Finally, Launceston City could breath a sigh of relief.
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Because it was third time lucky for the club’s girls.
Launceston City prevailed for a 4-2 win over UIverstone to claim this year’s Northern Championship on Saturday.
This was no final. But it might as well have been.
“So it just so happened to be the last game for both of us,” jubilant City coach Luigi Gugliotti said. “We managed to get through all our games unscathed and so did they.
“So it sort of came down to whoever won on the day, won the championship.”
Ulverstone pulled off the past two championships in the simmering rivalry when City dropped the ball twice.
City had to win a final game last year against Ulverstone, but managed a draw.
The year before, the same.
City had every right to feel they deserved this year’s title from an earlier 6-2 win at Ulverstone and then a 2-2 draw.
But doubt crept in again in what Gugliotti termed a mid-year “rocky patch” amid a spate of injuries and a series of catch-up games.
Ulverstone – again – only needed a draw to win in three in a row, holding a one-point lead with both teams losing once in 21 games, but City’s two draws the difference.
“There is that leaning that they had to make sure they don’t lose,” Gugliotti said.
“But we scored in the first five minutes, so that changed the tone of the game.”
Ulverstone finished the half with two goals to equalise. But City stormed home with the winds at their backs to score twice.