Riverside Olympic vs Clarence Zebras
Date: Saturday August 29
Venue: Windsor Park
Kick-off: 2:00 PM
2020 record: Riverside: 1-1-4 (sixth in NPL TAS) Zebras: 1-1-4 (seventh in NPL TAS)
Top scorers: Riverside: Nil Sanz (4) Zebras: Jayden Hey (2)
Preview:
The Zebras would have to be very disappointed with their final result last week, as they twice gave up the lead and drew 2-2 with the previously point-less Launceston City. They will again travel north this week with a good chance to claim their second win against a Riverside team that keeps producing close and respectable losses. They once again didn’t threaten for most of the game against South Hobart last week, with a late goal keeping the final scoreline close. Spaniard Nil Sanz continues to hit the scoreboard, but when one player has more than half of a team’s goals for the season, that’s a big problem. The Zebras have had even less success in the final third, with their leading scorer Jayden Hey adding both of his goals from the penalty spot. Samson Juju’s first goal for the club was a positive sign but they’ll need to find more consistent avenues to goal from across the park. If neither team can do that, a rare 0-0 draw may be on the cards.
Key player: Samson Juju, Clarence Zebras
As mentioned above, Juju’s first goal since leaving South Hobart was a step in the right direction for the Zebras. The young forward has all the skills needed to succeed, but never had much of a chance to put it all together at the senior level for South. With a goal to his name and some top-flight match practice under his belt, now is the time for him to step up and lead the attack for his new side.
Kingborough Lions vs Devonport Strikers
Date: Saturday August 29
Venue: Lightwood Park
Kick-off: 2:15 PM
2020 record: Kingborough: 3-1-2 (fourth in NPL TAS) Devonport: 6-0-0 (first in NPL TAS)
Top scorers: Kingborough: Adam McKeown (4) Devonport: Brody Denehey (3)
Preview:
What was shaping up as a top-of-the-table clash just a fortnight ago suddenly looks very different; while the Strikers are still yet to drop a point, Kingborough has slid to fourth risk losing touch with the leaders. Their title hopes may have already been dashed with their thumping loss to South Hobart, but the Lions could turn the season on its head if they can knock off the defending champions. On paper they have the ingredients to do so, with dynamic playmakers across the park and a potent scoring threat in Adam McKeown leading the frontline. Still, all of that so often goes out the window when the Strikers come to town. They flexed their defensive muscles last week against the Knights, completely shutting down the league’s best attack in the second half to move six points clear on top. The Knights went close to scoring by isolating and feeding the likes of Joffrey Nkoso early, but do Kingborough have anyone with the pace and skill to replicate that? And will Devonport give up possession long enough for them to even try?
Key player: Nathan Pitchford, Devonport Strikers
Yeah, yeah, I know this is a boring choice. After all, Pitchford is close to the most valuable player in the league and comfortably the most accomplished gloveman in the state. That value was never clearer than last week, as he made a pair of reflex saves early in the game that set up a game-winning clean sheet. When every team relies on goals against the flow that Devonport play in, Pitchford’s heroics consistently snuff out any hopes of a surprise result.
Glenorchy Knights vs Launceston City
Date: Saturday August 29
Venue: KGV Football Park
Kick-off: 4:30 PM
2020 record: Knights: 4-0-2 (second in NPL TAS) Launceston City: 0-1-5 (eighth in NPL TAS)
Top scorers: Knights: Thomas Young (4) Launceston City: Samuel Ridgard (3)
Preview:
After being somewhat stifled by the Strikers last week, Knights would be hoping to open the floodgates again against the bottom-placed Launceston City. It won’t be a walk in the park, though, with City coming off their first positive result of the season a week ago. The Northerners showed plenty of fight in coming from behind twice against the Zebras, and they will need that kind of effort and more if they want to hold off Glenorchy’s potent front line. With a young lineup named it was a pair of costly slip-ups that saw City concede both goals, and mistakes like that will almost certainly be punished if repeated this week. The Knights showed plenty of good signs in the first half of their trip to Valley Road, but a combination of wayward finishing and impressive goalkeeping saw them unable to take advantage. Still, it was a very encouraging performance for an up-and-coming team against the league’s benchmark side, and they will surely be raring to get back on the winner’s list. With so much attacking firepower at their disposal it would be a huge shock if they went goalless again this week against a side that has struggled to defend all season.
Key player: Joffrey Nkoso, Glenorchy Knights
Widely regarded as one of the best players in the competition, Nkoso threatened to tear the game apart in the first half last week. His teammates gave him acres of space to operate in and he took full advantage, beating his marked down the line on countless occasions. That could be an even more frequent sight against a less accomplished backline this week, and it’s hard to imagine he won’t hit the scoreboard if he can create a few chances.
Olympia Warriors vs South Hobart
Date: Saturday August 29
Venue: Warrior Park
Kick-off: 6:30 PM
2020 record: Warriors: 2-1-3 (fifth in NPL TAS) South Hobart: 4-0-2 (third in NPL TAS)
Top scorers: Warriors: Jack Ryan (5) South Hobart: Kasper Hallam (4)
Preview:
The biggest bombshell of the season to date dropped mid-week when it was announced that the Warriors had parted ways with head coach Andrew Brown. The timing of the move is somewhat surprising, with all of Olympia’s points this season coming in their last three games, but they did relinquish a 2-0 lead in their 3-3 draw with Kingborough last round. Their 2019 NPL coach Rob Clarke will take over for the rest of the year, and this game will be the first look at what he will look to tweak in the back half of the season. They will face stiff competition in a South Hobart side that has recovered from a slow start to move into a top three position. It should hardly be surprising to see such a strong club bounce back, and they find themselves alongside Glenorchy as the nearest challenger to the league leaders. They’ve had two impressive wins in a row now, and most promisingly it has been their young brigade leading from the front rather than looking for guidance. Kasper Hallam in particular has been a revelation, and he was at his best last week with a goal and an assist in their 2-1 win over Riverside.
Key player: Sam Berezansky, South Hobart
Another youngster to take his game to another level this year, Berezansky has been crucial in South’s reversal of form. He hit the scoreboard with the winning goal against Riverside, but his tireless running has been at the heart of the bulk of South’s attacking in recent weeks. When he’s covering so much ground over the full 90 minutes, marking him will be a tough task for any player.