LAUNCESTON CITY may have picked up their first point of the season, but there was no disputing coach Roger Hardwicke's terse three-word analysis: "Two points dropped."
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
City dominated much of the bottom two clash but ultimately needed a late equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw with Clarence Zebras.
A contentious penalty and an untimely slip gifted the visitors two goals, while City's replies came from two unlikely sources.
With regular first-teamers Noah Mies and Charlie Dyer restricted to the Northern Championship and NPL bench, Rob Gerrard swapped his No.3 for No.9 alongside redeployed centre-back Alex Rossetto.
English housemates Gerrard and Sam Ridgard remained their biggest threat, but City continue to blood promising youngsters, reaping the benefits of last season's undefeated under-18 champions.
Mason Gardner, James Hawes, Nick Thorne, Isaac Degetto and Will Fleming all played important roles, although Gardner was harshly judged to have conceded the penalty from which Jayden Hey beat the otherwise outstanding Daniel Nash.
Hawes' contribution ranged from an instinctive debut goal equaliser to the mistake which helped Samson Juju restore the visitors' lead, before reliable defender Matty Oh rescued the hosts with his first goal since moving from South Hobart two years ago.
"We played much better," Hardwicke added. "We were much more threatening and looked like scoring goals. But that penalty and one mistake ... when you're at the bottom of the table, any mistakes seem to get punished."
RIVERSIDE are getting ever closer to the top teams but the same word keeps dominating coach Alex Gaetani's post-match summaries.
"Frustrating," said the coach after his side went down 2-1 to perennial pace-setters South Hobart.
However, subsequent analysis differed from previous matches in what has been a season of unfulfilled promise for Olympic.
"I'm really disappointed with that performance. I thought our first half was as poor as we've played all season.
"Lots of small errors and turnovers. We were a little bit flat and just not engaged in the contest and really it could have been a few more."
Riverside could take solace that for much of the contest they matched their opponent for effort, but the visitors were always superior in touch.
For the second week running, high-flying Hobart opposition killed off the contest with two timely strikes.
Kasper Hallam fired them ahead after 12 minutes and then set up a second for Sam Berezansky soon after the break.
Despite being behind on the scoresheet, the commitment of Riverside's defensive blocks could not be faulted, particularly Jasper King and the outstanding Tom Prince - somewhat apt that those two should put in a right royal performance at Windsor Park.
However, to use Gaetani's word, it was a frustrating afternoon for his forwards. Mackenzie Hancox ran tirelessly for minimal possession, Fletcher Fulton was limited to just one nutmeg (although it was delicious) and Aaron Campbell's landmark 150th match was hardly his finest, featuring a slip for the opening goal before collecting a yellow card and then dragging the hosts' best chance wide.
Even the wand that is Nil Sanz's left foot seemed to have lost its magic until the mercurial Spaniard picked up his customary goal and yellow card, impressively in the same incident, after converting Liam Gilmore's throughball and then wrestling with defenders reluctant to return the ball.
Champions and leaders Devonport continue to churn out the one-goal wins, Connor Parke's 30th minute strike enough to see off Glenorchy Knights in the battle of the top two while Olympia and Kingborough shared the points in an entertaining 3-3 draw at Warrior Park.