The first match of the 2012 Steve Hudson Cup campaign saw Northern Rangers face off with South Hobart, with both sides suffering from significant player losses from last year, it was a battle of which teams  youngsters were better prepared for senior football.

The score line would suggest South Hobart’s are with South slotting 3 unanswered goals past Northern Rangers, but the game looked to be closer than that.

South certainly put Rangers under more pressure in the opening 15 minutes, but failed to convert possession and pressure into opportunities.   

It was Rangers who hit South on the counter first and Agele Luate almost put Rangers in front, but shot wide.

The opening goal came when Shae Hickey placed a superb lobed through ball onto Andy Brennan who beat the keeper to the shot and lobbed the ball into the net to put South Hobart 1-0 up and the half time score line.

Both teams came out hard in the second half, but Rangers dropped to low pressure for the remainder of the game, while South had the fitness to continue pressing Rangers in the final third.  Mizael Caires returned to the South line up after arriving from Brazil yesterday, but broke down 5 minutes into the second half with cramp after playing some good football.

Shortly after South was awarded a penalty when the ball bounced up and hit the hand of Rangers midfielder Issa Dumbuya inside the area.  Captain Hugh Ludford converted the shot by slotting the ball low and to the left while the keeper dived the opposite way.

Rangers put together a fine passage of play after this and created some fine opportunities in the quest to pull a goal back, the best when Todd Hingston received a chance to head the ball into a keeper-less goal but knocked the ball over the bar.  South’s keeper also made some fine saves to retain his clean sheet.  South however weathered the storm and worked Andy Brennan into the left corner with pin point long balls, he regularly beat his defender to the ball and knocked in some quality crosses but lacked a killer striker on the other side.  Felix on the right side looked out of place and well off the usual standards of a South Hobart player, let alone a striker.

As Rangers tired across the park, South’s superior fitness came to the fore, Andy Brennan completed the result after he beat three defenders from just inside half way and went one on one with the Rangers keeper and slotted the ball neatly across the face and into the side netting.

Ken Morton said after the game “I thought it was a good game especially for the first round, obviously two top sides come together early, both teams were probably short of some key players, but the match was played at a good pace and the passing and the tempo of the game was good for pre-season and both teams will get a lot out of the game”

“We were maybe a little bit more clinical in the front third today, Andy (Brennan) used the ball quicker and when he score his goal he took his time, and let the keeper make a decision”

“Mizael arrived last night from Brazil and he’ll fit in alright with his speed”

“That was Bobbies (Eaves) first run since doing his knee in the Bentley game, we’ll have him checked out on Monday”

“There were a lot of things that happened today that were positives and I would think Rangers  would feel the same”

Regarding Greg Duffy “I like him! I think he’s a good lad, he’s a talented football player, with us he’ll get the chance of playing maybe centre back alongside Hugh Ludford, but having said that he could probably do a job on the flanks.  We’ll settle him down now, he’s strong and has good composure”

Gabriel Tams said after the game “I was really happy with the lads today, we used our fullbacks to great effect getting them up and down the length of the pitch, overlapping and creating some great chances”

“In the very warm conditions our midfielders were worked overtime and then our shape was affected leaving massive holes in which the opposition could play the ball into.  I thought Adam Beard was sensational at right back being a position he isn't familiar with. I'm not too concerned with the end score, as we created some beautiful chances and really held our own against one of the best teams in the state. Nice easy session tomorrow, the boys will be sore”