Attending three back-to-back soccer matches - effectively stretched to four by the tragic injury to Devonport's Jack Dance and the subsequent appalling 90-minute wait for an ambulance - was what many of us had spent those months of isolation waiting for.

The sheer number of people seen also attending multiple games - from NPL club presidents and coaches to Football Tasmania board members - implied many others were of similar mind.

And why wouldn't you when there was sufficient action on offer to comfortably justify use of the adjective oodles.

A resumption round of cup fixtures meant two of the best men's teams in the state were visiting town while the women's equivalent offered one Northern derby and another clash of competition debutants.

Much like Bon Jovi's I'll Sleep When I'm Dead concert at Milton Keynes Bowl on August 19, 1993, which featured Manic Street Preachers, Little Angels and Billy Idol before the headline act, the entertainment started high and improved as the day went on.

The pristine surface of Windsor Park on a crisp but sunny morning in mid-July looked like it was yearning to ripped up by boots of varying colours.

Riverside Olympic versus Metro promised to be a fascinating clash, if only to discover where Metro come from.

Coming just a week after being humbled 19-0 by Devonport, things did not look good when Riverside found themselves 2-0 down inside three minutes.

However, the doomsayers were not accounting for either the wily tactics of coach Jo Haezebrouck or the slick finishing of Meg Connolly - the cocktail of Belgian industry and Tasmanian artistry ultimately delivering a 5-3 win.

Birch Avenue also looked like a venue in dire need of supporters with the "Welcome to Launceston United Soccer Club" sign on the spanking new clubhouse never sounding more apt.

With Ken Morton returning to the club he coached in 1997 along with his highly-fancied South Hobart team, a big turnout was expected.

And as coronavirus restrictions limited crowd gatherings to 500, the official attendance of 499 was announced three hours before kick-off.

Glenn Reading's men were up to the task, twice taking the lead and holding it until the final few minutes when a dubious Nick Morton tumble, ruthless Kobe Kemp penalty kick and clinical Ewan Larby double ensured South's progress.

David Street, High Street and Westbury Road combined with ruthless efficient to delivery the day's third fixture with the visit of reigning state champions Devonport to Launceston City.

Like Bon Jovi 27 years earlier, the main event didn't disappoint for those who opted to Keep the Faith.

Rob Gerrard's stunning double strike set up a 2-1 win confirmed by Lachie Clark completing a Northern double over the Strikers by saving a penalty a week after Riverside counterpart Jarrod Hill had done the same.

Having a player called Gerrard emulating a feat made famous by Beckham even meant an easy job for a Pommie soccer tragic reporting on the game.

Stealing the limelight from a coach called Reading, the striker from Reading undeniably claimed the day's starring role.

A late consolation from Eddie Bidwell meant the hosts were briefly Livin' on a Prayer before the visitors departed in a Blaze of Glory.

Gerrard's brace just about eclipsed Larby's after Connolly had done the work of both put together by claiming four of Riverside's goals.

The suburbs of Riverside, Newstead and Prospect had done a splendid job of hosting a competition featuring Launceston participants from such far-flung locales as Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Spain, England and Lithuania.

And Tasmania is clearly rubbing off on these international invaders.

The backdrop photograph for Rob Gerrard's Twitter profile appears to be Lilydale Falls.