Devonport City managed to escape with a late 1-0 win against Launceston City after the plucky visitors had threatened to walk away with an upset draw.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The rank underdogs were still fresh from a shock six-goal Lakoseljac Cup loss to Southern championship side Glenorchy Knights that had rocked coach Ben Brookfield’s stoic faith in his side.
City had defended stoutly for most of Saturday’s clash, never giving a quarter to the defending champions.
But reigning golden boot winner Brayden Mann broke the northern rival’s hearts with a 87th-minute winner to the delight of the home fans at Valley Road.
Devonport’s defensive midfielder Raphael Reynolds curled the ball off a corner close to injury time only to find Mann’s scoring head.
The fortuitous victory has sent the Strikers to the top of the NPL Tasmania ladder following Olympia's heavy 6-2 defeat to South Hobart.
City had looked set to earn a deserved point as great reward for its ability to adapt quickly to a change of tactics.
Brookfield had in the aftermath of conceding 11 goals in the past two weeks taken a more pragmatic attitude to obtaining a result.
The last-placed side played out a conservative 5-4-1 formation than his customary attack-at-all-costs philosophy on the game.
It forced the fancied hosts to err into 10 wayward shots on goal, leaving them frustrated in a foul-ridden game.
Northern Rangers travel on Sunday to face Clarence United to regain fifth spot.