LAUNCESTON City could not manage a home win in the Victory League yesterday, slumping to a 3-1 loss against the Kingborough Lions.
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The Lions took a 2-0 lead into the break, courtesy of goals from Danny Cowen and Lewis Verdouw. Paul Scicluna pulled a goal back for City but Billy Gasparinatos put the result beyond doubt.
Northern Rangers held onto second spot on the ladder with a 3-1 win against the Glenorchy Knights despite the bottom side scoring first in the 13th minute.
Rangers were quick to respond to Callen Griffin's goal, Nick Lanau-Atkinson shooting into the bottom left three minutes later before Shane Brassington nodded home Adam Edwards' cross in the 31st minute.
Brassington got his second after collecting Harry Thannhauser's pass and rounding the goalkeeper 15 minutes into the second half.
Olympia also maintained its second spot on the ladder with a 5-1 drubbing of Devonport City at KGV.
Emmanuel Tsakiris pounced on an error at the back from Devonport captain Kieran Mulraney, passing to Nick Meredith who scored into an empty net in the third minute.
Brody Denehey equalised for the Strikers with a spectacular diving header off Ben Foote's cross in the 16th minute but Eduardo Cabello poked a goal home right on half-time to make it 2-1.
Denehey went close to equalising twice in a minute after the restart but it was Cabello again for Olympia, the Mexican import finishing Tsakiris' run and pass to the back post.
The duo combined again in the 75th minute, Cabello setting up Tsakiris for his second before his shot in the 89th minute spilled to Stuart Page to score on debut.
South Hobart started strongly against Tilford Zebras, forwards Brayden Mann, Nick Morton and Andy Brennan all hammering the goals, but failing to score before half-time.
Zebras took the lead in the 51st minute through Ethan Engels who put away Adam McKeown's pass. Zebras increased its lead through Alex Leszczynski who finished a deflected shot that landed at his feet several minutes later.
South Hobart pushed to get back in the game but conceded a third goal, McKeown putting away a diving header at the back post five minutes from full time.
NPL - Launceston United gave reigning Northern Premier League champion Somerset an early scare when Chris Budgeon's 10th minute free kick from the top of the box found its way through the wall and deflecting in.
But the Sharks hit back with four unanswered goals before the break and added another four as United started to tire in the second half. Kyrone Johnson and Jimmy Nettleton both scored hat-tricks and Chris Smith netted a brace.
Prospect Knights took a 1-0 lead into the break against Launceston City and ran out a 3-0 winner.
Rhys Kinslow stole the ball off a defender in the box and scored from an acute angle to put Knights ahead. Trent Mitchell made it 2-0 a couple of minutes after the restart and Kinslow headed Mitch Duffy's cross to the back post for Knights' third goal.
In the Coastal derby, Burnie United upset Ulverstone 1-0 with Connor Parke getting the decisive goal.
Ladder leader Riverside Olympic faces Northern Rangers at the NTCA ground today.
RESULTS - VICTORY LEAGUE: Glenorchy Knights 1 lt Northern Rangers 3, Launceston City 1 lt Kingborough Lions 3, Olympia 5 d Devonport City 1, Tilford Zebra 3 d South Hobart 0.
NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE: Launceston City 0 lt Prospect Knights 3, Launceston United 1 lt Somerset 8, Burnie United 1 d Ulverstone 0.