The Devonport Strikers have tasted defeat at their home ground for the first time in more than 1,000 days, going down 1-0 to South Hobart at Valley Road. In a game where both sides struggled to find goalscoring chances, a second half Nick Morton penalty was enough to give the visitors an upset victory over the three-time defending champions.
With a sprinkling of rain early and a heavy surface underfoot, it was hardly the perfect day for a free-flowing game of football. Neither side seemed interested in going against the conditions either, with both teams largely relying on long aerial passes to move the ball forward. That made for easy pickings for both backlines and led to a scarcity of shots on goal. In fact, there was just one clear-cut shot in the entire first half when a deflection fell to Joel Stone at the edge of the area. With some time and space it was a chance that he would usually bury, but he rushed to pull the trigger and dragged his shot wide of the upright.
That told the story of the first half, as the Strikers found themselves in a goalscoring position on a handful of occasions but failed to capitalise. Brody Denehey had a chance to shoot from close range before a heavy touch saw him lose the ball, while Nick Lanau-Atkinson lined up a free kick in perfect position but belted it straight into the wall. They were the types of opportunities that Chris Gallo's side would usually snaffle, but on this day they went begging. South Hobart struggled to maintain possession and failed to register a single shot before the break, but it hardly mattered as they still went into the interval on level terms.
Ken Morton oftentimes looks like a calming presence on the sidelines, and his charges certainly looked more settled after re-emerging for the second half. As the Strikers continued to blaze away with long passes, the visitors began to move the ball through the midfield with a little more patience. That paid dividends shortly before the hour mark, as their best attacking move saw Kasper Hallam earn a penalty for his side. It started wide on the right with Morton, and South methodically shifted the ball inboard before Sam Tooze slid in Hallam behind the defence. Strikers goalkeeper Nathan Pitchford came off his line and slid in to affect the shot, but he clattered into the forward's legs as the ball rolled past him. That left the referee with no choice but to point to the spot, and Morton calmly converted to give South a decisive lead.
In an unfamiliar position after 567 undefeated days, the Strikers chased an equaliser but continued to struggle. They persisted with long passes into their attacking third, and with South's defence holding strong their best chances came from set pieces. Kieran Mulraney headed one corner just wide, Miles Barnard's flick from another was on target but straight at goalkeeper Nicholas O'Connell, and a third in stoppage time was headed goalward and batted away by O'Connell once again. Those were the only clear-cut opportunities the home side could muster, with South remaining organised in defence across the park, and when the final whistle blew the Strikers were handed their first defeat since the 2019 season. It was a monumental result for a young South Hobart side, who held their place atop the table and stamped their papers as a true title contender.