Tilford Zebras Vs South Hobart Rd 1

South Hobart drew their opening game last season and went on to win the title by a massive 19 points. South Hobart coach Ken Morton said this result may be an omen of a repeat performance.
Tilford Zebras only played for the last 15 minutes, during which they scored, had Sam McIntyre sent off, and scored again to earn a 2-2 draw.
For 75 minutes, they were under the pump from an efficient and skilful South Hobart outfit.
The Zebras repeatedly gave the ball away in midfield, provided little good service to their two front-runners, and looked suspect at the back.
South Hobart took full advantage and led 2-0 by half-time.
Greg Downes opened the reigning champions' account with a far-post header from close range after a left-wing cross from deep by Kostas Kanakaris.
Zebras should have drawn level in the 18th minute when South goalkeeper Sam Kruijver inexplicably gave the ball away to Dwayne Walsh, who failed to shoot first-time and, instead, gave the ball to Daniel Lapolla, whose shot was charged down.

Photo: The South Hobart squad, coaches and officials before the opening league match against Tilford Zebras [PlessPix]
Zebras keeper Troy Kaden did well in the 23rd minute to turn a Greg Downes free-kick over the bar.
New signing Brayden Mann marked his debut by putting South Hobart further ahead in the 31st minute. Kanakaris's corner from the left was partially cleared, but the ball fell to Hugh Ludford, who chipped it towards the far post for Mann to head home.
Kaden should probably have been more assertive in his box, but blame for both goals must also be placed on his fellow defenders, who were not exactly overshadowed in terms of height by their opponents.
Jayden Welch squandered a great chance for Zebras in the 33rd minute when he got onto the end of Henry Fagg's deep cross from the right, but his first-time volley flew well wide.
South Hobart should have killed the game off with a third goal 7 minutes after the break. Shae Hickey put Kanakaris through with an intelligent and perfectly played diagonal ball to the left, but the striker stumbled and fell over the ball with the goal gaping.
Liam Scott suffered a cut tongue in the 70th minute and was replaced by Jordan Muller.
In the 72nd minute, Hugh Ludford connected with a corner on the full, but the effort was wide.
The game was transformed in the 75th minute when Jonathon Ladic scored a superb goal, striking home from 20 metres after Walsh dummied a cross-field pass from the right that wrong-footed Daniel Brown.
The goal lifted Zebras and they began to get the better of the exchanges. The Zebras suffered a set-back when McIntyre received a second yellow card in the 82nd minute after chesting Ludford in indignation at supposedly being fouled.
McIntyre had twice been fortunate not to receive a yellow card in the first half. He received his first in the 54th minute and his luck ran out after the altercation with Ludford.
Three minutes later, Paul Cairns made it 2-2 with a stunning volley from just outside the box after Brown could only chest down Ladic's cross following a corner.
South were on the back foot now, although they did have a split second of hope in the 87th minute when Kaden fumbled Hickey's shot. But, the keeper recovered and grabbed the ball before it could roll across the line.
In the 90th minute, a last-ditch tackle by Matt Hall denied substitute Andy Brennan, who had been put through on goal by a splendid pass from Hickey.
The important thing for South Hobart was that their long unbeaten run was maintained.
For the Zebras, they will be heartened by the point as they showed great resolve when the chips were down.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• South
• Hobart
• Vs
• Tilford
• Zebras
• Rd

[dingledoog]

Love your work.

Any chance we could signficant events and times in the description, or a shorter highlights reel in addition to this?

For those of us that aren't interested in seeing every tackle.