After City banged in four goals in cruisy wins against Northern Rangers and Olympia, coach Jez Kenth warned the next three fixtures would have a much louder say on the team’s season.

How right he was as South Hobart (4-2), Devonport (3-1) and Hobart Zebras (3-2) ensured the NPL Tasmania remains a four-horse race.

City put in a brave fight to come back from 3-0 down at half-time in Tasmania’s Italian derby, but an equaliser proved as elusive as warm hands on a freezing Prospect night.

“At least we showed heart, we’re just not finishing the game,” Kenth said. “But when you’re playing teams like Zebras, Devonport and South, they’re not going to miss and they have punished us. There’s really nothing between the top four teams.

“None of those games we were outplayed, we were either on par or better. We’re right there with them and we’ve shown we can dominate those teams.”

Kenth blamed sloppy first-half errors for the latest loss which allowed Zebras to gallop into a healthy lead.

The visitors’ lethal front three of Mathew Sanders, Jakub Sklenar and Matthew Pace tore City apart.

Sanders scored the opener from the penalty spot after Lindsay Millington had upended Sklenar.

Pace doubled the lead on the half hour with a cool finish and Sanders was equally composed when he added the third on the stroke of half-time.

Already looking tame in front of goal, City’s task was made even harder when Tyler Fischer succumbed to a rib injury picked up against Devonport.

However, after Niko Giantsopoulos kept them in it by repeatedly frustrating Sanders, Noah Mies reduced the arrears from the spot after sub Joe Dorazio was brought down with 19 minutes remaining.

Ten minutes later it was game on when a Daniel Syson corner was bundled in by a combination of Shane Egan and Liam Scott.

But the in-form Zebras – cheered on by suspended coach Gabriel Markaj watching from neighbouring Prospect Park –  hung on to draw level on points with their hosts.

Devonport maintained its lead with a 3-1 defeat of  Kingborough at Valley Road as Brayden Mann (two) and Michael Holden scored in the second half.

Olympia thumped Clarence 8-1 at Wentworth Park while Northern Rangers face a tough trip to Darcy Street to take on South Hobart at 2pm on Sunday.

In the Women’s Super League, a solitary Emily Hernyk goal was enough to give Launceston City victory over Hobart Zebras.

But runaway leader Ulverstone maintained its magnificent unbeaten record with a 5-1 defeat of  Kingborough Lions.

South Hobart beat University 5-1 while Clarence will host Taroona at Wentworth Park at 2pm on Sunday.