Coach says South must make point

SOUTH Hobart coach Ken Morton says tomorrow’s topof-the-table clash with Devonport Strikers at Darcy Street is not a must-win for his side — but it cannot afford to lose.

The Strikers lead South by a solitary point after 13 rounds, and with the Olympia Warriors a further seven points adrift, the NPL Tasmania title race is shaping as a race in two.

Devonport downed South Hobart 2-0 when the sides met at Valley Road in Round 6 and Morton is desperate for his team to hit back and leapfrog the Strikers.

He said the result could go a long way to deciding the title, and would be happy to come away with a point.

“I don’t think it’s a mustwin, but it’s probably a mustnot-lose game, because once you start to get four points difference with only seven games to go, it’s difficult to see them dropping points and you picking up the extra points,” Morton said.

“Obviously we’ve got another game against them, but that’s in Devonport, so it’s a pretty tough road trip.”

The Strikers are the reigning champions and Morton believes they are taking their game to another level this year.

“They’re following on and improving on last year, so they’re rightly at the top of the league,” he said.

Fourth-placed Hobart Zebras will be looking to close in on the top three with a win over fifth-placed Northern Rangers at the NTCA tomorrow. The Zebras will be looking to improve on their performance when the two sides met in Round 6 at the same venue, with that match ending in a 1-1 draw.

Clarence United will be hoping to climb off the bottom with a win over sixth-placed Kingborough Lions at Wentworth Park tomorrow evening. Clarence comes into the game after a 10-1 drubbing at the hands of Devonport.

Olympia Warriors should be able to capitalise on any slip-up from the top two when they take on Launceston City at Warrior Park on Sunday.