South Hobart Move Seven Points Clear

South Hobart eventually overcame a stubborn Clarence side to claim a 4-1 victory and move 7 points clear on top of the PS4 NPL TAS table with just 5 rounds remaining. In windy conditions at Darcy Street, South’s dominance was eventually rewarded as they scored 2 late goals to claim the win and place one hand on the NPL trophy.

South started the sharper with the winds at their backs and came close to scoring with minutes when a nice play down the right led to a chance for Hamlett who tried to sneak it in short side on Voss who made himself big and made a smart stop.

It certainly wasn’t a sign of things to come as chances dried up and despite South dominating in the possession stakes they weren’t breaking down a well organised Clarence side who were sticking to their defensive duties diligently.

The conditions were certainly playing a role, the howling wind often carrying the ball over the by-line and was making it tough to control. A couple of long range shots from Morton and Turner looked like being the only real chances as the game ticked towards half time before the game exploded into life just before the interval.

First Dan Brown was clipped in the box and won a penalty which Hamlett stepped up to take. Voss denied his first effort but the follow up fell straight to Hamlett who inexplicably blasted it over the bar with the keeper on the deck and seemingly out of the equation.

It wouldn’t matter though as minutes later Nick Morton finally broke the deadlock with an incredible individual goal. Taking two touches he set a volley for himself  which acrobatically smashed top corner in a moment of pure inspiration to hand his side the lead at half time.

Jake Stuart had a chance to level things up early in the half when he picked Loic Feral’s pocket and raced in on goal but hesitated a moment too long and allowed the South defence to get back and clear the danger.

South then extended their lead to 2-0 from the penalty spot when Stuart clattered Hamlett in the box as he charged toward goal. Hamlett stepped up and this time made no mistake, rifling it home to give his side what looked a match winning lead.

Eyeing off a record 8th consecutive game scoring a goal, Jack Turner was denied by a spectacular diving save from Voss as South pushed hard for a third goal but found themselves repelled time and time again by Odaine Demar in the middle of defence or Voss in net.

It was then 2-1 when Demar made his mark up the other end, smashing home a free kick from just outside the box that Bremner had won with some exaggerated theatrics.

It turned the game as South went from in complete command to suddenly holding on as Clarence threw bodies forward in search of an equaliser and got a number of balls into the box.

It wouldn’t come however and South made the points safe in stoppage time as Darcy Hall rounded the keeper and blasted home the third goal of the day to seal the points before a Kobe Kemp free kick that nobody ended up getting a touch on snuck past the defence and keeper to make it 4-1 as time expired.

The win leaves South with a gap of 7 points at the top of the table and needing to drop points in 3 of their final 5 games to relinquish the title, with Devonport needing to win all 5 of their remaining games. It would seem an impossible task and means Morton men are now primed to claim the title for the first time since the 2014 season.




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