Image- Victoria Morton

South Hobart ran out 5-0 winners over the Northern Rangers in a dominant second half showing. After a tight opening half, South’s superior fitness in the scorching March heat proved way too much for the Rangers to overcome. The goals poured in from the 50th minute onwards and the Rangers effort, though still strong, was not enough to prevent South Hobart from scoring at will towards the end of the game,

The last time the Northern Rangers came to Darcy Street, South wiped the floor with them completely. They dismantled them, winning 12-0. This time the Rangers came to earn the respect of the competition and in the first half, they would have. South had the better of the general play but the Rangers probably had – just – the better chances overall. They worked hard for one another, hassled and hustled in defence and shut down South’s attacking play. South tried to find opening but couldn’t find a way.

Rangers had a couple of good chances that they should have put away if not for sloppy finishing and a good save from Graham Wright kept it at 0-0 at the half.

As the game wore on the superior fitness and general play of South took its toll on the Rangers. The heat took the energy out of boys from the North and South Hobart pounced and took over the remainder of the game.

In the 51st minute, South somewhat fortunately earned a penalty. A Rangers defender had every right to think he had time to clear a ball but Dan Brown appeared out of nowhere to get in front of the kick as it was happening. He fell to the ground and the referee had no choice but to award a penalty. Ben Hamlett stepped up to smash the penalty home and give South the lead.

In the 62nd minute it was 2-0 as Nick Morton drove inside the box and squared a ball to Alex Walter at the back post. The left winger had no problems in smacking home a shot to further South’s advantage.

In the 76th minute it was 3-0. Walter went on a lung bursting surge with the ball, before feeding possession to Morton, who in turn played a scything ball through to Hamlett. Hamlett made no mistake burying a shot into the back of the net.

In the 86th minute substitute Ryan Cook made it 4-0 for South with a cracking left footed strike. Morton again was the architect playing a ball that dissected the defence. Cook hit it first time on his left from outside the 18 yard box and his sweetly struck shot lodged itself in the top left corner.

Morton rounded out the scoring in the third minute of added time, slamming home a goal from inside the 6 yard box after Adam Gorrie had made it forward and put the ball on a platter for the midfielder.

It was a stunning second half from the South Hobart boys and they had numerous good performers on the day. Their best players were Morton, Gorrie, Hamlett and Walter.

For the Rangers, it’s back to the drawing board, they performed very well in the first half and well and truly matched it with South, but they’ll need to get fitter to do that for 90 minutes against such a well drilled and fit Ken Morton outfit next time.

South Hobart coach, Ken Morton, was happy with the performance, “Well we thought our first half was pretty good, apart from the final finish.”

“Second half we got a little bit more controlled possession in the front half of the pitch.”

“Credit it to Rangers though, I saw them last week and I think they’re back to Rangers of old.”

“It’s a good win for us.”

Rangers coach Lino Sciulli was also reasonably happy, especially with his teams first half performance, “There was a lot in it for us… a lot of positives for us.”

“We created a lot of chances…we can obviously match it with the better sides.”

“We just need to get fitter now.”