Gerrard had already scored an overhead kick in a game marred by a suspected broken leg to Strikers defender Jack Dance.

And with 14 minutes remaining Gerrard spotted keeper Nathan Pitchford off his line and struck a beauty over his head from near the halfway line prompting instant comparisons to David Beckham's goal for Manchester United against Wimbledon.

"It was worthy of the Premier League," beamed City coach Roger Hardwicke.

"It's a wonder goal. He saw the keeper off his line and has drilled it over his head. Great vision.

"I'm absolutely delighted. I could not be prouder of the guys, it was a superb effort.

"They all understand we are talented, we saw that, but this shows if we want it enough we can win any game we want.

"The guys know they can belong in the top end of the table, we've just got to do it week in, week out."

Eddie Bidwell pulled one back to make the final score 2-1 in a game held up for 90 minutes while an ambulance was called for Dance.

LAUNCESTON UNITED coach Glenn Reading said he was proud of his team which came within five minutes of achieving the club's best result in recent history.

A South Hobart side led by former United coach Ken Morton trailed 2-1 until the closing minutes when a contentious penalty preceded two more late goals and a slightly flattering 4-2 scoreline.

More than 20 years after United's heyday in the statewide league they again hosted Tasmania's big boys on a proud day for all involved at Birch Avenue.

Goals early in each half from Will Compagne and Will Rodman had Reading's men in the box seat against a South Hobart side who had hit back through Ewan Larby's deflected free-kick but were struggling to get much change out of wily keeper Greg Duffy.

Hampered by just a three-week training lead-in, United were hanging on when Nick Morton went tumbling in the box and Kobe Kemp dispatched the resulting hotly-disputed penalty.

Larby's quickfire double in the remaining five minutes demonstrated as much composure and class as his side had mustered in the previous 85.

Just a few years after the same fixture produced a 13-0 scoreline, Reading was understandably buoyant.

"Very proud of them," he said. "They are nearly full strength and we played some good stuff. There will be some sore boys tomorrow.

"It's a soft penalty when you're holding on but it was just as well it did not go to extra time because my blokes are knackered."

Southern Championship side University again proved the scourge of the north, knocking out RIVERSIDE OLYMPIC a year after also accounting for Launceston City en route to the semi-finals.

It was a day to forget for Alex Gaetani's men whose lack of striking options was exposed in a 4-0 defeat at Olinda Grove.

Glenorchy Knights were even more ruthless against Fernando Munoz's NORTHERN RANGERS, racking up a 5-0 scoreline at KGV.

Northern Rangers and Riverside had contrasting passages into the next round of the women's Statewide Cup.

Doubles for Abbie Chugg, including a penalty, and Febey Pearce plus a clean sheet for Georgina Perkins secured a comfortable 4-0 win for Ian Loft's Rangers side at Launceston City.

Olympic had a bumpier ride against Metro FC at Windsor Park.

Just a week after losing 19-0 at Devonport, there was a sense of deja vu at finding themselves 2-0 down after just three minutes to goals from Lara Matuszek and Maddie Stoye.

But Jo Haezebrouck's side stuck to their gameplan and a clinical first-half hat-trick from Meg Connolly, including one from the penalty spot, had them ahead by half-time.

In what was a statewide cup debut for both sides, Janaya Moate equalised soon after the break but Georgia Wing put the home side back in front before Connolly's fourth wrapped up a 5-3 win.

Three Launceston sides headed to the capital to compete in the under-20 cup and only Riverside Olympic returned home with a place in the next round.

Goals from Adam Walker, Fletcher Fulton and Jacob Burk were enough to secure a 3-1 win against Clarence Zebras at Wentworth Park.

There was late heartbreak for Dan Smith's Launceston City side which took Glenorchy Knights nearly all the way before conceding the only goal in the dying minutes of extra-time at KGV.

Northern Rangers also lost narrowly, going down 2-1 to Kingborough at Lightwood Park with Reede Beckett hitting their consolation.