We have entered the final month of the NPL Tasmania season, and whilst the title race is now all but settled the jostling for the rest of the ladder positions is heating up.
The Strikers will look to take a step closer to mathematically sealing the title when they host the Glenorchy Knights at Valley Road. The Strikers have handled them comfortably in both their previous meetings, dispatching them 4-0 at Valley Road and then 5-2 in a wildly entertaining game at KGV. The Knights have gotten back on track with a pair of wins from their past two games, although coming against the competitions bottom two sides, the difficulty level certainly ratchets up significantly at the Portress.
The Strikers are cruising towards the title now and it really has become a matter of when, not if, they wrap things up. Joel Stone's free kick last week was a perfect encapsulation of his and this sides season. They have just always found a way even when they haven't been at their best, to grind out results, with Stone so often the man to deliver the key goal. You've got to admire the fighting qualities of this side and the final month of the season looms as somewhat of a deserved victory lap for them. The Knights will relish the test, but it would be quite the upset if they were to stop the Strikers party.
Elsewhere in the North, and Riverside Olympic will look to continue their strong finish to the season when they take on the Kingborough Lions. The pair have had two tight battles so far this season, with the Lions winning both outings by a single goal. Both sides have improved since that day, so this looms as another tight affair but the Roos will be filled with confidence following their derby victory last weekend. The Lions colours were hardly lowered last week despite a defeat, with a competitive 2-1 defeat away to Devonport a solid result. If they can take that form on the road again, then they will fancy taking out the season sweep against the Roos and a vital 3 points in what is a tight battle for ladder spots 5-7.
Launceston City have slipped to seventh on the table following last weeks loss at the hands of the Roos and they now face a South Hobart side who should be refreshed after the bye last week. South were far too strong when the sides met at Darcy Street recently and it will take a much more consistent 90 minutes from City than their past couple of outings to trouble the Lakoseljac Cup champions. South will have Olympia firmly in their sights for second place, with a potential 6 point swing, pending the Warriors Lucas Hill appeal, meaning they may be just 2 points off them with 2 games in hand.
Finally over at Warrior Park and Olympia look to get back to winning ways when they host Clarence in the Eastern Shore Derby. Whilst the derby hasn't quite provided the highlights hoped for over recent years, there is still usually plenty of feeling in this clash. The Warriors have endured a tough couple of weeks that has seen their title hopes slip away and the players will be needing to mentally pick themselves back up, so there is the potential they are somewhat complacent for this one against a Clarence side who should be well up for this game. But given the Reds are averaging over 7 goals against per game when taking top four opponents this season, it would nonetheless be quite the turn up if they were to pick something up here.
Round 23
Saturday 10 August
Devonport v Glenorchy Knights, 2:15pm, Valley Road
Riverside v Kingborough, 2:30pm, Windsor Park
Launceston City v South Hobart, 4:30pm, Buckby Landrover Park
Olympia v Clarence, 4:30pm, Warrior Park