By Tanner Coad
NPL Tasmania round two has come and gone but what a weekend it was! FNR are here down in the apple isle to take you through all the action.
FEATURE MATCH
Launceston City 0 Kingborough Lions 2 (Andrew Taylor, Kobe Kemp) at Buckby Land Rover Park
Kingborough Lions have continued winning ways with a 2-0 away win over Launceston City at Buckby Land Rover Park.
There was some surprises on the Lions team-sheet with striker duo Jack Turner and Adam McKeown omitted, while City named another youthful lineup who had held Champions Devonport to a 1-0 scoreline last week.
It was not a pretty game by any means with the Launceston weather and pitch looking firmly to favour the Juventus side.
City Coach Lino Sculli may as well of been playing FIFA setting his side to ultra defensive with no intentions to go forward. While virtually parking for a draw City were able to keep the Lions at bay for the first-half locking down the dangerous Ben Hamlett.
City keeper Lachie Clark continued to show why he is one of the best keepers in the state pulling out save after save to keep the home side hopes alive as they headed into the sheds goalless.
Frustrations finally turned to relief when Lions captain Keenan Douce won a set-piece in a real goal scoring chance. Douce looked around and sailed in a ball to Englishman Andrew Taylor who got the slightest of heading touches to finally get the breakthrough past Clark.
Kobe Kemp sealed all three points shortly after picking up the pieces in the box, tapping home for the 2-0 margin.
City’s Jarrod Linger looked dangerous going forward but was denied at the far post in a double save by Sheik Kamara. City tried to push on pressure and had a penalty appeal waved away much to the disgust of the Launceston faithful, but it was too little too late.
South Hobart 1 (60′ Nick Morton) d Devonport Strikers 0 at Valley Rd.
A huge upset in the North! Devonport’s 20+ winning streak is over after past rivals in recent years South Hobart knocked off the Strikers away. Nick Morton’s penalty was all she wrote, much to the delight of the South players and staff. Devonport finished last season unbeaten but 2021 will not see that again. Will we see a changing of the guard this time round?
Olympia Warriors 3 (Austin Yost, Kyle Vincent x2) d Riverside Olympic 2 (William Humphrey and M. Hancox)
Olympia held off a two goal comeback by Riverside to run out 3-2 winners late in the second-half. Austin Yost and Kyle Vincent looked to have finished Riverside off early but it was William Humphrey and Hancox who sent the game into a grandstand finish. Sure enough Vincent finally put the game to bed and gave all the points to Olympia.
Glenorchy Knights 3 (Nic Naden x2 and E Luttmer) d Clarence Zebras 1 (Matt Pace)
Nic Naden’s early brace should of been enough for victory but not before Zebras’ Matt Pace brought proceedings back to a 2-1 scoreline.
Zebras were finally put down after Eli Luttmer’s penalty in stoppage time sealed all the points for the Knights.
