https://youtu.be/zTSaRRzcIDw
The Glenorchy Knights maintained their pursuit of the Devonport Strikers, once again cutting the gap at the top to 4 points with a well earned 3-1 win over Launceston City. An own goal from Linger coupled with a superb solo goal from Alex Walter gave the visitors a two goal lead before Charlie Dyer provided some late hope for City with a well taken goal to cut the lead to 2-1 with 15 minutes to play. A harsh second yellow card to Matthew Oh killed off any hopes for the hosts however, as Ryan Backhouse made sure of the win with his 84th minute tap in.
The Knights took the lead in this game without even firing a shot. Thomas Young drove his cross in from the right wing and Jarrod Linger couldn't halt his momentum and ended up bundling the ball past his own keeper for an own goal just three minutes into the contest.
It was a nightmare start from the hosts and not the way to set the tempo for a side still searching for a first NPL Tasmania win.
It took till the midway mark of the first half for either side to really generate anything in the way of a scoring chance, but eventually the Knights settled and started to look likely for a second goal.
First Nash denied Schmidt's long range drive and then pulled off a top drawer save to deny a Walter header, though the flag was raised for offside on the latter chance. He then had the woodwork to thank as Thomas Young blasted one into the upright after some nice build up play.
Just past the half hour mark and City finally started to look a threat themselves, playing some dangerous crosses into the box and Hart was forced into an awkward save to keep out a Lindsay Millington header from a Linger corner before getting his positioning spot on to keep out Noah Mies headed effort.
It remained 1-0 into the half time break before Alex Walter provided an early breakthrough in the second.
Seizing on an underhit back pass, Walter ran onto it, cutting inside and getting the better of Lindsay Millington before blasting home his 10th of the campaign.
But City were not going to go away quietly and pulled one back via Charlie Dyer. The energetic midfielder started the move in the middle, feeding Noah Mies out on the left before continuing his run into the box where Mies found him with the cross which he promptly buried.
It cut the lead to 2-1 and visibly sparked the side as they went in search of an equaliser. That task became a tough one when Matthew Oh was given his marching orders. Already sitting on a yellow, Oh was adjudged to have professionally fouled Walter in the middle of the ground as Knights looked to spring a counter. It appeared a very harsh decision but there protestations were not going to change things and down to 10, it was Knights who drove the nail into the coffin.
Naden showed some nice skills to get past his marker and punch a low ball across the goalline that found its way to Ryan Backhouse who couldn't miss from point blank range, wrapping up the 3-1 win.
The victory sees Knights once again cut the gap to Devonport to 4 points and was their fourth win on the bounce since losing to the Strikers. They still need someone else to take points from the Strikers with next Saturday, where they meet South Hobart and Devonport play Olympia at Warrior Park, looming as a decisive day in the title race.