Welcome to the Friday Forecast ahead of Round 4 of the McDonald’s NPL Tasmania season. After a week off for Cup action we return to the league where just a single point currently separates the top five sides. It’s tight at the top and whilst we will need a few more weeks to sort out the true contenders, for now, every match has the chance to dramatically alter the current standings.
Cup Quarters Drawn
The big story of the week concerns the Quarter Final draw for the Lakoseljac Cup supported by McDonald's which is the Preliminary Round 5 of the Australia Cup. With seven of the eight NPL sides winning their way through to the final eight, it’s just Hobart United who remain flying the flag for the lower leagues. Riverside Olympic have once again found themselves with the fortuitous draw and will play host to them. The previous round certainly suggested quite the chasm between the NPL and Championship sides, but we have seen this United squad mix it up and beat NPL sides before in this competition, so Olympic will need to be at their best.
The Kingborough Lions will be glad for a home tie, though probably wouldn’t have picked the defending champions Devonport if they had their choice of opponents. The home-ground advantage of the Den will be crucial if they are to knock out the holders. Launceston City have also been drawn at home and will take on the Clarence Zebras in an Italian Derby. The two sides will meet the week prior in the league, though that will take place down at Wentworth Park. The final fixture will be one we see this weekend, as South Hobart faces off with the Knights, though South will have home-field advantage for that one with the tie to take place at Darcy Street.
All in all, an interesting round of fixtures and a draw that ensures will have at least one surprise packet through to the final four. The games are scheduled for the Weekend of April 28-30, so we don’t have long to wait. Before we get to them, however, we have a fortnight of NPL fixtures to come, so let’s dive into this week's.
Friday Night Lights for Knights and South
The round will begin on Friday night with a preview of one of those upcoming Quarter Finals as Glenorchy Knights take on South Hobart at KGV. This will be Nick Mearns 150th NPL Tasmania game and what a player he has been in that period, scoring 43 times despite primarily playing as a central midfielder. He was a pivotal piece of Olympia's 2015 title-winning side, which went on to defeat South Melbourne in the NPL Finals series and has been one of the very best midfielders in the league ever since. Whilst injuries have restricted him in recent years, he has still been a major threat when he has been out there and scored 12 times in the 2021 season. Knights will certainly be very glad to have him back this year.
This is a match-up between two sides who have both started the season reasonably well but have also shown potential flaws they will need to address if they are to push for the title. They are the complete opposite problems too. South Hobart have looked dynamic in attack and a consistent threat moving forwards, but their defence has been vulnerable and keeping the ball out of the net has been their problem thus far. The Clarence Zebras match was a prime example of defensive lapses costing them a win.
Knights in contrast have generally looked pretty organized defensively, but not nearly as convincing in attack, at least in the first two weeks. Since being shut out by Launceston City, they’ve duly hit 5 past Riverside and 7 past Beachside, but can they repeat that against a title rival? Whichever side has done the best job of addressing their early flaw will be well positioned to take what could prove an important three points on Friday night.
Zebras Out To Convert Promise Into Points
First up on Saturday, it’s the Clarence Zebras taking on Launceston United at Wentworth Park.
Having comfortably taken care of business in the cup last weekend, the Zebras will now be eyeing a first league victory of the season against the winless United. Whilst they were brought back to earth by shipping six goals to the Lions last time out, their opening week draws with South and Devonport suggest this is one they should be taking the three points from at home. Xuan Cappellino is looming as one of the players of the season and having scored in every game he has played so far, is someone United will need to stifle if they are any chance.
Launceston United will look to take positives from their last league encounter against South Hobart, a 3-2 defeat which was comfortably their best display this season. Whilst boosted somewhat by David Owusu’s miraculous goal from nearly halfway, they carried a much great threat in that match than any of their others and against a Zebras defence that looked vulnerable against the Lions, will feel they can find some goals here to jump-start their campaign.
Roos Facing Daunting Strikers Task
At Windsor Park Riverside Olympic will look to kick start their season as they take on the Devonport Strikers.
For Devonport, it’s been business as usual following their opening day hiccup and they will now look to make it a clean sweep of the Launceston-based sides in the opening round, having accounted for United and City in the past fortnight. The side is looking sharp, especially in attack where defending Golden Boot winner Roberto Fernandez Garrido is picking right up where he left off. The Spanish star already has five goals to his name and he is being ably supported by Brody Denehey in attack. Whilst Denehey is yet to open his goal-scoring account, he already has three assists to his name and his frenetic pressing and work rate have stood out.
Riverside will hope last week's victory over Barnstoneworth can build their confidence and get them going after a disappointing start to the season. New Portuguese import Andre Chamusca struck a hat-trick and could be the injection of offence the side has badly needed. This is obviously a significant step up in the calibre of opposition, but at least keeping things tight at the back and avoiding the blowouts of their past two league fixtures should be the aim here as they try to get a foothold in the season.
Intrigue aplenty at Buckby Park
The final game of the weekend is arguably the most interesting of the bunch, as Launceston City plays host to the Kingborough Lions at Buckby Motors Park. These are two sides under two new, young managers in Daniel Syson and Fred Hess, who have both started the season brightly.
After a fine opening fortnight, City faced a reality check in their last league game, as they fired blanks against the Devonport Strikers in a 2-0 defeat. They bounced back well in the Cup against Launceston United though and return home where they are always tough opponents. William Humphrey has been one of the signings of the season, forming an excellent defensive partnership with Alex Jacobs and with Lachie Clark behind them, this is a side that is built on solid defensive foundations. That will be tested sternly this weekend against a Lions side who have been in scintillating goal-scoring form.
Five goals against Riverside was followed by six against Clarence Zebras with their reigning league MVP Kobe Kemp doing some major damage. He already has 4 goals and 4 assists to his name in just three league games to suggest he is already establishing himself as a front-runner to win the award again. They should be fresh for this one having had the week off due to Northern Rangers Cup forfeit and with City having played on Monday, they could enjoy an advantage deep into this game if it remains tight.
Team of the Month
Round 4
Friday 14 April
Glenorchy Knights v South Hobart, KGV, 8:15pm
Saturday 15 April
Clarence Zebras v Launceston United, Wentworth Park, 2:30pm
Riverside Olympic v Devonport Strikers, Windsor Park, 4:30pm
Launceston City v Kingborough Lions, Buckby Motors Park, 4:45pm