Launceston United kept up the chase in the Women’s Super League with a 5-1 win at closest rivals Kingborough.
A day after coach Al Ollington pleaded for his strikers to be more clinical they responded with some stunning finishes.
Level on points and separated only by goal difference, the fourth-versus-third encounter saw Korean Soyoung Lee give the Lions the lead after just a minute.
However, United were 3-1 up by the quarter-hour courtesy of Lucy Smith’s excellent double and a third goal in eight days from Moana Ritchie. Dani Gunton and Angel Ikeda completed the job to end Kingborough’s run of three wins on the bounce.
With runaway unbeaten leaders Devonport on the bye, second-placed South Hobart also maintained the pressure by dispatching Riverside 3-1.
Ken Morton’s team had to be patient after Olympic’s Hannah Connolly wiped out Sam Watkins’ opener.
Jaz White made her customary goal-scoring contribution from the penalty spot before sub Nina Daniels confirmed the result late on.
Glenorchy were three goals up early and never looked back en route to a 4-1 victory over winless Taroona on Friday night.
Madison Lennox, Graciella Baez and Morgan Holmes put Knights on course for a third-straight win. Holmes added her second late on after Mollie Stubbs had pulled one back for the visitors.
In NPL Tasmania, American striker Colin Innes had a dream day in Devonport’s 7-0 win over bottom-placed Clarence.
For the second time this season, Innes bagged four goals in a match. Having claimed half his side’s total in the 8-1 round-five win over Launceston United, the tricky front man took his tally to 12 goals in the last nine games, all arriving before half-time.
Not content with this, Innes also provided the assists for Dylan D’Agostino’s double before Joel Stone completed the rout in stoppage time.
Second-placed Launceston City also went on a goal spree, winning 6-1 at Glenorchy.
City striker Angus Taylor endorsed Knights coach Brian Murphy’s assertion that he had been the player of the season so far by scoring twice early to take his goal tally to 16.
Strike partner Thierry Swaby also progressed to 13 with two well-taken and even-better-celebrated goals. Max Rawlings and Ben Berlese completed City’s scoring before Michael Hatcher claimed Knights’ late consolation.
Leaders South Hobart extended their unbeaten campaign with a 2-0 win over Riverside Olympic, courtesy of goals from Alex Walter on the half-hour and Nick Morton in stoppage time.
Kingborough ensured the top four all won with a 4-0 victory over Launceston United.
Noah Mies struck late in each half as Rowan Pitt and Eli Luttmer completed the scoring