Launceston City rebounded from Lakoseljac Cup semi-final disappointment to keep up the pressure at the top of NPL Tasmania.
Less than a week after their shock cup exit to Southern Championship outfit South East United, second-placed City produced a second-half deluge to win 6-1 at Launceston United and extend their Northern derby run to nine straight wins over two seasons.
Braces to lively front man Thierry Swaby and substitute Maxx Rawlings were complemented by a goal each for Japanese imports Shota Fujishiro and Kazuki Hashimoto.
United had gone into the break level courtesy of Charles Reynolds’ brave header but lost their way after Jack Bowman was sent off.
South Hobart allowed City a couple of hours in top spot before returning to their familiar environment courtesy of a dramatic 3-2 win at Kingborough.
A far-post header from sub Rowan Pitt looked to have salvaged a point for Lions in the 87th minute. However, South piled forward from the restart and just two minutes later captain Nick Morton’s 10th goal of the season sparked some exuberant celebrations.
Austin Yost’s well-taken early opener had been wiped out by Chilean Emanuel Ponce before Kobe Kemp put South 2-1 up on the hour.
Third-placed Glenorchy struck late in each half to beat a Clarence side that failed to score for a sixth-straight game.
Tom Walpole opened the scoring in the 43rd minute before Nic Naden and James Costello pounced in stoppage time of each half to register a 3-0 win.
Perennial contenders Devonport were made to work hard for a feisty 2-1 win at Riverside.
Charles Bidwell and Dylan D’Agostino put Strikers in control but Olympic’s James Pelletier came off the bench to pull one back with a cool finish and tempers flared when both Bidwell and Max Reissig saw red in the closing stages.
On a good day for Japanese imports in Northern Tasmania, Asuka Doi bagged four goals as Devonport’s Women’s Super League juggernaut rumbled on against Riverside Olympic.
Having won 12-0 in the corresponding fixture on the opening day of the season, Strikers settled for 8-0 at Windsor Park.
Doi struck a first-half hat-trick and added another on the hour to take her season’s tally to 14.
Madeline Payne and Georgia King both hit doubles as Tom Ballantyne’s pace-setters continued their record of winning every game this season.
Second-placed South Hobart survived an almighty scare to record a 3-2 win at Kingborough.
Sophie Westwood and Jaz White gave the visitors a half-time lead but two goals in three minutes from Korean compatriots Haeun Kim and Soyoung Lee pulled Lions level.
Ultimately it took White’s 17th goal of the season eight minutes from time to secure the points for Ken Morton’s team.
Bottom-placed Taroona put up a valiant effort but remain without a point after a 1-0 loss at third-placed Launceston United.
Dani Gunton broke the deadlock on the half hour, her three goals this season all coming against Taroona.
Image: Dani Gunton in action for Launceston United against Taroona, Saturday 24 May. Picture: Heather Reading.