Lions fight back in NPL stunner at Clennett's Lightwood Park

Launceston City racked up the biggest score of the season to keep the NPL Tasmania title race alive.

A 12-3 demolition of Clarence surpassed South Hobart’s 10-0 defeat of Launceston United in round four to set up a pivotal clash of the top two next Saturday.

In a ruthless display of finishing featuring a goal every six minutes, prolific frontmen Angus Taylor and Thierry Swaby claimed four apiece after Toby Simeoni’s early brace.

Bizarrely, Swaby was kept off the scoresheet until the 55th minute but then bagged a six-minute hat-trick.

Will Humphrey and Kazuki Hashimoto completed City’s scoring as Sam Tooze and Lachlan Burt (two) replied for Zebras.

The result narrowed the goal difference between City and South to just four but they remain separated by five points after the unbeaten leaders beat Glenorchy 2-0 on Friday night.

Playing at KGV for the third match running due to the Australia Cup and bad weather, Max Clarke’s men took an early lead through Nick Morton’s 19th goal of the season.

An eventful climax to the contest saw South keeper Nick O’Connell save Nic Naden’s penalty before a scuffle in the corner led to a red card for Knights sub Anthony Mamic. Moments later, Austin Yost confirmed the hosts’ fifth loss in seven games.

The third-versus-fourth encounter proved a thriller as Kingborough came from 2-0 down with 16 minutes left to win 3-2 and record their third win over Devonport this season.

Behind to Jordan Payne’s first-half brace, Lions hit back through captain Eli Luttmer before Rowan Pitt turned the game around with two goals in the last three minutes.

Lions coach Jon Fenech was predictably delighted with the result.

“To beat the mighty Devonport three times in one season is no small feat for anyone,” he said.  “It speaks volumes about the belief, resilience and quality within our youthful squad as we continue pushing forward with the aim of breaking the mould this season and beyond.

“Our captain, Eli Luttmer, was outstanding once again. He’s truly one of the top players in the Tasmanian State League and showed incredible leadership to drag us back into the game.”

Another late turnaround saw Launceston United record their second win of the season and third in as many seasons in the statewide league.

Trailing to former player Kingsley Eshun’s goal at cross-town rivals Riverside, Lino Sciulli’s men also scored twice at the death to record a 3-1 win, courtesy of a brace from Yousuf Toure and another from Ramiro Cabeza Vilar.

The same teams produced another shock in the Women’s Super League as Olympic recorded their third win of the season and first ever against the 2022 double winners.

Half of the Olympic team had previously played for United and two of them found the scoresheet as another Madi Gilpin header and long-range strike from Addi Otto secured the 2-0 win for former Attorney-General Brian Wightman’s team.

In their first game for a month, unbeaten leaders Devonport had to work hard for a 1-0 win at Kingborough, secured when Whitney Knight converted a Grace Sims cross early in the second half.

Second-placed South Hobart kept up the chase with a 4-1 win at Glenorchy. Sam Watkins (two), Jaz White and Laura Davis were on target while Knights hit back through Jess Shreeve but had Addison Broadbent sent off.

Taroona had the bye.