Match of the Round: Launceston City v South Hobart
This week’s Match of the Round features Launceston City and South Hobart, with Launceston City set to wear special kits to highlight the work of their major sponsor TassieCare, which offers tailored care for people living with a disability.
City launched the initiative via their Facebook page, stating: “This special TassieCare round recognises the positive impact of sport and inclusion in football and our wider community, and the connection it brings.
"It highlights the importance of football being open and accessible to everyone, whether it is playing, volunteering, supporting or simply watching.
"We know that sport brings people together and builds wellbeing in all community settings."
Coach Daniel Syson said it was a wonderful opportunity to highlight the great work TassieCare did.
"Without them doing what they are doing... there are lot of vulnerable people out there who don’t get the help that they need," he said.
"To be sponsored by a company that does that sort of work is great, not just for us but for the sport.
"It’s all about inclusiveness, and ensuring that you give everybody the opportunity to be involved."
Looking ahead to the match, the City coach said his side had been strengthened by recent additions and now possessed more threats in attack.
"With the new additions that have come in, we’ve had to try instil our principles into those guys, and build some relationships," he said.
"But we are pretty much at full strength this week; we have a few more forward options now, last week we had something like 32 shots against Launceston United, so that shows that we are starting to click and create opportunities.
"It takes the onus off Thierry a bit, because we’ve got a couple more threats teams will have to worry about.
"I feel it was getting to the stage where he was getting doubled up on a lot, so now it’s a bit more of a worry, especially with Ayouba because he is a real finisher and he does take some of that pressure off in the final third.”
Syson suggested that South’s slip-up last weekend away to Riverside had both positives and negatives for his side's chances in this one.
“I think they’ll be disappointed because it’s two points dropped, but for me and our group, we take a look at where the vulnerabilities were in that game and assess it," he said.
"Then we look at our game plan and principles, and see where we can get on top of them to put a bit more pressure on.
"But they’ll come out and want to react, so it works both ways really.”
Syson felt his squad was the strongest it had been all year and was ready to start taking more games to the opposition in the second half of the season.
“We want to take maximum points," he said.
"In certain games you have to set up to nullify certain oppositions, but now with the squad we’ve got, we should be looking to win games rather than to set out not to lose them.”
South Hobart goalkeeper Nicholas O’Connell was disappointed with last week’s 2-2 draw with Riverside but praised the resolve shown by the side to rally late and at least walk away with a point.
“Last week was hard to take and I think every draw we’ve had this season has been hard to take, given the way we have been playing, expecting wins has been a big part of the team," he said.
"Last week, well, slip-ups do happen in the season, but I think the teams that are ultimately successful still manage to get points when they occur, so to get a point out of it, it showed resilience through the team.
"The fact the team was able to do that was a positive, but mistakes cost games, and when you aren’t scoring as many goals you just can't afford those mistakes.”
The South shot-stopper felt his side was well prepared for the clash, particularly having already ventured there twice this season, losing 2-1 in the Lakoseljac Cup before reversing that result in Round 7.
“We’ve been up there twice this year already, in the league and the Cup, so having had those games up there already is going to benefit us in terms of preparing for how they play up there and the pitch, the key for us is being prepared for the game," he said.
"Not focusing on not making mistakes, but focusing on what our tactics are, people knowing their roles which has been a big focus this week, taking a look at the video, seeing where we’ve gone wrong and what someone's role is in certain situations, so they are ready to execute them come Saturday.”
O’Connell acknowledged the threat posed by Thierry Swaby, but cautioned there were additional threats to counter.
“He (Swaby) has been playing really well and last time we played them, that was a big part of our approach, how do we not allow the ball to get into him, because he is so good with his feet and has that quick turn of pace away from defenders, centrally and wide," he said.
"That was a big key for us that we did well last time we played them, and I think that will be the same again, blocking those channels into him will be key.
"But they’ve picked up some other new players since last time and they’ve got a strong forward line, so it will be about blocking the ball early up the field, rather than waiting for it to reach the final third of the pitch. “
O’Connell felt the side was playing with confidence this year and showing an ability to dictate matches.
“The big things for us this year has been having our own playing style and sticking to that," he said.
"The quality we have throughout the squad means that we can dictate games, so our focus has been on how do we control the game? How do we make the other team play how we want them to play? But not focusing on them too much in a reactive style, but it's more about being proactive how we come up against teams.”
In other Round 14 action, there will be plenty of eyes on KGV, where the Glenorchy Knights host the Devonport Strikers in another pivotal battle in shaping the top four and title race, with Knights overtaking the Strikers last weekend to move up into second.
At Wentworth Park, the sixth-placed Clarence Zebras will look to open up a gap to seventh-placed Riverside Olympic, who will need to pick themselves up after last weekend’s crazy finish saw them throw away what would’ve been their biggest win of the campaign.
Whilst lastly, the Kingborough Lions will be hoping their title rivals slip up with their tough fixtures and take advantage of a softer fixture, away to last-placed Launceston United in the final game of the round.
Round 14
Saturday 13 July
Clarence Zebras v Riverside Olympic, 2:30pm, Wentworth Park LIVE STREAM
Glenorchy Knights v Devonport Strikers, 4:30pm, KGV LIVE STREAM
Launceston United v Kingborough Lions, 4:30pm, Birch Avenue LIVE STREAM
Launceston City v South Hobart, 4:45pm, TassieCare Park LIVE STREAM