 38^th minute through substitute Josh Duncan, who converted Roger Mies’s low cross from the left.

City squandered two penalties conceded by Casey Eaves. City captain, Alex Brownlie, placed his spot-kick wide on both occasions.

With five minutes remaining, Michael Frost netted City’s second, after the Somerset keeper could only parry Anthony Macri’s shot, to ensure a happy ending to a dismal season for the Launceston outfit, who had finished fourth in the league.

It was the final appearance for City striker Mies, midfielder Justin Dyer and goalkeeper Lino Sciulli, all of whom are retiring.

“They wanted it more than us and used the retirement of Mies, Dyer and Sciulli to lift their game for this cup final,” said Somerset coach, Craig Macey.

“Apart from the opening stages, we were up against it, and Sciulli pulled one out of the hat for his final game.”

City coach, David Craig, said: “It was good, really good, more so because of the three players who were finishing up today.

“It was a very special day for them and I’m really happy for them.”

In the final southern Premier League match of the season, University withstood tremendous Metro-Claremont pressure to win 3-1 at Olinda Grove on Saturday.

Metro had most of the play in the opening half and squandered a dozen chances, including a bad miss by Edward Guma, who somehow hit the crossbar from 4 metres with an open goal beckoning after University keeper Ashley Winter had turned Adam McKeown’s shot against the post.

University, against the odds, led 1-0 at the interval through a Colin Shepherd free-kick in the 28^th minute.

Julian Poud made it 2-0 from Matthew Shaw’s cross on the hour before Metro captain Shane Kent pulled a goal back from a penalty midway through the half.

University earned a penalty in the final minute and allowed goalkeeper Winter to take it, but his spot-kick was saved by substitute keeper Troy Kaden.

Referee Stephen Pitchford ordered the kick re-taken because of an infringement and Proud made no mistake to collect his second goal of the match and make the score-line 3-1 for the home side.

Beachside made sure of the Division One championship on Saturday with a 2-1 away win over second-last Christian United at Sherburd and booked a date with Metro-Claremont for the promotion/relegation play-off beginning next weekend.

Beachside led 1-0 at the break through a shot by Sebastian Milford, which took a deflection off United’s David Noble.

John De Vries equalised in the second half, but another strike by Milford ensured Beachside of the title.

Goals by Tom McDonald, Geoff Freeman and Ben Daley gave fourth-placed Kingborough Lions United a 3-0 win over third-placed Kingston Cannons at Lightwood Park.

In the final Reserve League match of the season, seventh-ranked Taroona lost 1-0 at home to sixth-placed University at Kelvedon Park through a goal by Brook Teale.

In Friday night’s women’s State-wide Cup final, Nelson Eastern Suburbs came back from a one-goal half-time deficit against the lowly-ranked Clarence United to win 3-1 after extra-time.

Clarence, second-last on the ladder, produced a courageous and skilful display to worry the league champion and Marlugu Dixon headed them in front with the side’s first corner of the game, taken by Harkana Dixon, in the 36^th minute.

Nicole Hale equalised in the 59^th minute but was promptly sent off after receiving a second yellow card for taking off her shirt and engaging in an overly exuberant goal celebration.

Clarence almost regained the lead when Nelson’s Lauren Barnes deflected a shot against her own post, but when the ball ricocheted to Marlugu Dixon, she directed her powerful shot straight at Nelson goalkeeper Katelin Barker.

Clarence goalkeeper Tess Joiner-Stewart had an outstanding game overall, but it was her poor goalkick in the 11^th minute of extra-time that enabled Chrystal Dean to fire Nelson ahead.

Dean made it 3-1 a minute later when she ran onto a great ball out of defence and advanced on goal before beating Joiner-Dixon with a well-placed shot.

South Hobart finished second in the Division One competition, three points adrift of champion Beachside, after beating bottom-side Huon Valley 5-1 at home at Wellesley Park on Sunday.

South Hobart dominated the opening half and led 2-0, but a plucky Huon Valley staged a revival early in the second half and scored just past the hour mark to make it one goal the difference.

Three goals in the final 20 minutes - two of them in the last 10 minutes - killed off a tiring Valley outfit that lost all 18 of its league matches this season.

The first half was like a shooting gallery with South Hobart peppering the visitors’ goal, but good goalkeeping by Liam Donohue and stubborn defending by Tobias Stauffer, Anton Cirvydas, John O’Toole and Mark Thompson restricted South to two goals.

Tom Veness, who was a constant danger down the left, fired South in front in the 11^th minute, while Rowan Franklin made it 2-0 midway through the half from David Cooper’s corner.

Ben Vale pulled a goal back for the Valley in the 62^nd minute after a defensive error by South, but Travers Wailes netted from Fred Assenheimer’s corner in the 73^rd minute to restore the home side’s two-goal buffer.

Premier League player David Cooper netted in the 80^th and 89^th minutes to complete South’s victory.

“It was a pretty hard-fought game,” said Huon Valley’s 48-year-old defender O’Toole, who was playing his 301^st game for the club.

“South had a lot of young guys with good control, but we weren’t a push-over and at least we pushed them.

“I think we made them play hard for their win.”

O’Toole had notched up his 300^th game for the club by playing in the reserves curtain-raiser. He has only been playing football for 12 years, having started his career at the age of 37.

South Hobart coach, Jed Donoghue, said: “Huon Valley played well in patches and so did we, but it was a bit of a scrappy game.

“We got five goals, but I was just disappointed we didn’t keep a clean sheet.”

By Walter Pless

Women’s State-wide Cup Final, KGV Park, Friday, 31 August 2007

Clarence United 1 (M Dixon 36)

Officials (l to r) Stephen Pitchford, Tom Humphries, Matthew Brooks, Jason Priest

Nelson Eastern Suburbs 3 (Hale 59, Dean 101, 102)

HT: 1-0 FT: 1-1 AET: 1-3 Att: 250 Ref: T Humprhries

Clarence United (1-3-4-2): T Joiner-Stewart - M Brighella - M Dabner, K Vienna-Hallam, M Nicholls - K Bolton, M Dixon, E Cripps, J McIntyre - H Dixon, K Enkelaar [Substitutes: J Jarvis, E Batt, S Clifford, E Van Chastelet] [Joint Coaches: R Bolton, A Baxter]

Nelson Eastern Suburbs (4-4-2): K Barker - N Hale, K Clark, L Barnes, A Belbin - S Morris, V Johnson, B Grant, E Longo - C Dean, A Jones [Substitutes: L Hooper, N Smith, A Underwood] [Joint Coaches: O Fitzgerald, G Slicer]

With a large moon rising in the east and rain occasionally pelting down, these two Eastern Shore sides fought out a cup final that really brought to life that old cliché about ‘the romance of cup football’.

On paper, Nelson Eastern Suburbs were hot favourites to win. They had beaten Clarence United 13-0 in their first league meeting, and Nelson had won the Summer Cup and the league. They are also in next weekend’s State premiership final against Launceston City in Launceston.

It was not until July that Clarence scored their first league goal, and they finished the season in second-last place. One could not have envisaged a more David and Goliath pairing than this final.

But, Clarence were a team transformed and they almost pulled off the sort of giant-killing feat that abounds in the annals of cup football.

Clarence were not outclassed. They led 1-0 at the break and were level at 1-1 after the regulation 90 minutes. It was only in extra-time that they ran out of legs and the physically stronger Nelson team gained the edge, despite being down to ten players after only an hour of the game.

Clarence prepare for a kick off

Nicole Hale, who started at right-back, but soon moved up into the attack, was sent off in the 59^th minute when she collected a second yellow card for celebrating her equalising goal. She pulled off her shirt and, clad only in a bra above the waist, ran towards the crowd while swinging her shirt above her head.

Hale had earlier been cautioned for standing over the ball at a Clarence free-kick. Her indiscipline in both instances was, fortunately for Nelson, not to cost them dearly.

Indeed, Nelson could, and probably should, have been down to nine players when Hale was sent off. After only five minutes of the match, goalkeeper Katelin Barker rolled the ball out into midfield for Lauren Barnes, but she was dispossessed by Marlugu Dixon.

Clarence goal scorer Marlugu Dixon - her two goals in the semi-final helped Clarence to reach the final

As Dixon set off for goal, Barnes, the last defender, pulled her back and conceded a free-kick just outside the box. Mr Humphries, surprisingly, did not even caution Barnes when he might easily have sent her off for the infringement.

Harkana Dixon’s free-kick came to nothing, however.

The statistics indicate Nelson’s superiority, but statistics do not tell the whole story.

They do not tell of the bravery of the Clarence side and their not inconsiderable skills.

The Dixon sisters were the equal of any players Nelson had, while goalkeeper Tess Joiner-Stewart was excellent and dealt superbly with many dangerous shots. It was a tragedy that her poor goal-kick in extra-time gifted Nelson their second goal, which ultimately turned the game in Nelson’s favour.

Jess McIntyre was splendid in midfield and her defending reliable. A real chip off the old block. Her father, Michael McIntyre, the former Metro and Juventus star, was in the stands watching and must have been well satisfied.

Nelson’s Vanessa Johnson was always dangerous with her shooting, especially from long range, while Barnes and captain Karen Clark made a formidable central defensive duo that proved almost impossible to break down.

Hale was always dangerous when she moved up to take over as a striker, and her header at the far post in the 8^th minute flew just wide. On the quarter-hour mark, she was put through by a diagonal pass from Johnson, only to shoot straight at the goalkeeper.

Clarence won their first corner of the match in the 36^th minute and it proved decisive. Harkana Dixon floated the ball over and Marlugu Dixon headed it home to give Clarence the lead.

Clarence Captain Emily Cripps receives her losers medal watch over by adoring Clarence fans

Hale equalised in the 59^th minute when she eluded the Clarence defence, got past the last defender and just managed to roll the ball agonisingly slowly towards goal. It beat Joiner-Stewart and hit the far right-hand post before crossing the line.

Joiner-Stewart made excellent saves to deny Belinda Grant and Johnson before the 90 minutes were up.

In the 4^th minute of extra-time, Clarence almost regained the lead when Harkana Dixon sent in a dangerous cross from the right and Barnes, in trying to clear, volleyed the ball against a post. The ball ricocheted to Marlugu Dixon, whose powerful shot flew straight into Barker’s arms.

Five minutes later, Clark pushed forward and fired just wide as Nelson increased the tempo of their attacks.

In the 101^st minute, a poor goal-kick by Joiner-Stewart went straight to Chrystal Dean, who advanced on goal and scored with a shot inside the far post to give Nelson a 2-1 lead.

Clarence’s Harkana & Marlugu Dixon

Within a minute it was 3-1 as Dean was released by a marvellous diagonal ball from the right of the Nelson defence and she raced through to easily beat Joiner-Stewart again.

Marlugu Dixon had another chance before the end, again from her sister’s corner, but she headed straight at the goalkeeper.

Nelson’s captain, Clark, paid tribute to the Clarence side as she hoisted the trophy, presented by Football Federation Tasmania president, Steve Gasparinatos.

“I’m very proud of them,” said Clarence United’s joint-coach, Ronnie Bolton, a former Hobart Olympic star.

“We’ve earned a lot of respect this year and I’m very proud of them.

“It’s very difficult to keep up with a team like Nelson and they’re the benchmark and have been for a number of years.

“Our girls tried, but to do it for ninety minutes is extremely difficult, and in extra-time is almost impossible.”

Nelson Eastern Suburbs joint-coach, Gary Slicer, was relieved to win.

There’s no bad moon rising for Nelson

“Yes, it was a relief after a first half in which the girls didn’t play too good at all,” said Slicer.

“Clarence came out, and, to give them credit, they really gave us a run for the money.

“Certainly a bit of a shaking in the dressing room at half-time.

“Losing a player and being down to ten wasn’t too good either.

“But, very relieved to win. The girls came out and did well in the second half.

“The second half, we came back, and in extra-time it really consolidated it for us and, from then on, they didn’t really worry us too much.

“Clarence didn’t give up right until the end, so they made us play.

“It was a very successful season for us. The Summer Cup, took the league out, and, of course, now the State-wide Cup.

“We’ve just got next week in Launceston for the State final, as well, against Launceston City.

“It’s been a great season for the girls.

Nelson Captain Karen Clark acknowledges and thanks Clarence

“We did very well against Launceston City the last time we came up against them and I think the girls will be really pumped up with this win.

“We’ll have a few tired legs, mind you, and a few of the girls are really aching, so we’ll give the girls a bit of a rest, have a look at what happens on Wednesday at training, and take it from there.”

Clarence United striker, Harkana Dixon, said: “We held them off pretty well as we’re near the bottom of the ladder.”

Harkana and her sister, Marlugu Dixon, worked well together and their corner combinations were a threat to Nelson.

“Too bad our second corner routine didn’t work,” said Marlugu. “We work pretty well together.

“We sort of try and work together. I know her game really well and we try and work together and help out the team.”

CLARENCE		NELSON
6	Goal Attempts	30
4	Shots on Target	16
3	Corners	13
7	Fouls Committed	9
1	Off-Sides	3
1 (M Dixon 76)	Yellow Cards	5 (Hale 40, 59, Jones 44, Belbin 58, Johnson 62)
0	Red Cards	1 (Hale 59)

 

Clarence United:

Clarence coaches Ronnie Bolton & Andy Baxter

PLAYER	GOAL ATTEMPTS	SHOTS ON TARGET
H Dixon	1	0
M Dixon	4	3
McIntyre	1	1

 

Nelson Eastern Suburbs:

Nelson coach Ossie Fitzgerald and assistant Gary Slicer

 

 

PLAYER	GOAL ATTEMPTS	SHOTS ON TARGET
Jones	2	1
Hale	3	2
Johnson	5	3
Morris	2	1
Grant	2	1
Underwood	4	2
Clark	3	2
Longo	3	0
Barnes	2	1
Dean	3	2
Hooper	1	1

By Walter Pless

Somerset are the favourites for Saturday’s Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy final at Valley Road in Devonport, but Launceston City cannot be discounted.

City are cup specialists and their experience could tell if Somerset are not at their best.

Somerset have no injuries and coach Craig Macey said his side was confident but wary.

They had a session in the pool on Tuesday night and normal training later in the week in preparation for their first appearance in the final of this competition.

“We’ve played them twice this year and beaten them 3-1 away and 4-1 at home,” said Macey.

“They were under-strength last time, but they’ll be hungry for success in this final as it’s their only chance of collecting some silverware this season.

“They’re very good at set-plays and someone like Roger Mies is very dangerous at those situations, so we’ll be aiming to shut them down very tightly.”

City coach, David Craig, said he was quietly confident of success and that his team would give a good account of themselves after finishing a disappointing fourth in the league.

The recent signing of Antonio Macri has bolstered the side and, with some of the veterans such as Roger Mies and Justin Dyer approaching retirement, a top performance can be expected from the Launceston outfit.

City looked a beaten side in the semi-final against South Hobart, but won 2-1 in extra-time, a clear indication that they never give up, no matter how dire the situation.

“We should be at full strength, although we do have a couple of minor injury worries for the weekend, but assuming no mishaps between now and then, all is good,” said Craig.

“We will have Anthony Macri available again, which should give us some options up front.

“Justin Dyer will play in his last game for the club. After hyper-extending his knee against South Hobart, he has made an incredible recovery so, hopefully, he will go out with good memories.

“Andy Clarke still has a problem toe and could miss out, but I feel we can cover his position okay if need be.

“I think we have a better chance of getting a result against them in this game than in the previous games simply because we are at full strength.

“We have not played against them with a full strength team yet, so it remains to be seen how they will cope with us under these conditions.

“They are a good side, though, and would have to be the yard stick at the moment.

“I don’t believe I am wrong in saying this state-wide and not just in the north.

“They are a very well-conditioned team, very competitive and very quick on both flanks and capable of quickly turning teams around on the counter.

“They also seem to convert any chance or half-chance better than most sides, so we will have to have no lapses of concentration for the whole game.

“It is a big game for our club, but just being part of the day will be great.

“The fact that we finished fourth on the ladder is disappointing, but the way forward for the club is, I believe, to play our younger players and sit with them through the normal ups and downs that you get with kids.

“And, also maybe to plug in a couple of experienced players that are above the competition level, perhaps two imports.

“We can only wait and see what happens in the off season regarding all of this, but it would be good for the game to see some new faces rather than the same old, same old.”

The final southern Premier League match of the season is on Saturday at Olinda Grove, where seventh-placed University host bottom-side Metro-Claremont in a replay of their earlier match, which was declared invalid because of a timing error by the referee.

Metro will be without suspended sweeper Terry Kent, who was sent off last weekend against Taroona.

Darrin Chaffey is likely to fit in at sweeper, while Jarrod Saunders may make a return after injuring a knee at training recently.

Metro have injury concerns surrounding Aaron Marney (neck), Adam McKeown (back) and Phil Curran (calf).

Veteran goalkeeper Neil Biggar may only play half a game after an exhausting and demanding season.

“Despite our loss last week, the club is brimming with confidence after a very encouraging second half of the season, so far,” said Metro coach, Matthew Gasparin.

University are not happy at replaying a match they initially won 5-1, but Gerard O’Brien is the only doubtful starter from the side that lost 5-0 to South Hobart last weekend.

“We are stuck playing a game we have already played,” said University coach, Matthew Shaw. “We do not want to, but are concerned that we could be deducted points if we do not.

“We have some of last week’s side available and some not. We will cobble together eleven even if it means roping in some of the women’s Premier League side since they are the only side in the club without a game, and a couple of them would be capable of performing well.

“We are definitely without Rod Gretton, who has a fractured skull.

“He has called the decision to play this game again atrocious.

“That it is being played shows contempt for the injury he sustained.

“On the day, both teams agreed to continue with the game and the referee explained how he planned to play it.

“He knew that at least 65 minutes had to be played for the game to count. That he then submitted a report stating only 60 minutes were played is inexplicable.

“I have never received an adequate explanation for why this was so when others of us timed it at more than 65 minutes.

“The even halves has never been mentioned as a reason, nor should it.

“I have played a game that was abandoned after 25 minutes of the second half because of a storm and that was never replayed.

“Numerous other debatable decisions each week are also not an excuse for replaying a match.

“The only reason this is being replayed is that less than 65 minutes was played according to the referee’s report.

I just hope none of our players get injured in this game.”

Friday’s women’s State-wide cup final between Nelson Eastern Suburbs and Clarence United kicks off at 7.30pm at KGV Park.

Nelson are the hot favourites to take the trophy ahead of their State premiership clash with Launceston City next weekend.

Clarence, surprising finalists, are sure to take the game right up to their opponents.

By Walter Pless

Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy Semi-Final, South Hobart, Saturday, 11 August 2007

South Hobart 1 (Wain 37)

Launceston City 2 (Brownlie 89, Mies 93)

HT: 1-0 After 90 min: 1-1 AET: 1-2 Att: 200 Ref: P Angel