Welcome to the Friday Forecast as we turn for the final straight in season 2022 of the McDonalds NPL Tasmania. Sides now play each other for the third and final time this year as we hit the final full round of fixtures. In Round 15 action we have Pink Day at Valley Road, an Italian Derby and two top four sides looking to bounce back from shock results in Round 14. Let’s dive in.
Lions Last Stand at Pink Portress
Valley Road is set to turn into a sea of pink on Saturday with the Devonport Strikers' hosting their annual Pink Day, raising funds for the McGrath Foundation and breast cancer awareness. It’s a concept that started in 2019 and has now become a part of the footballing calendar. It’s a fantastic initiative, spearheaded by Nathan Pitchford and should be a great day for all involved. Special pink playing kits will be worn by the players and that Pink Day theme will continue into the night with proceeds from their ‘Dress to Impress’ function further supporting the McGrath Foundation. They’ve done a tremendous job in building this day up and would encourage anyone in the area to head along and support a great cause. You should get some good action on the pitch as well!
For more information and to buy tickets, visit: https://devonportstrikers.com.au/pinkday/
Or you can donate directly by visiting: https://fundraise.mcgrathfoundation.com.au/fundraisers/devonportstrikersinpink/devonport-strikers-go-pink
As for the match itself, well this represents something of a last stand for the Lions. The title race seems settled with the Strikers holding an 11-point buffer, but if we are to see a truly dramatic shift that would result in anything other than a Strikers title, then the Lions simply must win this game. Even in just sorting out second place, taking points here from an opponent their rivals may not could well give them the edge in that endeavour, so it’s a big game for them.
The Strikers have had the Lions number so far this year, winning 4-0 and 5-1 in the two NPL games, so they seem to match up well with them. The Lions come into the match in ripping form, having dismantled the second-placed Glenorchy Knights 4-1 last week and might look not to the NPL games, but the more competitive 1-0 defeat they suffered in the Lakoseljac Cup as the blueprint to try follow.
The Strikers meanwhile just keep on delivering the wins. After their Round 2 loss to Knights it felt like we could have a real battle for the title this year, but 12 straight victories have put that notion to bed. On a big day for their club, expect nothing less than a big performance as they look to keep up their impressive run of form into their looming Australia Cup game.
Knights On Guard To Avoid Repeat Roos Surprise
The Glenorchy Knights will be on guard against Riverside Olympic as the two sides meet for the final time this year at KGV. Both their prior clashes this season were extremely comfortable wins for the Knights and anything other than another big win would be a result somewhat from the blue. But that’s just what Riverside managed last week as they claimed a second point of the season by grinding out a 1-1 draw with South Hobart.
Now yes, they were outplayed and out-chanced significantly by South in that match, but crucially they were not outscored. For a defence that had been leaking goals all season to hold out and only concede one to a South side dominating territorially was a hell of an effort. It was a good old fashion bus parking and is probably exactly the approach they should bring against this weekend. The Knights have at times struggled with converting chances, so if they can keep down the amount of looks they give up, then maybe they can spring the surprise here. It’s unlikely, but I certainly can’t say I saw last week coming. So it goes to show there is always hope in this game.
The Knights will be eager for a response to last week’s effort against the Lions as they suffered their heaviest defeat of the year. They remain in second place for now, but have lost the breathing room they had and will need to be a lot better moving forwards if they are to hold onto that position.
Zebras Hosting Final Italian Derby of Season
In the twilight clash we have the final Italian Derby of the season with Clarence Zebras taking on Launceston City. Whilst City have certainly enjoyed the better season of the pair to date, the two head-to-head clashes have been remarkably tight games.
Round 1 saw a thrilling contest, as City rallied back from 3-2 down to claim a 4-3 win in a wide-open game. Unsurprisingly both sides had tidied up defensively by the time they played their second match in Round 8 and that ended 1-1, with both sides walking away feeling they probably should have won the match, with both missing scoring chances to claim all 3 points.
The past fortnight has been reasonable efforts up against tough opposition from the Zebras. Defeats of 2-0 to South Hobart and a close 3-2 loss to Devonport last week suggests they are a tough side to break down on their home patch and are travelling alright at this moment in time. It’s certainly not going to be easy for City to travel down and come away with the three points. Given the weather we have had this week and the time of the year it is, I would suggest it’s going to be a heavy pitch once again and it will be quite a physical game. The Zebras are on a bit of an island in sixth place at present and are unlikely to go up or down, but closing the gap above will be their aim from here on out.
City meanwhile are looking to string 3 wins together having accounted for the Warriors and Lions over the past fortnight, so they enter this one filled with confidence. Mowing down South Hobart and finishing in the top four remains a possibility and whilst unlikely to remain in there by the end of the round, a win in this game would have them temporarily at least occupying fourth spot. It’s a realistic goal for City but one they likely won’t accomplish if they drop points in these sorts of games.
South Look To Rebound Against Warriors
After defeating Knights 3-0 back in Round 10 it appeared as if South Hobart were set to be the Strikers biggest challengers this year in the title race, so it’s a little jarring just a month later to see them suddenly being pushed to hold onto their top four spot. Losses to Devonport and the Lions, as well as last week’s shock draw against Riverside have seen them tumble out of that title race in a brutally disappointing month for the club. They’re still a pretty young side, so it’s not wholly unexpected but nonetheless it’s undoubtedly disappointing for a side that looked set for loftier ambitions this year. Still, were they to win their game in hand against City they would only sit a point back of the Knights and Lions, with a big chance this weekend to make up ground on the latter. It’s going to be a tough scrap for second place in the run home, but South should be able to get back on track with three points here.
Olympia’s performances have definitely improved as the season has worn on, the likes of Pickup, Mamic and Baddiley are improving as they get valuable game time into them as well as their fellow youth cohort. They’ve lost their past 3 games, but after being blown out consistently in the first half of the year, the narrow manner of those defeats should be pleasing. Given they have lost 5-0 and 7-0 in the two prior clashes with South, a similar honourable loss here would represent a big step forwards, but with South suddenly struggling, they might just be eyeing off even more.