Glenorchy Knights v Olympia FC Warriors – KGV, 8pm Friday
FORM: Knights – DLWLL, Warriors – LDLLL
This fixture shapes up as one of the biggest of the season when it comes to relegation contenders. The Warriors sit on the unenviable bottom rung of the ladder while Knights are a mere two points above them, in sixth place.
Olympia may have new found confidence going into this match following a convincing win against Ulverstone in the Statewide Cup last weekend and the signing of an interstate player in Jake Vandermay from South Melbourne FC.
The game is a must win for both teams and the Knights, on home turf, will be wary of the fact that they were well beaten by the Warriors in the first round 3-1.
Vandermay will surely line up in a defensive role and may get the job of nullifying Corey Smith or even the dangerous Frenchman, Mattieu Gregoire.
Warriors coach Franco Previdi is still searching for his first win in the league after taking over from Chris Hey, likewise Abdaltam, and the pressure will only serve to make this fixture an even tighter affair.
The Back Post tip: 3-1
21.56
FULL-TIME. It finishes 2-0 Knights, Nowicki and Gregoire with the goals. Olympia in deep trouble after tonight’s loss.
21.53
GOAL!!! 2-0 Knights! Gregoire curls in a fantastic free kick to seal the game for Knights with a minute to go! It’s all over for Olympia tonight! Thye’re in big trouble after this game.
21.49
Typical relegation battle this game. Very scrappy match. Just five minutes to go
21.45
Huigsloot now done on the ground. Time-wasting tactics from the Knights?
21.43
FACT. One of the most outrageous scenes at KGV Park in recent years. Smith goes down with a knee injury, Kim and Ivan congregate to to discuss the incident and then exchange a kiss on the check!
21.38
Goal came in the 75th minute. On a side note, Griffin has been handy for Knights.
21.37
GOAL! 1-0 Knights! Nowicki scores with a header past McKenna from Smith’s deep cross to the back post!
Phillips yellow card…
21.31
Robb fires over after a solid build-up from Knights through Smith who had dropped into midfield.
21.25
Nowicki strikes the post! The ball ricochets straight into McKenna’s arms! The closest either side has come to scoring tonight!
21.23
Substitution:
Hedge ON
Nandan OFF
Page brings down Smith receives yellow
21.17
Garth fires over from under the bar! Shocking miss! Was harder to miss than score! Goal was gaping
21.15
21.13
Substitution:
Woolley ON
Meredith OFF
21.11
SECOND-HALF
20.51
Garth runs and cuts inside and fires over the bar from distance! Could have taken it in closer to goal…
20.47
Smith cautioned for completely unnecessary back chat.
20.44
Biggest cheer of the night goes up as Smith is booked for dissent….
20.40
Very much a scrappy stalemate at the moment… nothing much to report…
20.29
Huigsloot nods Robb’s corner directly into McKenna’s hands! Good contact on the header by straight at the keeper.
20.24
Game lacking bite at the moment, a lot of missed passes in the final third.
20.17
Smith brings down a Holmes header and fires a half-volley from 30 metres, goes well over the bar. Ambitious is an understatement.
Garth breaks and Nowicki forces a fantastic save out of McKenna! Knights with an excellent chance, McKenna keeps Olympia in it!
20.12
Nandan fires wide on his right peg, first chance of the game…
20.08
Line-up: McKenna – Hey, Dzelalija, Vandermay, Page – Nandan, Phillips, Kumpulainen, Meredith – Fielding, Cronk
20.05
Line-ups: Peter – Roberts, Johnson, Holmes, Huigsloot – Griffin, Robb, Gregoire, Garth -Smith, Nowicki.
KICK OFF
Is that cramp Nandan got. He hasn’t done any running.
Can’t confirm Nandan’s injury this stage.