South Hobart and Kingborough entered round six as the top two sides on the NPL Tasmania table, and it was South that emerged as the new league leaders after a 2-1 win at Darcy Street. The competition's two highest scoring teams didn't pile on the goals as might have been expected, but a composed defensive display and a Nick Morton brace saw the hosts hold off a stubborn Lions outfit.
The action was end-to-end in the opening exchanges, with both sides quickly moving the ball forward but neither able to convert that into scoring chances. A long-range effort blasted over the top from Kobe Kemp was the only clear shot on goal in the game's first 15 minutes, before a diving Adam McKeown header flew on target but straight at South goalkeeper Nick O'Connell.
Despite those few chances falling the way of the Lions, South remained patient in their pursuit of a breakthrough. Their first big opportunity came just before the half-hour mark and they grabbed it with both hands to take the lead. Sam Berezansky received the ball on the halfway line, and with time and space around him he turned, steadied and played a ball that beat the Kingborough defence down the right and bounced in the path of Morton. That made it a simple task for the South captain to carry to ball towards goal and slide a shot past the onrushing Lee Mackie.
Morton continued to loom large as the biggest threat to the Lions defence, with a half-volley blasted goalward minutes later flying just off target. Kingborough continued to press forward with McKeown their main target, but he found himself under immense pressure as South hassled and harassed the Lions out of position. That saw the game remain with just one goal at half-time, with both sides still well and truly in the contest but South in the box seat.
Far from content with their lead, the hosts came out firing after the break. Luke Bighin and Kasper Hallam both fired at goal early in the second half, with Mackie called into action to deny both with impressive saves. The Lions were still able to move the ball forward but lacked the necessary delivery into the final third for much of the game. Their best chance to that point came with a little more than 15 minutes left on the clock, with McKeown yet again finding space to get a header on target but this time watching it thump into the defender on the back post. He and a handful of Lions teammates pleaded for a penalty for handball, but the referee remained unmoved and waved them away.
South had their own claim for a penalty less than five minutes later, and theirs was met with a more positive response. A cross from Berezansky deep on the right was cut out in front of goal, but it bobbled inside the area as the Lions scrambled to clear the danger. Kenneth Trac shaped up to boot it away but Hallam snuck in behind him to get to the ball first, meaning the Lions defender's boot missed the ball and brought Hallam down. The referee saw a foul and awarded the penalty, and Morton sent Mackie the wrong way to double South's lead with just ten minutes left on the clock.
The visitors needed a quick response, and they got one almost immediately to keep their hopes alive. A cross from the right caught South's defenders napping, and McKeown stole in behind them into space in front of goal. His header bounced straight into the turf and crept goalward, but with O'Connell halfway off his line to collect the cross it was well placed enough to beat him into the back of the net.
With just ten minutes left and a one-goal lead South could have been forgiven for flooding back to defend, but they continued to move the ball forward and almost added a third goal late. A drilling cross from Berezansky was brought down well by Hallam, and his shot forced Mackie to spring up and tip the ball over the crossbar to safety. That kind of pressure kept the Lions on the back foot, and they were restricted to speculative long shots late in stoppage time as desperation set in. They couldn't find a second goal, though, as South Hobart claimed all three points and moved into first place.