NORTHERN Rangers got their first win of the Northern Championship season with a 5-1 thrashing of Launceston City.
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Dan Cristy scored a brace in the first half and a City-own goal from 25 yards made it 3-0 at the interval.
Cristy netted his hat-trick just after the restart before City pulled a goal back to make it 4-1. Rangers soon restored is four goal lead through Muhammad Alkhazraj
Reigning Northern Championship title holders Somerset and last year's runners-up Riverside Olympic fought out a 2-2 draw yesterday.
The Sharks went up 1-0 at home in the opening 15 minutes with Riverside struggling to get first to the ball.
However, the away side fought its way back into the game and scored two quick goals through Nick Meldrum and Lochie Todd to take a 2-1 lead into break.
Jimmy Nettleton scored his fifth goal in two games when he put away a chance with about 10 minutes to go.
Both sides had chances to win the game in the closing minutes but neither could take its chances.
Burnie United went to the top of the ladder after beating Launceston United 3-0 at home.
A deflected shot put Burnie 1-0 up at half-time before the home side scored twice on the counter in the second half.
Launceston coach Robert Murray said the loss was disappointing but Burnie were deserved winners.
"We spent most of the second half camped in their half but we couldn't break them down, they were well organised and too hard at the ball," he said.
In the Coastal derby, Devonport City and Ulverstone also played out a 2-2 draw.
The Strikers went ahead through Nathan Gratton but conceded a goal to enter the sheds 1-1.
Ulverstone scored from a direct free kick to go up 2-1 but Grant Ashdown replied straight away for Devonport.
Results — Somerset 2 dw Riverside Olympic 2, Launceston City 1 lt to Northern Rangers 5, Devonport City 2 dw Ulverstone 2, Burnie United 3 d Launceston United 0.