South Hobart survived a late second half fightback to down Kingborough 4-2 at Darcy Street on Sunday.
It took just eight minutes for Ben Hamlet to open the scoring for the home side, with Nick Morton and Bradely Lakoseljac adding to the score before halftime. In the second half the South dominance continued through an Isky Van Doorne rocket, before goals to Brayton Allan and Danny Cowen saw the Lions re-enter the contest, however the comeback was not to be, with South Hobart running out 4-2 winners.
The game kicked off with some quick passes from the visiting Kingborough, before South won back possession and began to get into their rhythm. Consecutive corners in the opening minutes, along with two great freekick opportunities showed that South meant business. This early pressure soon saw South take the lead.
In the 8thminute some great build up play from South Hobart saw Bradly Lakoseljac win the ball on the left-hand side of the box. Lakoseljac then played it across the Ben Hamlet, who struck past Perkinson and into the back of the net, seeing the score move to 1-0 in South’s favour.
South continued to push for a second, winning a number of freekick’s in very dangerous areas. In the 18thminute it was Chris Downes who had a chance to equalise for the visitors, however his curling shot fell straight to Kieran Brown’s chest.
Three minutes later and Isky Van Doorne hit just wide of the goal, before a great counter from the Lions saw Danny Cowen play Horacio Gutierrez Jr through, however the flag was raised for offside. Ben Hamlet then had two great opportunities for the home team, however both were hit just off target.
In the 30th minute Danny Cowen hit a shot well over the bar, before Nick Morton and Tobias Herweynen produced a great one-two on the left wing. Soon after and the South Hobart fans were celebrating again, with Nick Morton finding the back of the net. This goal came after a great cross from Adam Gorrie on the right wing, with Morton attacking the ball with pace to finish well, doubling South’s lead.
Just five minutes after their second and South were celebrating a third, when Bradley Lakoseljac hit the back of the net. This goal was sparked from a great ball from Isky Van Doorne. The ball came into the box to find the head of Lakoseljac, with the South number nine heading the ball with power to move the score to 3-0.
This was how the score remained at halftime, with South leading 3-0 as the teams went into the sheds.
The second half began with South’s dominance continuing and it wasn’t long before the home side scored a fourth. This goal was a rocket from Isky Van Doorne, with the Canadian hitting the ball with power from outside the box and into the back of the net, putting South 4-0 up with 47 minutes played.
Soon after Van Doorne’s rocket and Kingborough found a goal of their own, with Brayton Allan scoring on his first start for the club. Allan’s goal came after his side won a corner, finishing well to move the score to 4-1 after 56 minutes.
Ben Hamlet then missed two great chances, before Nick Morton hit a powerful volley into Kenneth Perkinson’s arms. In the 67th minute Chris Downes sprayed his shot wide, before Brayton Allan hit just wide of the goal from a great chance. Six minutes later and Chris Downes hit just wide from a freekick at the top of the box, with the Lions pushing hard for a second.
In the 80thminute Nick Morton hit well over the bar, before Kingborough struck back to give their side hope. This goal was created after a quick freekick from the visitors, this caught South off-guard and ultimately resulted in Danny Cowen finishing well, moving the scores to 4-2 with 84 minutes played.
Three minutes after Cowen’s goal and South’s young front three combined well, before Lakoseljac hit just wide. Berezansky produced two great chances soon after, before a quick counter attack almost say Allan through again. In the 94thminute Nicholas Cuthbertson hit a shot a straight to the keeper after a Lions corner. This would prove to be the last chance of the game, with South Hobart running out 4-2 winners.
Speaking post-match South Hobart coach Ken Morton was disappointed with his sides second half performance but believed that the 4-2 win was a very good result for his side.
Kingborough interim coach Cam Ellis was positive about his sides second half performance. He identified his sides defensive structure as one of the reasons for South early goals.
The win sees South move to second place on goal difference, whilst Kingborough remain in sixth. In the next round of the NPL TAS Kingborough host Devonport, June the 1st, Lightwood Park at 2:15pm. Meanwhile South Hobart have a bye.
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