Little time to rest after Cup heroics

OLYMPIA Warriors coach Dale Itchins says his players will be desperate to avoid a hangover from a thrilling Lakoseljac Cup win when they take on the Kingborough Lions tomorrow.

The Warriors started their NPL Tas campaign with a 5-2 win over the Northern Rangers and a 1-1 draw with the Devonport Strikers before beating Southern Championship side Glenorchy Knights in a nailbiting Lakoseljac Cup penalty shootout on Monday.

Itchins hopes his players will have recovered from the bruising clash in time for tomorrow’s Round 3 NPL game at Lightwood Park.

“We don’t want a hangover,” Itchins said.

“There’s a few sore boys, so you’ve got to try and moderate your sessions a little bit. It won’t be easy playing Kingborough down at Lightwood.”

Olympia’s American keeper Brett Johnson starred for the Warriors in their win over Glenorchy. Johnson made a key save late in regulation time, saved a penalty in stoppage time and another in the shootout, and Itchins was full of praise for him after the “roller-coaster” win.

“He’s good value as a bloke and as a club person, but also as a keeper here, without a doubt,” Itchins said.

Kingborough went down 1-0 to Launceston City in their opening match of the NPL Tasmania season, before holding South Hobart to a 2-2 draw in the second round.

The Lions took on Launceston again in the Lakoseljac Cup on Monday and were hammered 6-0.

Kingborough coach Mark Broadbent is looking forward to another test this weekend.

“We know we can compete against the big boys, it’s just a matter of converting our chances,” Broadbent said.

“They seem like a good outfit, but they’re not unbeatable.”

The table-topping Hobart Zebras will face a major test when they take on the thirdplaced Devonport Strikers at Valley Rd tomorrow.

Clarence United and South Hobart will both be searching for their maiden NPL Tas wins of the season when they meet at Wentworth Park, while Launceston City takes on the Rangers at Buckby Land Rover Park in tomorrow’s remaining fixtures.

Meanwhile, the Lakoseljac Cup quarter-final draw was held yesterday.

South Hobart will take on the Zebras at Darcy St, and the Warriors will travel to Valley Rd to take on the Strikers in the two headline fixtures.

Launceston City and the Rangers will both host Southern Championship sides, with Launceston to take on Hobart United and the Rangers to play Taroona. Matches will be on the weekend of April 28-29.