Two top four battles are set to play a major role in shaping the title race in a massive weekend of NPL TAS action.
South Hobart and Olympia are set to meet for the final time this season when they clash at Warrior Park tonight. The Warriors can once again temporarily move into top spot on the table with a win, as they still sit 2 points behind Devonport at present. The Strikers would then have 2 games in hand heading into Sunday's clash with Zebras. As such, a loss could spell major trouble for the Warriors title hopes, something South would undoubtedly love to inflict on a team they’ve had some fierce battles with in recent years. With Devonport to play the only side to have beaten them in the NPL this season on Sunday, a win for Olympia could make things very tight at the top in what looms as a pivotal weekend.
The last time South and Olympia met it was an instant classic at Darcy Street, playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw. A stunning stoppage time goal from Jordan Scott stole a point for Olympia, who had been reduced to ten men just five minutes earlier. A second yellow card to Lucas Hill looked to have guaranteed a win for South Hobart after they had led for most of the half, but they were left to rue missed opportunities throughout the contest.
The other clash between the sides was all the way back in the season opening game as Olympia started their season with a commanding performance. A first half Jono Ladic stunner lead them to a 2-1 win, as they finally ended the streak of 13 winless games against South.
South Hobart snapped back into some form on Sunday after a couple of down weeks, beating the Hobart Zebras 2-0 in a game they could have won by more. With their July 31 FFA Cup game against Marconi fast approaching, they will be looking to build momentum and string results together continuing with the Warriors tonight.
Olympia will enter this game on a strong run of results. They have now won their past six games as they maintain their dogged pursuit of the Devonport Strikers who they play next weekend, in what looms as a season deciding fortnight for them. Whilst they have kept on winning, so too have the Strikers, meaning that they haven't made up any ground on them over the course of that winning streak. The Strikers winning run is also at six games, with the last time they dropped points, a 1-1 draw with this week's opponent the Hobart Zebras.
The Zebras have provided headaches for Devonport this year, also beating them 2-1 at KGV back in April, so this looms as a tough trip for the Strikers. If they can overcome this hurdle then they will be very situated, playing their next 4 games at Valley Road. With 4-0 wins over Launceston City and 4-1 over South Hobart from their past two games, the Strikers are firing on all cylinders and they know that they could put one hand on the title in these next two weeks if they win both games.
At the other end of the table, Clarence head up to Windsor Park to take on the only side they have taken points from this season in Riverside. The Roos won the last match-up between the pair down at Wentworth Park 3-1 however, and will be sensing a chance to take their season points tally into double digits. Before their week off last weekend, they had two strong performances, going down 3-2 away to Hobart Zebras and drawing 0-0 with South Hobart. They've shown steady improvement as the year has worn on and will be expected to win this one if they can carry that form on against a Clarence side who continue to languish. This looks their best chance of taking points left on the slate though, so they should be up for the contest.
Finally down at the Den on Saturday afternoon, the Kingborough Lions take on Launceston City in what is shaping as a battle for fifth place between the pair, as well as Knights. The Lions have been impressive since Jez Kenth took over, winning 4 from 6 and the two games they lost were 3-2 results against the competition's top two sides. City hammered them 4-0 up at Buckby Landrover Park in their most recent meeting with a 0-0 draw at the Den the other scoreline between the two. Outside of a comfortable win over Clarence, City's form hasn't been great over the past month so the Lions will enter this one as the favourites and they can open up a 7 point gap between the sides with a win. City would have a game in hand still, and the flip side is that the gap will be cut to 1 point if the visitors can get the job done. So this one looms as particularly important in settling fifth spot on the table.
Friday 19 July
Olympia v South Hobart, 8:15pm, Warrior Park LIVE STREAM
Saturday
Kingborough v Launceston City, 2:15pm, Lightwood Park
Riverside v Clarence, 2:30pm, Windsor Park
Sunday 21 July
Hobart Zebras v Devonport, 2:15pm, KGV LIVE STREAM