South Hobart have produced a dominant display at Darcy Street, downing Clarence 13-1 on Sunday.
A six-goal haul from Ben Hamlett, along with doubles to Nick Morton and Sam Tooze helped the home side’s tally, with singles to Kurdistan, Gorrie and Lakoseljac helping to round out the convincing victory.
South started on the front foot with Hamlet, Herweynen and Kurdistan looking dangerous. Nick Morton and Kobe Kemp produced a great one two, before Nicholas Downham was forced into action to deny Morton’s shot, however not long after South found a breakthrough.
Ten minutes into the contest South produced a good attack and the ball found itself in a dangerous area. The ball was played across the box to the awaiting Ben Hamlet who kicked his first goal of the game and opened the scoring for South.
South’s lead almost doubled in the 18th minute, but Downham produced two great saves, denying Lakoseljac, before wedging Morton’s shot in between the crossbar and his glove. Despite these early chances, South were still only one goal ahead, and the visitors almost found an equaliser.
Clarence’s first real chance of the game came when Hatcher played Burt through on the left. Burt then swung the ball into the box, finding the head of the diving Randall who hit the ball with power goalwards. However, Wright would be there to deny the visitors a chance to equalise.
Despite this great chance, it was the home side who continued to look more likely, with chances falling to Lakoseljac and Morton. Clarence had a good chance of their own after a good Lange run, before South found two goals in quick succession.
In the 35th minute Siyar Kurdistan produced a strong shot into the bottom left corner of the goal, doubling his sides lead. Just moments later Adam Gorrie made a great run down the right wing, cutting inside and hitting the ball into the back of the net, extending South’s lead to 3-0.
Just seven minutes after South’s second and third goal, the home side found a fourth, with Ben Hamlett striking his second of the day. Nick Morton then produced an absolutely superb goal on the cusp of halftime, beating his man before placing the ball in the back of the net. This goal saw South head into halftime with a 5-0 lead.
The second half kicked off with Clarence passing the ball around well, before Hamlett hit wide for the home side. Gorrie and Berezansky both missed chances soon after, before a saved Morton shot fell to Lakoseljac who took his opportunity, moving the score to 6-0.
In the 65th minute the visitors found a goal of their own, when Harry Lange produced a good run. Lange spread the ball to the right where Moynihan finished well, hitting through Wright’s legs and into the back of the net. However, Clarence’s joy was short lived, with Ben Hamlett’s deflected shot finding the back of the net just a minute after the Reds’ goal. This goal moved the score to 7-1 and completed Hamlett’s hattrick.
Just five minutes after Hamlett’s third, South had found another, this goal came after Hallam played the ball to Morton in the box, Morton then struck well, extending the home sides lead to 8-1.
Clarence almost struck back just minutes later, with some combination play between Fletcher and Lange resulting in Burt hitting the post, however South would continue to push for more goals.
In the 81st minute second half substitute Sam Tooze struck the ball with power towards the goal. This shot looked like Downham was going to save it easily, however the pace behind the ball saw it slip through his hands and into the back of the net. This goal set the wheels in motion for an action packed final ten minutes, with South adding four more goals in the space of four minutes.
This late game onslaught began in the 84th minute when Ben Hamlett hit his fourth of the game. Sam Tooze then found his second goal just a minute later, before a Nick Morton cross gave Hamlett his fifth. Hamlett scored again to extend his total to six, and his sides to 13, and this was how it would remain, with South Hobart running out 13-1 winners.
Speaking post-match South Hobart coach Ken Morton said that his side had “good control of the game, we had good speed and good intensity, when we attacked over the flanks we looked good and the crosses looked good as well so I’m happy with the performance today.”
Clarence coach Warren Burt said that in between his sides early chance and their goal it was a pretty disappointing performance. Burt explained that “we didn’t hold onto the ball, we didn’t pass the ball accurately and with any speed and they’re a very good team, so it makes it very tough.”
Next week Clarence play host to Launceston City, 2:30pm on Saturday at Wentworth Park. Meanwhile South Hobart host Riverside on Sunday, 2pm at Darcy Street.