South Lift In Second Half To Account For Lions
South Hobart snapped into life in the second half to defeat the Kingborough Lions 3-1 at Lightwood Park. Finding themselves trailing a goal due to a Lewis Verdouw strike at half time, South finally broke through a stubborn defence midway through the second half thanks to a Kobe Kemp free kick. Goals from Turner and Morton then iced the 3-1 win.
The Lions rearguard looked very well organised in the first half as South dominated possession and probed away but struggled to break down a compact defence. As the game ticked towards half time the frustration was building up, and it was only compounded when the Lions took the lead against the run of play.
The Lions took a shock lead- Solstice Photography
A sharp counter attack on 27 minutes led to a chance for Lewis Verdouw who blasted it past Brown, who got a hand on it, but couldn’t keep the powerful shot out.
It could have been different had South taken their chance to go ahead from the penalty spot when Nicholas O’Connel brought Alex Walter down in the box in the sixth minute. Adam Gorrie stepped up but was denied by a strong hand from O’Connell doing well to get down to his right and keep it out.
As it was, they went into half time trailing and the Lions looked a side who were sensing could take points from the 2017 Champions for a second time this year.
Ken Morton shifted formation in the second half, pushing Jack Turner up top and Nick Morton into his wide left role from last week. The changes clearly worked, as South started to turn their possession into chances, and chances into goals.
As it was last week against the Zebras, Kobe Kemp proved the man to start the fightback, producing another immaculate free kick into the bottom corner to square things up just past the hour mark.
Kobe Kemp again sparked the fightback- Solstice Photography
Five minutes later South were in front, and all the frustrations of the first half had washed away when Jack Turner got on the end of a Kobe Kemp ball, controlled it and placed it into the back of the net. Questions had to be asked of the marking, with Turner afforded far too much room in the box, an area the Lions had been immense in for the first 45.
Nick Morton would go on to put the finishing touches on the victory when he swept home a cross from the right that reached him after a clever dummy from Jack Turner in the 82nd minute.
In wrapped up the 3-1 victory and ensured South Hobart remain in striking distance of Devonport if they can keep on churning out the wins.
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