McDonald’s® NPL Tasmania: Round 11 Weekend Wash-Up

Welcome to the Weekend Wash-Up for Round 11 of the McDonald’s NPL Tasmania. It was a weekend where the Strikers extended their lead to 7 points and a host of new faces appeared across the starting line up’s due to the opening of the transfer window.

South Put Major Dent in Knights Title Hopes

Jackson Dent struck an 89th-minute winner to deal a major blow to the Glenorchy Knights’ title hopes and secure a dramatic 4-3 win for South Hobart in arguably the game of the season to date.

Twice, South Hobart pulled back Knights’ leads, before overrunning them in the second half and snatching away all three points with substitute Dent’s late moment of magic.

The Knights welcomed back Nicholas Naden for this clash and he wasted no time making an immediate impact, combining with Undy on the edge of the area before skipping in behind and opening the scoring in just the third minute.

South responded with a blistering goal, starting from a throw deep in their own half. Morton and Van Doorne worked it up the wing before the Canadian threaded it for Berezansky, who drove into the box, cut it back to Morton who had continued his run and buried the shot to square things up.

The Knights were having the better of the first-half chances though and took just five minutes to recapture the lead, as Turner drew a save from O’Connell that left a tap-in for Sagno from close range, that went through the roof of the net, deceiving most of those in attendance.

South were able to get back on terms again just before half time though when an in-swinging corner was worked over the line by Toby Herweynen with Jackson Gardner ending up in the back of his own net. The Knights looked expectantly for a flag for a foul on their keeper Gardner, but none was forthcoming, and the goal stood.

South were somewhat fortunate to be level after 45 minutes, but they were much improved in the second half and took the lead just after the restart mark when Morton smashed a shot from outside the box that led to Van Doorne burying a rebound from Gardner’s save.

Now it was Knights who needed a response and they duly found one as Nicholas Naden scored his second goal on return, finishing off a simply superb move to knot things back up at 3-3 with half an hour still to play.

It always seemed like another goal was likely, but despite both sides having some chances, including a brilliant fingertip save from Gardner to deny Fidra, it remained level as we neared stoppage time.

Enter Jackson Dent, freshly introduced just moments earlier, he seized the moment after Castaneda found him at the top of the box and produced a wonderful curling finish into the top corner to secure the win. It was a dramatic end to a highly dramatic game and a wonderful afternoon’s entertainment.

The Knights now find themselves 7 points back of the Strikers and probably hoping to never see Darcy Street again. In 11 matches at other venues this season they’ve conceded a grand total of 4 goals. In 2 games at South’s home, they’ve remarkably shipped 11!

Strikers Down Improved Riverside

The gap now sits at 7 points because the day prior the Devonport Strikers took care of business against Riverside Olympic and registered a 2-0 win.

It wasn’t the free-flowing, footballing clinic the Strikers produced a week prior against Launceston City, but a burst at the start of the second half was enough to settle the contest.

Riverside were bolstered by some handy inclusions that should see them improve in the second half of the season, reinforcing the squad in the transfer window. Midfield general Gedi Krusa who has been playing in the Under 21’s was finally able to be registered, whilst Canadian defender Adrian Anthony and American forward Nick Pechenyi both made their debuts.

The result was a much-improved showing, as they frustrated the Strikers in a fiery, physical and ultimately scoreless first half. It threatened to boil over on multiple occasions and kept the referee busy.

The Strikers sprang to life just after the restart though, and their Spanish marksman Fernandez Garrido turned sharply in the box before firing them into the lead in the 48^th minute.

Brody Denehey was then able to double the Strikers lead in the 55^th minute, beating Nash at the third time of asking, after the Riverside keeper denied him and Bennet in the lead up.

That would ultimately prove enough for Devonport, who were never going to cede a 2 goal lead and they closed it out with a minimum of fuss. Riverside will take heart from this showing though and hope their new signings can see them add to their 3 points in the back half of the season.

Ryley and Riley Combine To Hammer United

At Wentworth Park, Launceston United were put to the sword by the Clarence Zebras, who stormed to one of their biggest-ever NPL wins in a 9-1 rout. New Canadian Striker Ryley Wishart wasted no time in making his mark, scoring three times, whilst Riley Dillon chimed in with a late barrage of goals to bag 4 in the thumping win.

This was a dismantling from start to finish, as the Zebras took the lead in just the first minute of the game when Xuan Cappellino finished from close range after Wishart found him in the box.

Things quickly got worse when Greg Duffy slid out to try dispossessing an onrushing Miley and ended up with a nasty-looking leg break.

Adding insult to injury a penalty was given against Duffy and up stepped Wishart to dispatch the first of his three for the day. The best of which was undoubtedly his next as he cut in from the left and produced a perfectly chipped finish from the angle. He looks a player of considerable quality and alongside Cappellino, the Zebras might now have the most potent strike duo we have seen in the league for a while.

Another new Zebras signing in Jayden Hey got on the board when substitute keeper Piper had a fresh-air swing and left him an empty net to score into. Piper would later save a penalty from redeeming himself somewhat.

United pulled one back with a thumping strike from Will Spicer, blasting one home from the top of the box, but it was to be the high point of the day for United.

Wishart completed his hat-trick before Riley Dillon took over late, scoring three times in the final 8 minutes as the United defence fell apart. It took his tally to the day to 4 goals and suddenly the Zebras side looks a potent outfit in attack.

It secured a thumping win for the Zebras, who overtook South Hobart into third place such was the boost to their goal difference. United meanwhile have a winnable fixture against Riverside next week but will need to offer significant improvement from this, or their wait for points will continue.

Lions Close In On City With Win

Finally to Buckby Motors Park, where the Kingborough Lions downed Launceston City 2-0 to close back within a point of them on the table.

The first half was a largely dour affair, with shots from range forming most of the half chances, with the exception of a decent chance that fell to Kobe Kemp, which he skied over the crossbar.

Things picked up in the second half as Lachie Clark produced a nice save to deny Matthew Hess from range as the Lions began to work their way on top. Alex Brown has moved across from South Hobart and he looked dangerous in attack for the Lions here.

Mason Smith came close to opening the scoring for City with a shot fizzed narrowly over, before Noah Mies drew a sharp save from Lachie Clark.

The resulting corner produced the breakthrough, however, as the Lions took the lead in the 69^th minute via Greg Downes who bent one home on the turn that Clark got a palm to but couldn’t keep out.

Things then threatened to boil over when a pair of red cards were shown in the 71^st minute. Hampson was given a straight red for a lunging tackle on Fred Hess, which drew a furious reaction from his brother Matthew, raising a hand to the face of Hampson and earning himself a red card of his own, sending both sides down to 10 men.

City were unable to find a leveler as the 10 men pushed hard late, but as they had for much the night, found themselves shut out by a strong Lions rear guard. The game was then sealed in the 89^th minute when a penalty against Fellows allowed Kemp to step up and secure a 2-0 victory from the spot.

McDonald’s NPL Tasmania

Round 11

Clarence Zebras 9 (X.Cappellino 1” R.Wishart 10” 26” 52” R.Dillon 32” 84” 85” 90+1” J.Hey 35”)

Launceston United 1 (W.Spicer 36”)

Highlights

Devonport 2 (R.Garrido 48” B.Denehey 56”)

Riverside Olympic 0

Highlights

Launceston City 0

Kingborough Lions 2 (G.Downes 69”K.Kemp 90”)

Highlights

South Hobart 4 (N.Morton 21” T.Herweynen 42” I.Van Doorne 51” J.Dent 89”)

Glenorchy Knights 3 (N.Naden 3” 58” D.Sagno 27”)

Highlights