South Hobart were clearly ‘in the groove’ and could easily have won this match by more than the solitary goal.

They have not really stopped training since the end of last season and their preparation for this season has been non-stop, with friendlies nearly every weekend this year, and two interstate trips thrown in - to Melbourne (where they faced giants South Melbourne) and Wollongong.

Eight of South Hobart’s senior side from the tail end of last season played in this match. The missing players were goalkeeper Mark Moncur, defender David Cooper and midfielder Ricki Eaves.

Cooper was on the bench, while Moncur played in the reserves. Eaves’s future at South is uncertain.

In effect, then, it was business as usual, with South spreading play about confidently and building up attacks down the flanks.

But, they still lack that finishing which is so vital for a team’s success.

The Zebras side also had a different look about it.

In the starting line-up, gone were Tommy Fotak, Michael Connolly, Paul Cairns and Jayden Welch, although Cairns was on the bench.

The major changes were positional. Dwayne Walsh and Ben Crosswell were in midfield, while Kurt Engels was at left-back (a la Michael Zullo, a left-winger converted to left-back at Brisbane Roar).

Youngsters Matt Hall and Adam Young acquitted themselves well, but Crosswell looked out of sorts in midfield. He might have worried the South Hobart defence had he been up front.

South’s goal came in the 25^th minute when Kostas Kanakaris was put through down the inside-right channel and he fired past the advancing Troy Kaden.

Kanakaris looked suspiciously off-side, but the goal stood.

Zebras’ only response came shortly after when Adam Young forced a brilliant save from Sam Kruijver.

In the second half, Kaden did well to deny Kanakaris, while Kanakaris also miscued another chance set up for him by a cut-back from Greg Downes on the right.

Jonathon Lo also missed a gilt-edged chance from close range when he somehow fired wide with the goal at his mercy.

The win put South Hobart on top of Group A, while the Zebras will have to regroup in preparation for their meeting with New Town Eagles next Sunday.

South Hobart 1 (K Kanakaris 25)

Tilford Zebras 0

HT: 1-0 Att: 200 Ref: C Phillips

South Hobart: Kruijver - Heerey, D Brown, Ludford, Scott - Beecroft, Downes, Ladic, Pennicott, Hickey - Kanakaris [Interchange: M Brown, Lo, D Cooper, King] [Coach: Ken Morton]

Tilford Zebras: Kaden - Fagg, Smith, Telega, K Engels - Walsh, Crosswell, Self, Hall - Thorpe, Young [Interchange: P Cairns, Macgregor, Fisher, D Cox] [Coach: Romeo Frediani]

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