Launceston City overcame a 1-0 half time deficit to claim a 2-1 win over Riverside in the second Northern Derby of the season. Aaron Campbell put the Roos ahead from the penalty spot in the first half, before Patrick Sullivan levelled things shortly after the interval. Isaac Degetto then pounced on a rebound to blast home what would be the match winner and reverse the score from their first meeting back in March.
The first chance of the game fell the way of Mackenzie Hancox on four minutes, but he was unable to keep his volley down as he fired over from close range.
That was one of very few first half chances in a game devoid of penalty box action. Riverside were shading the contest and winning a number of corners, but asides from a half chance when O'Neill's shot was charged down by Hancox at the back post, the first half an hour was largely uneventful.
Then on the half hour mark, Matt Spanos beat Lachie Clark to a ball and squared it before having his legs taken out by a sliding Clark. It left the referee Tony Peart no choice but to point to the spot.
Up stepped former City stalwart Aaron Campbell and despite Clark getting fingertips to his effort, it found the bottom corner to give the Roos a 1-0 lead that they would take into half time.
City snapped to life early in the second half and they got back on terms from a set piece early in the half. A teasing Mitreski free kick was headed back towards goal by Ethan Olner, which gave the chance for the towering Patrick Sullivan to use his height and nod home from close range.
With the scores locked at 1-1 City started to work their way on top of the game, having been largely outplayed in the first 45. Their long range throw in's from Sullivan and set pieces to their tall timber were proving difficult for Riverside to deal with and appeared City's best avenue to goal.
Midway through the half City took the lead, as Charlie Dyer slid through a nice ball to spring Noah Mies in behind. Mies had been well held by the outstanding Jono O'Neill for the majority of the game, but he did welll as to hold off the attentions of the Roos defender and force a quality save from Jarrod Hill. Unfortunately for Hill, the rebound fell straight into the path of Isaac Degetto who promptly hammered the ball into the back of the net to give his side the lead.
With the lead in tow, City seemed determined to see the game out, subbing on Lindsay Millington for Hancox to protect the advantage and as the game ticked towards stoppage time it seemed they would do so comfortably enough.
But the hosts came ever so close to snatching a point late when Luca Vigilante found room on the right hand side of the penalty area. He chipped a ball for the far corner of the net and missed by a whisker, drawing gasps from the strong crowd in attendance.
It wasn't to be however, the full time whistle following shortly after confirming City's victory. The 2-1 win reverses the score from their first meeting at Buckby Park and will set the stage nicely for the third and final Derby of the season later in the year.
The win sees City jump up into sixth place, with a six point buffer to their Launceston rivals. Whilst Riverside remain in 8th place, with a big game against Kingborough looming for them next week.
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