The Northern Bombers struggled to produce their best football and trailed all day against an in-form Demons outfit on their home ground.

They trailed by six points at quarter time, three at the main break and 17 points at three-quarter time but showed some character and grit to fight their way back in the contest in the final quarter and grind out an 11.12 (78) to 11.11 (77) victory to claim the all-important four premiership points.

Tom Bennett and Brad Cox-Goodyer kicked two goals each as North’s only multiple goalkickers with Jay Lockhart continuing his good form to be the Bombers best player.

Captain Taylor Whitford, defender Corey Nankervis, Mark Walsh, debutant Karlton Wadley and Bennett rounded out their other better players.

“We had to win not playing our way which was good in a way and we will learn a lot from it,” North Launceston coach Zane Littlejohn said.

“It was a good game for our guys to really learn and understand and fight back – we were 17 points down at three-quarter time and they worked their bums off just to give themselves the opportunity to win the game and lucky enough they did enough and we got over the line and a pleasing result to get the four points.”

Littlejohn said apart from about 20 minutes of footy in the final quarter his side was below their best and unable to play the game the way they wanted.

“As I said we had to win a  different way – it was more about not winning pretty and not winning our way and really scrap a hard-fought win which will hopefully hold us in good stead moving forward.

“A really tough-fought win and pleased to come away with the four points but we’re realists and know we have a lot of improvement to do with our footy so to get the win was good.

“Hobart City brought a really strong game and got the game on their terms early and we had some opportunities where we shifted the momentum in the second quarter but didn’t kick straight and grasp the momentum and they fought back.

“They played a really good game but I was super impressed with the self belief of our group to fight it out when we were playing poorly.”