South Hobart produced a dominant performance to down the Hobart Zebras 2-0 at Darcy Street on Sunday. Goals to Nick Morton and Kasper Hallam led the home side to victory, with the return to form vital as South prepare for their upcoming FFA Cup clash with Marconi.
The game started with the Zebras attacking early and Nicky Edwards having his shot on goal blocked. South then produced an early chance of their own, with a last-ditch effort from the Zebras’ defence denying Samuel Berezansky the opening goal.
Having survived a couple of early Zebras attacks, South began to assert their dominance.
Samuel Berezansky found Alex Walter in the box, with Walter hitting just wide of the goal. Ten minutes later and it was Nick Morton causing problems for the Zebras, hitting the ball into an awkward position for goalkeeper Sam Whatman to deal with. Whatman failed to convincingly clear this opportunity, with the ball spilling into the path of the dangerous Ben Hamlett, however Hamlett uncharacteristically directed the gilt edge chance past the post.
South continued to push for a goal with another Hamlett shot being deflected in the 30th minute. Three minutes after this chance and Oscar Thomas played a wayward back pass towards Graham Wright. Thomas’ back pass rolled dangerously close to the goal line, however Wright recovered well, with the mud slowing the ball down.
Another chance then fell the Zebras way, with Matthew Pace almost pulling the visitors ahead. However, Pace couldn't quite connect with the cross, and as the half drew closer to a conclusion it appeared that the score would remain even.
However, South found the breakthrough in the final minute of the half. In the 46th minute Alex Walter cut inside to switch the ball to Adam Gorrie. Gorrie then found Berezansky on the right-hand side, before the South Hobart number 8 crossed the ball onto the head of Nick Morton. Morton then directed the ball goalward and whilst Whatman got something on the ball, it managed to hit the back of the net. This goal moved the score to 1-0, and soon after the referee blew his whistle, with the home side taking a slender lead into the break.
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Morton fired his side ahead just before the half-[/caption]
As the second half kicked off it looked to be more of the same from South Hobart, with an early attack through Hamlett. Halftime substitute Kasper Hallam then found the back of the net, however the flag had been raised for offside, despite replays showing he was clearly on.
The Zebras then had a chance down the other end after Jayden Hey threw the ball in quick. Hey’s throw made its way to Nicky Edwards, who managed to find Luke Huigsloot in the middle. However, the chance went begging, with Huigsloot’s shot going well over the bar, and it wasn’t long before South inflicted more pain on the visiting side.
In the 68th minute Adam Gorrie received the ball on the right wing and found the run of Kasper Hallam. Hallam controlled the ball well, accelerating past Tom Little towards the goal. Hallam then composed himself in the box before firing past Sam Whatman and into the back of the net, to make it 2-0.
Matthew Sanders had an opportunity to put his side back in the contest not long after Hallam’s goal, before chances to Morton, De Souza, Lakoseljac and Hamlett piled the pressure on the Zebras defence. In the 83rd minute Sam Whatman produced a fantastic save to deny a Nick Morton free kick, before a few minutes later Kasper Hallam was brought down in the box, with penalty shouts waved away.
With little time remaining Gilly De Souza struck the back of the net, however the number 14 was flagged offside, this time correctly. This saw the score remain 2-0, and that was how it stayed, with South Hobart running out convincing winners.
Speaking post-match South Hobart coach Ken Morton was very happy with his side’s performance. He explained that “we went about the pitch well, we closed the spaces down and when we got the ball we moved it well, so I think a very competent performance.”
Hobart Zebras coach David Smith admitted his side were second best for most of the game, but at 1-0 down believed they were still in it. He went on to say that “we’re just not good enough,” and admitted that his sides chances of third have all but gone.
The win sees South Hobart remain in third whilst the Zebras stay in fourth. Next week both sides face top two opposition, with South Hobart taking on Olympia, Friday, 8:15pm at Warrior Park. Meanwhile the Zebras play host to Devonport, Sunday, 2:15pm at KGV.
Morton fired his side ahead just before the half-[/caption]
As the second half kicked off it looked to be more of the same from South Hobart, with an early attack through Hamlett. Halftime substitute Kasper Hallam then found the back of the net, however the flag had been raised for offside, despite replays showing he was clearly on.
The Zebras then had a chance down the other end after Jayden Hey threw the ball in quick. Hey’s throw made its way to Nicky Edwards, who managed to find Luke Huigsloot in the middle. However, the chance went begging, with Huigsloot’s shot going well over the bar, and it wasn’t long before South inflicted more pain on the visiting side.
In the 68th minute Adam Gorrie received the ball on the right wing and found the run of Kasper Hallam. Hallam controlled the ball well, accelerating past Tom Little towards the goal. Hallam then composed himself in the box before firing past Sam Whatman and into the back of the net, to make it 2-0.
Matthew Sanders had an opportunity to put his side back in the contest not long after Hallam’s goal, before chances to Morton, De Souza, Lakoseljac and Hamlett piled the pressure on the Zebras defence. In the 83rd minute Sam Whatman produced a fantastic save to deny a Nick Morton free kick, before a few minutes later Kasper Hallam was brought down in the box, with penalty shouts waved away.
With little time remaining Gilly De Souza struck the back of the net, however the number 14 was flagged offside, this time correctly. This saw the score remain 2-0, and that was how it stayed, with South Hobart running out convincing winners.
Speaking post-match South Hobart coach Ken Morton was very happy with his side’s performance. He explained that “we went about the pitch well, we closed the spaces down and when we got the ball we moved it well, so I think a very competent performance.”
Hobart Zebras coach David Smith admitted his side were second best for most of the game, but at 1-0 down believed they were still in it. He went on to say that “we’re just not good enough,” and admitted that his sides chances of third have all but gone.
The win sees South Hobart remain in third whilst the Zebras stay in fourth. Next week both sides face top two opposition, with South Hobart taking on Olympia, Friday, 8:15pm at Warrior Park. Meanwhile the Zebras play host to Devonport, Sunday, 2:15pm at KGV.