The Men's Summer Cup group stage reached its conclusion on Friday night at KGV and despite falling to a 2-1 loss at the hands of the Kingborough Lions, it was South Hobart who advanced onward to the final. Their defeat in the opening game of the double header had left the door ajar for the Clarence Zebras if they could beat the Glenorchy Knights by 3 goals, however they also fell to a 2-1 defeat meaning South will take on Olympia in next Saturday's decider.
For the Kingborough Lions, they will be delighted to have gotten off the mark with their first victory of the pre-season tournament and they had Shane Cartwright to thank for it. The powerful Englishmen scored a well taken brace and put in a strong all around showing that suggests he will be a key man for the Lions this season.
It didn't always look on the cards either, South jumped out of the blocks the much sharper side and bossed the contest early on. Sam Tooze scored a wonderful long range goal and the young South looked capable of adding to their lead throughout a first they largely controlled.
The Lions weathered the storm however and struck back shortly after half time when Shane Cartwright rose to head home Chris Downes well placed corner. Downes then missed the chance to put his side ahead when he missed from the penalty spot, and it was only some sharp keeping from Chase Webert that kept the game level in a second half that the Lions seized control of.
The second goal finally came via some route one football as a long ball over the top saw Cartwright sneak in behind the defensive line. Seeing the keeper off his line, Cartwright produced a deft lob to chip the keeper and hand the Lions their first points of the Summer Cup.
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The Lions celebrate- Tanner Coad[/caption]
That result meant the Clarence Zebras could have jumped past South into second place with a three goal win in the second game of the evening that pitted them up against Glenorchy Knights. It never really looked on the cards however, as the Knights looked the more likely side for most of what was a physical encounter, dominated by crunching challenges and yellow cards.
Nick Naden handed the Knights the lead on 28 minutes with a well placed shot from the top of the box after some classy work in midfield and a lovely lobbed through ball from Alex Bellini. It gave the Knights a deserved 1-0 lead to take into the break, though it wasn't all smooth sailing with Jack Bowman limping off injured just prior to half time, potentially providing them a Round 1 selection headache.
The second half saw an improvement out of the Zebras and Dwayne Walsh restored parity with an absolute rocket of a shot from a corner just moments after the restart.
The intensity ratcheted right up and tempers flared throughout the second half as some rather agricultural challenges flew in. On the touchline, Knights boss James Sherman took particular umbrage at what he saw as an overly physical approach from the Zebras for a pre-season game and he let his feelings be known.
That anger soon turned to joy when 15 minute from time Matt Nowicki fired in what would prove the match winner. Some nice work from a freshly introduced Ryan Backhouse on the left saw him cut back for Nowicki, whose initial shot was saved brilliantly by Nathan Reid, but the rebound fell right back to the big striker who placed his shot home and secured the win.
The two sides will now prepare for the upcoming NPL Tasmania season and they won't have to wait long to renew hostilities, as they play each other in a tantalising Round 1 match up.
The Lions celebrate- Tanner Coad[/caption]
That result meant the Clarence Zebras could have jumped past South into second place with a three goal win in the second game of the evening that pitted them up against Glenorchy Knights. It never really looked on the cards however, as the Knights looked the more likely side for most of what was a physical encounter, dominated by crunching challenges and yellow cards.
Nick Naden handed the Knights the lead on 28 minutes with a well placed shot from the top of the box after some classy work in midfield and a lovely lobbed through ball from Alex Bellini. It gave the Knights a deserved 1-0 lead to take into the break, though it wasn't all smooth sailing with Jack Bowman limping off injured just prior to half time, potentially providing them a Round 1 selection headache.
The second half saw an improvement out of the Zebras and Dwayne Walsh restored parity with an absolute rocket of a shot from a corner just moments after the restart.
The intensity ratcheted right up and tempers flared throughout the second half as some rather agricultural challenges flew in. On the touchline, Knights boss James Sherman took particular umbrage at what he saw as an overly physical approach from the Zebras for a pre-season game and he let his feelings be known.
That anger soon turned to joy when 15 minute from time Matt Nowicki fired in what would prove the match winner. Some nice work from a freshly introduced Ryan Backhouse on the left saw him cut back for Nowicki, whose initial shot was saved brilliantly by Nathan Reid, but the rebound fell right back to the big striker who placed his shot home and secured the win.
The two sides will now prepare for the upcoming NPL Tasmania season and they won't have to wait long to renew hostilities, as they play each other in a tantalising Round 1 match up.