Souths keep faith on last-round win
SOUTH Hobart coach Ken Morton is hoping to “finish off in winning ways” this weekend when the club runs out in its final round of the season against Launceston City at Darcy St.
A 2-2 draw against Hobart Zebras last weekend ended South Hobart’s 13-game winning streak, but it hasn’t dented the mood around the club, Morton admits.
“There’s a good atmosphere and spirit among the players who are working really hard for each other,” he said.
With the title already firmly cemented, Morton believes there’s no room for complacency ahead of the upcoming League Cup.
“You don’t want to get into losing habits or losing points,” Morton said.
“The main thing for us is to finish off in winning ways and produce a good performance in front of our home supporters for a big occasion.”
City coach Ben Brookfield admits the club will face a big test tomorrow but is hopeful that some recent good form will serve his side well. Launceston produced four consecutive wins between rounds 16 and 19 before being defeated by Olympia 2-0 last round.
“Although we did lose last week, we feel that it could have been a different story,” he said.
“We’re going in with confidence against South Hobart. We’ve found our rhythm and found optimism.”
In the last meeting between the two teams in Round 13, South Hobart ran out convincing victors with a 5-1 win away from home. Brookfield believes that his side can provide a much more competitive performance when the sides meet tomorrow.
“Even if we just have a good result, to push them close would show how far we’ve come, and that can give us an edge,” he said. “They’re obviously the champions, so we’ll travel down and play with respect. The fact that we have beaten them before gives us some hope.”
Clarence United will be out for its third straight win when it faces eastern-shore rival Olympia at Warrior Park tomorrow. Clarence upstaged a youthful Devonport outfit last weekend, with a 2-1 win sending the club two wins clear of bottom-placed Kingborough.
Kingborough will be hoping to finish off its season on a high when Devonport again travels south to face the Lions.
James Kitto is a UTAS journalism student.