Devonport remain on course to defend their Women’s Super League title despite dropping points for the first time in more than a year.
A thrilling 3-3 draw at nearest rivals South Hobart represented the first blemish on an otherwise perfect campaign but Tom Ballantyne’s team remain on track for a second straight unbeaten season.
A pulsating D’Arcy Street encounter featured numerous subplots as Tasmania’s best two teams put on a showcase of women’s football.
Former Striker Jaz White pounced twice to give South a comfortable half-time lead but her old team stormed back with three goals in 20 minutes and were only denied a 24th consecutive win by a late own goal.
The prolific White drew level with her replacement Asuka Doi on 22 goals for the season with a typically lethal first-half brace, the second from the penalty spot after being upended by Holly Emmett.
However, Lucy Foote equalled the achievement with two excellent finishes before Whitney Knight put Devonport ahead.
South rescued a point when Caitlin Stalker’s cross was turned into her own goal by Annabelle Wyllie eight minutes from time after which a flurry of late yellow cards showed how much the contest meant to both teams and produced another 3-3 scoreline.
With the points shared, Strikers remain nine clear having won the teams’ previous league encounter as well as the statewide cup final. They have not lost a league game since a 1-0 defeat to South at the same venue in September 2023.
Glenorchy also fought back from two goals behind and kicked on to win 4-2 against third-placed Launceston United.
The former Northern Rangers duo of Abbie Chugg and Mo Ritchie twice combined to give the latter a four-minute brace early doors but Knights hit back through Aaliyah Browning, Sophie Munnings, Addison Broadbent and Ebony Pitt to reverse the result at KGV in round seven.
For the second time this season, Madi Gilpin was the match-winner as Riverside won the battle of the bottom two at Taroona.
The former Launceston United midfielder had decided a five-goal Kelvedon Park thriller in May and reprised her role with the only goal in a hard-fought 1-0 win, heading home Meg Connolly’s corner on 35 minutes.
Olympic’s three wins this season have all come against Taroona, with the sides also playing out a 4-3 result in the opening round of the statewide cup.
Kingborough had the bye as did the NPL Tasmania which returns next week.
Picture: Asuka Doi (Devonport) and Madi Chambers (South Hobart)
Credit: South Hobart FC