Launceston United are hoping that back-to-back wins over high-flying South Hobart can be a springboard towards a sustained surge up the McDonald's Women's Super League.
Backing up a 3-1 Statewide Cup semi-final success with a 2-0 win in the league has confidence soaring at Birch Avenue.
However, having preceded those results with a loss to lowly Taroona, consistency is a key objective for Nate Wright’s unpredictable outfit.
Brazilian/American forward Olivia De Moraes, who is United’s leading scorer with 18 goals in all competitions, said the side learned plenty from both opponents.
“That’s the joys of a team sport,” she said. “If you're all committed to winning the game, like we were with South Hobart back-to-back, the results show, but I think if we are looking at Taroona as a team that maybe would be an easier win, we're not prepared for that game, and they came out really hard, and they succeeded.
“Of course, it's frustrating, but that's why soccer is soccer, and that's why everyone loves it.”
The California-born talent, who has played in both her native countries and Portugal, is determined to end her Tasmanian adventure on a high as she prepares to head back across the Pacific to resume education commitments.
With fellow import Delana Friesen having already returned to Canada after sustaining a serious knee injury, De Moraes will make her final appearance in United’s Statewide Cup final against Devonport next weekend.
“It's very serendipitous that will be my last game, but it can be me leaving as a champion,” she added. “I do feel like a champion because of how well we've been doing, but it would be nice if the results show that as well.”
United sit one point behind Saturday’s opponents Kingborough but have scored nearly twice as many goals and eliminated Lions in a bizarre cup quarter-final which saw them blast six goals in extra-time to win 8-2.
The sides’ round-two fixture also finished 4-3 to Kingborough whose coach Simon Edwards is expecting another entertaining encounter.
“Our challenge is around that consistency,” he said. “We're stringing together some very good football, but the 90 minutes at times has been a little bit elusive for us.
“We were super disappointed with our cup result, but kudos to United. It was a great game of football, but we only had the 90 minutes in us. It was 2-1 to us at the 88th minute as well (but) we weren't up for extra time. It was a game we had to win in the 90. It was that simple.”
Meanwhile in the McDonald's NPL Tasmania, seventh plays fifth as Glenorchy host Launceston City with both teams also striving for more settled performances.
Knights led their season-opener until the dying minutes when goals from Ben Berlese and Will Humphrey landed City a 2-1 win.
“It was a good lesson for us, because against really good sides like Launnie City, you just can't lose focus,” said Knights’ Chilean midfielder Andres Verduga.
“So we're definitely looking forward to having a revenge this weekend, and very confident that we can get three points.”
With only two draws recorded across the 10-team league in half a season, Verduga believed the looming threat of relegation is making teams more likely to push for wins.
“With relegation, I think everything's just risking a bit more trying to get those three points,” he said. “Before, obviously, there wasn't that pressure. I think it's in everyone's mind, especially now that the first half of the season is over. You don't want your club to get relegated, it's hard to come back from that.”
City coach Daniel Syson isn’t reading too much into the sides’ previous meeting.
“I felt the game we played in round one was very even,” he said. “I think it could have gone either way, to be honest. It was a great finish by Humper in the end to win it, but both sides could have taken the points that day.
“I think one of the things Knights have struggled with is just having a full team, a full squad, and I personally don't think the table reflects how good they are, and how good James (Sherman) is as a coach. It'd be very silly of us to go into this game underestimating Knights, because I think they're a top side.”
After five wins in their opening six games, City have suffered three defeats in a row with captain Jack Woodland joining the long-term injury list after exacerbating a foot fracture in the fourth-round meeting with South East United.
“I think the league really reflects where we are as a club this year,” Syson added. “Very frustrating, I've got to say, but at the same time, it's just an acceptance of that's the reality we're in.
“I think on our day we can go very close with anyone, but also, the flip side of that is, we can get beat quite badly if things don't all go to plan.”
McDonald's NPL Tasmania, Round 10
Saturday, May 30
2pm South Hobart v Launceston United, D’Arcy Street
2.30pm Devonport v Ulverstone, Valley Road
4.45pm Glenorchy v Launceston City, KGV
4.45pm Riverside v Kingborough, Windsor Park
Sunday, May 31
2.30pm Clarence v South East United, Wentworth Park
McDonald's Women's Super League
Friday, May 29
6.30pm Taroona v South Hobart, Kelvedon Park
Saturday, May 30
12.15pm Riverside Olympic v Launceston City, Windsor Park
12.15pm Devonport v Glenorchy, Tassie Care Valley Road
4.45pm Launceston United v Kingborough, Birch Avenue Kemlec Park