Top-four quality proved too strong for Launceston City and Riverside at both ends of the state on Saturday.
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Second-placed Olympia dismissed Olympic 5-1 in Hobart before Launceston City went down 3-0 at home to fourth-placed Hobart Zebras.
A clash with accountancy exams meant City were without star striker Noah Mies until the second half but the numbers still didn't add up when he did arrive.
Zebras were kept scoreless for nearly an hour but claimed the points as Mathew Sanders took his tally to 22 for the season with a double either side of setting up another for Dwayne Walsh.
Charlie Dyer had City's best chance when he struck the crossbar on the half hour.
In characteristic fashion, City coach Lino Sciulli didn't mince his words.
"We worked hard but ended up second best," he said.
"I'm happy with the intensity and endeavour but we fell away a bit at the end."
Losing the influential presence of Shane Cartwright to a bruised calf didn't help his cause, but Sciulli said he was concerned that only four of City's 15 points have come at home.
"We're certainly not getting the results we'd like here," he said.
Only a superb performance from teenage keeper Jarrod Hill kept the scoreline down at Warrior Park.
A week after scoring on his return to the Northern Championship, English striker Chris Wademan also marked his NPL debut with a goal but his 32nd-minute rocket was a rare high point for Riverside.
Nick Mearns (two), Jono Ladic, Joffery Nkoso and an Aaron Campbell own goal saw Olympia keep up the chase of Devonport.
Coach Alex Gaetani was as honest as Sciulli.
"We got beaten by a better team," he said.
"We created some chances and got on the scoresheet and could have had a couple more, but Jarrod has had another blinder so we're fortunate that it was only this margin.
"Our goal was a cracker. He got past two or three players and hit it really hard.
"So there were some positives to come out of it but up against a team with their ability at their best, it was always going to be a tough one."
The fixture represented the first of four in a row against the top four for Olympic, which continues with a visit to Hobart Zebras next Sunday followed by South Hobart and Devonport.
Eddie Bidwell also set a record of seven assists as he too made the scoresheet along with Max Fitzgerald and Jack Dance (two).
Third-placed South Hobart host Glenorchy on Sunday.