The Glenorchy Knights are the 2020 Lakoseljac Cup champions after an enthralling 2-1 win over the Olympia Warriors at KGV Football Park.
In an end-to-end contest befitting of a cup final it was Thomas Young that stepped up with the winning goal and the Player of the Final award. His 74th minute strike broke a deadlock set up by two first-half goals, with an Adam Gorrie stunner cancelled out by an Alex Bellini free kick before the break. Both sides had chances to claim a decisive lead, but Young's goal combined with some resolute late defending saw the Knights take home the silverware.
With the two highest scoring teams in the NPL Tasmania facing off there were goals on the cards right from the opening kick-off. That made it less than surprising when the scoring was opened just four minutes into the contest with the first real chance of the evening.
What no one could have predicted, though, was the quality of the strike that Gorrie produced. A loose ball outside Olympia's attacking area dropped to a 50-50 contest, and Gorrie's attack on the ball kept it bouncing toward the goal. As it bobbled in front of him the fullback hit a vicious volley that curled perfectly towards the top corner and in for a world-class goal.
While Gorrie showed no nerves in giving his side the lead, both sides still took some time to settle into the game. While they both attacked with purpose in the early stages chances were few and far between, with a wide Ben Hamlett effort the only other shot on goal until the 20th minute.
It was then that Bellini stepped up to take a free kick from wide on the left wing, sending what initially looked like an innocuous cross toward the back post. As Warriors goalkeeper Elliot Hoysted stepped slightly off his line to intercept the ball drifted over his head and on target, bouncing off the inside of the post and in for a miraculous equaliser.
That was a slight error in goalkeeping judgment, but Knights gloveman Lachlan Hart almost gave up the lead minutes later with an almighty blunder. The joint NPL Golden Glove winner came well outside his area to collect a long ball, but rather than clearing the area he tried to take it past the oncoming Hamlett and promptly had his pocket picked. With an open goal to aim for Hamlett lifted a shot that looked certain to score but bounced just centimetres wide of the target.
The game slowed slightly from there, with both sides struggling to work through the pressure from the opposing defence. The Warriors led the shot count 6-3 at the break but struggled to create clear-cut shots on goal, while Glenorchy were assured in possession deep but couldn't execute to their usual standard in the final third. It was the defensive work of both teams that really stood out, with Golden Boot winner Alex Walter at one end and the dynamic Hamlett at the other both under constant pressure.
An apparent injury to Olympia defender Jake Vandermey was a blow to their chances in the dying moments of the first half, and with his steadying presence removed it was the Knights that first began to shake off the shackles after the restart. Walter himself went close with a pair of shots in the space of two minutes, the first drifting high and the second forcing a desperate block from Lucas Hill. The Warriors still continued to attack, though, with a Nick Mearns free kick just past the hour mark destined for the bottom corner until Hart dove low for a sharp save. Another long-range effort from Gorrie looked a simpler task for the Knights gloveman, but the ball almost snuck through his legs before he eventually clamped down on it.
Despite all that action and the frenetic pressing from both sides in the middle of the park, the scores remained locked with 15 minutes left as the Knights won a throw in their attacking third. It was delivered to Bellini who turned tidily and played a delightful flick to Young inside the box. His first touch drove into the middle of the area, and with his marker a step slow to react he slide a shot into the far bottom corner to give Glenorchy their first lead of the final.
A double chance to Naden almost doubled that lead moments later, but from there it was all about clock management as the Knights tried to whittle away the final ten minutes. They did so well for the most part, but there was one last chance for Olympia to steal an equaliser as Gorrie crossed dangerously from the right. Hart came off his line to punch the ball clear, and when the rebound fell to Callum Brown for a shot he reacted well to make one last save in an excellent season between the posts.
That would be the final meaningful play of the contest, with the final whistle confirming the Knights as the Lakoseljac Cup champions for the first time since 2012. With a raucous home crowd in attendance despite the restrictions in place, it was a spirited celebration as captain Tyler Harrison lifted the trophy and brought a close to the 2020 season of Tasmanian football.