Zebras looking up as they eye South

HOBART Zebras coach Tommy Fotak hopes his players can put a “season of frustration” behind them and challenge NPL Tasmania champion South Hobart at Darcy Street on Sunday.

South wrapped up the title two weeks ago and has won its past 13 games to sit 12 points clear at the top of the table with just two games to play.

It has been a tougher year for the Zebras, who were within a point of the lead after seven rounds but have slipped 22 points off the pace to sit in fourth on the back of an injuryplagued campaign.

“I think they [Zebras] would have liked to have been a lot closer and I think the way they started the first seven games, you would have thought they were a great shout for the title,” Fotak said.

“I think losing [previous coach Peter] Savill was a big blow, injuries have been costly, so I guess it’s more a season of frustration, and from that frustration is borne disappointment.”

The Zebras beat South 3-0 in Round 3, and were leading 2-0 in Round 8 before conceding three goals in the final 15 minutes to lose 3-2.

Fotak hopes they can put in another strong performance.

“Those results show that the squad is competitive against them, I think everybody lifts a bit for South,” he said.

The injury curse has continued for the Zebras, though, with Mathew Sanders, Dwayne Walsh, Jordan Muller, and Jayden Hey all in doubt this weekend.

South coach Ken Morton is prepared for a tough match.

“Zebras at their best are always a difficult opponent to play against, they’ve got a great culture within the group and the players play for the club, for the badge,” Morton said.

Clarence United will be looking to string together two wins a row when it hosts the third-placed Devonport Strikers at Wentworth Park tomorrow.

Clarence climbed off the bottom of the ladder last week with a win over the Kingborough Lions.

They need another win and for the Northern Rangers to lose to keep their League Cup hopes alive.

The top six sides qualify for the season-ending League Cup.

Fifth-placed Launceston City has won its past four games, but it faces a tough test at Buckby Land Rover Park tomorrow, up against the second-placed Olympia Warriors.

Bottom side Kingborough is only one point behind Clarence, and will be desperate for a win against the sixth-placed Northern Rangers at the NTCA on Sunday.