Launceston City blew the NPL Tasmania title race wide open by inflicting a first defeat of the season on double-chasing South Hobart.
The match of the round lived up to all expectations as City halted South’s impressive run of 17 wins and three draws from their 20 domestic fixtures.
The 3-1 victory narrowed the gap between the top two to five points which would be cut to two if Daniel Syson’s men win their game in hand.
In a week when South coach Max Clarke highlighted the potency of City’s three-pronged strikeforce, they all found the net.
Angus Taylor was involved in all three goals, setting up Thierry Swaby and Toby Simeoni before sealing the result himself. Taylor also had a penalty saved by Nick O’Connell which would have left the teams dead level on goals scored and conceded had it gone in.
Substitute Eli Wright hit South’s late consolation.
There was more southern joy for City’s neighbours Launceston United who recorded back-to-back NPL wins for the first time ever.
A week after scoring twice at Riverside, lively frontman Yousuf Toure did it again in a 3-2 defeat of closest rivals Clarence.
Aidan Sands had given Lino Sciulli’s side an early lead before Josh Mathie and James Ackerley hit back for the hosts.
Toure’s first was a splendid solo effort while his match-winner came from the penalty spot after being fouled by Zebras keeper Aidan Featherstone.
Devonport also needed a late penalty to rescue a point in a 1-1 draw with Glenorchy.
Hugh Undy put Knights ahead midway through the second half but Colin Innes levelled from the spot in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Chilean striker Emanuel Ponce scored against his old team and Noah Mies headed in his 18th goal of the season as Kingborough beat Riverside Olympic 2-0.
Runaway Women’s Super League leaders Devonport closed in on their second straight unbeaten double with a 5-0 win over Glenorchy.
Whitney Knight and captain Georgia King scored early in each half before the prolific Asuka Doi chipped in with her sixth goal in three games against Knights this season.
A late Maddie Payne brace completed the scoreline which would have been more emphatic but for the superb efforts of Glenorchy keeper Casey Bumford.
Second-placed South Hobart were given a first-half scare before storming to a 6-2 win over winless Taroona.
A Sam Watkins lob gave South an early lead but Emily Funseth had the scores level at the break.
Normal service resumed thereafter as Jaz White hit her fifth hat-trick of the season with Madison Chambers and Laura Davis also netting before Jessie Williams reduced the arrears.
Kingborough produced six different scorers in the fourth-versus-sixth 6-1 victory over Riverside.
Haeun Kim, Amy Ollington, Teigan Hennessy, Hannah Walsh, Soyoung Lee and Enya Anderson all found the net for the Lions who also had Anna Fewkes sent off on the hour. Madi Gilpin replied for Olympic.
Launceston City captain Will Humphrey celebrates with goal-scorer Angus Taylor. Picture by Jamie Richardson.