Big Guns Cruise In Lakoseljac Cup
It was relatively smooth sailing for the NPL sides in the Round of 16 stage of the Lakoseljac Cup supported by McDonald's, with some thumping victories and no close games in sight.
The action kicked off on Friday night where the 2020 Cup champions Glenorchy Knights cruised to a 7-0 victory over Hobart City Beachside. Lucas Dzalakowski got the scoring started inside of five minutes and it was a sign of things to come, as he duly added another three goals to finish with a four-goal haul in the thumping.
It was the same 7-0 scoreline up at Valley Road, where the defending Champions Devonport made light work of the Olympia Warriors. Star striker Roberto Fernandez Garrido bagged a hat-trick whilst Brody Denehey continued his strong start to the season with a brace.
Continuing the theme of NPL side scoring big wins, the Clarence Zebras made sure they avoided any slip ups against Taroona, racing to a 4-0 lead at halftime. A goalkeeping howler didn’t help Taroona’s cause but even without it, they were outmatched by the Zebras who took the lead just three minutes in via Xuan Cappellino who continued his streak of scoring in every game he has started. Dwayne Walsh grabbed a brace in the 50th minute, which is when the scoring stopped as the Zebras eased off the accelerator and Taroona probably should’ve got themselves a goal.
Riverside have had a tough start to their NPL campaign but took full advantage of a helpful draw against Social League side Barnstoneworth and claimed a 6-1 win. Barnstoneworth put in a commendable performance and it was fantastic to see them in the competition, but they were ultimately outclassed by the Roos. New Portuguese import, Andre Chamusca made his mark, scoring a hat-trick for the hosts, whilst Jake Pullen got the visitors on the scoreboard.
The most entertaining of the Saturday ties was at Ulverstone where Hobart United claimed a 5-2 win on the road, propelled by braces to Buga and Riak. Hobart United had the better of the first half but needed a penalty just before the break to reflect that on the scoreboard and went in with a 2-1 lead Eventually their control of the contest told and they got the goals that their play had warranted as Moses Khasif put them out of sight in the 71st minute to make it 5-2 and ensure United would be the lone Championship side through to the Quarter Finals.
In Easter Monday action the one sided results continued as South Hobart put the New Town White Eagles to the sword with a comprehensive 9-1 drubbing. South shaded the early exchanges, but a blowout didn't appear on the cards from the opening half hour, with Brett Andrews getting on the scoresheet for the Eagles and the score at 2-1. The game then swung upon Ben Whitehall's dismissal shortly before half time as from there South completely dominated the contest. They turned a 3-1 half time lead to a 9-1 final score as Morton and Van Doorne ran riot. Morton helped himself to four goals, whilst the Canadian also managed a hat-trick with three goals of his own.
In the only NPL v NPL game of the Round, it was a Launceston derby as United played host to City and it was City who punched their ticket through to the next stage with a 4-1 win. United took the lead early on through an Aidan Rigby free kick, but City responded quickly via Toby Anderson. The game was then locked at 1-1 till the final half hour where City ran away with the game. A brace from Mason Smith and long range bomb from William Humphrey getting the job done and saw City safely through.
The live stream draw for the Lakoseljac Cup supported by McDonald's Quarter Finals - Preliminary Round 5 of Australia Cup will be held at 9:30am Wednesday April 12 through the Football Tasmania Facebook page.
Super League Sides Advance In Women's Statewide Cup
There were just the three games played in the Women’s Statewide Cup, with the three Women's Super League sides all advancing, though they didn't all have it all their own way.
The defending Cup champions Launceston United began their defence with a 2-0 victory over Burnie United at Montello. In difficult conditions that made stringing passes together tough, Courtney Marten gave her side the lead in the 18th minute before turning provider for Lucy Smith just after the restart. The 2-0 final score was a good performance from Burnie and they can hold their heads high. They defended well to hang in there against such a strong opposition and achieved a highly credible result in the process despite the defeat.
The Devonport Strikers meanwhile were evidently not in the mood to be messing about at Windsor Park, as they dismantled Riverside Olympic 13-0! The gulf in class between the WSL title contenders and Championship opposition was ruthlessly exposed here as the Strikers scored for fun. Nikita Boyd bagged four goals, a feat that was matched by Maddy Payne who continued her strong goalscoring form. The Strikers will harbor ambitions of winning the Cup this season and this was a near flawless way to start.
The tie of the round was undoubtedly at KGV, where the Kingborough Lions required extra time to get past University in a tight contest. After a cagey first half with few shots, the game came to life in the second half as Sam Watkins rattled the crossbar before Rosemary Rodden opened the scoring with a long-range lob that caught out Steele. University pushed hard for a leveller and found one when Mikhala George found substitute Tash Hinds who fired home from the angle. George then had a chance to win it with a chance in the dying seconds but couldn’t direct her shot past Mackintosh who made the clutch stop.
The Lions then struck immediately from kick off in extra time as Danielle Kanegiesser slid in behind the defence and produced a tidy finish. University pushed again to try level once more but it was Sammy Watkins who killed the contest off in the 119th minute, firing home a rebound from Kannegiesser’s long-range bomb to secure the Lions spot in the last 8.
Strikers and Zebras Advance In Under 21's
At Vallley Road, the Devonport Strikers scored a 2-1 victory over South Hobart in a clash that pitted two of the major contendors for the Under 21 crown against each other.
The Strikers took the lead 13 minutes in through their Captain Tayden Lyall and took that lead into the half time break. They then doubled their advantage shortly after the restart when Lachlan Hays got on the scoreboard. Daniel Arnaiz provided South with a late lifeline as he cut the lead back to 2-1 with 7 minutes remaining, but the Strikers would see the game out and secure their progression.
Joining the Strikers in the final eight will be the Clarence Zebras after they eliminated Launceston United with a 3-1 win at home. Finley Palmer handed the Zebras the lead on 23 minutes and when Harrison Cox doubled it midway through the second half, they appeared to be safely through. United kept fighting though and Benjamin Findlay breathed life in the contest when he struck five minutes from time. Ethan Medhurst quickly quelled any hopes of United puling off the comeback, when he made it 3-1 just two minutes later to see the Zebras safely through.
Lakoseljac Cup Supported by McDonald’s
Preliminary Round 4 of the Australia Cup
Glenorchy Knights 7-0 Hobart City Beachside
Riverside Olympic 6-1 Barnstoneworth United FC
Ulverstone SC 2-5 Hobart United
Devonport Strikers 7-0 Olympia Warriors
Clarence Zebras 5-0 Taroona FC
South Hobart 9-1 New Town Eagles
Launceston United 1-4 Launceston City
Women’s Statewide Cup
Riverside Olympic 0-13 Devonport Strikers
Burnie United 0-2 Launceston United
Kingborough Lions 3-1 (AET) University FC
Under 21 Statewide Cup
Devonport Strikers 2-1 South Hobart
Clarence Zebras 3-1 Launceston United