Late goals fire South to glory

TWO goals in the final 20 minutes have propelled South Hobart to a come-from-behind victory over Olympia and in the process kept the NPL Tasmania title race alive — but in name only.

The Warriors clung to a 1-0 lead late on at Warrior Park courtesy of a Jake Vandermey penalty in the 17th minute, but a Kobe Kemp goal in the 72nd levelled the scores before Alex Walter scored the winner with six minutes to play.

Devonport would have officially won the title if South had lost or drawn yesterday, but the Strikers are still almost assured of being crowned champions.

For South to overtake Devonport in the final round next week, it would have to beat the Northern Rangers, hope the Strikers lose to Kingborough, and somehow overturn a goaldifference deficit of 18.

South coach Ken Morton doesn’t like his team’s chances.

“We’ve never looked like scoring 18 all season, but I would like to win, we asked for seven wins off our last seven games and we’ve got six of them now,” Morton said, adding that he was happy with his team’s performance yesterday.

“I think overall our football today, given the conditions and the circumstances, was quite good,” he said.

“We were always positive on the side that we were going to get there in the end, but it was a real good scrap and I think a good game for people to watch.”

Olympia coach Dale Itchins rued several missed chances.

“I thought we did enough to win the game in the first half … but once again, you’ve got to play the 90 minutes out,” Itchins said.

“If you relax for one minute against them, they are ruthless.”