The 3-2 victory also was just Riverside’s second in just its 10 games, stretching back to round one this year.

Riverside coach Alex Gaetani was ecstatic to break a seven-game losing streak at the hands of one of the championship contenders.

“We could have realistically been five or six goals up in the end, but still this result is a definite improvement,” Gaetani said.

The game was one of many surprises in the Northern Championship on Saturday.

Launceston United had conceded three goals at Newstead to Somerset, hosts Launceston City couldn’t erase a goal-deficit at the break against Devonport, while Northern Rangers put six goals past Burnie.

Ulverstone entered its clash in equal second with United, just a win behind leaders City and Somerset.

But Gaetani and Ryan McCarragher slotted goals early to take the visitors to a two-goal lead at half-time.

Ulverstone hit back soon after the break before levelling from the penalty spot.

Riverside’s Nick Meldrum scored a “fantastic winner” inside the final 10 minutes for his fourth – but most important – goal of the year.

“I think in this game it just came down to the fact that we were able to score early on in the piece, so we got to 2-0,” Gaetani said.

“We were taking our chances, which in past games we haven’t taken those chances we’ve created.”

Riverside are 11 points adrift of the top four with 11 games in hand, but Gaetani felt his young chargers – nearly half the side is 17 or under – have more wins left.

“The form is strong enough to be able to beat the majority of the teams,” he said. 

Rangers stayed in touch with the top four, scoring a 6-0 win at the NTCA No2 ground over Burnie. Yasin Mohammadi and Solomon Mehari both collected doubles for the home side.

City played catch up against Devonport in its 3-2 loss. Andrew Compogne scored in the first half, but City trailed 2-1 at the break.

City’s Jervis Foley scored a second, but to no avail.

Somerset took the outright lead of the competition with its eighth win in 10 matches.

The visitors outplayed Launceston United, 3-0.