At a soggy Valley Road, a chop on Nil Sanz went unpunished before minimal contact from Liam Gilmore on Joel Stone delivered a 74th-minute penalty which the reliable Raph Reynolds converted to secure Strikers' second 1-0 win over Olympic this season.

It was hard to take for gutted coach Alex Gaetani.

"With six senior players injured and replaced with youngsters, there's a lot to be said for how difficult that is," he said. "But we came here with no fear, played to win and got very close so the message is we have got a big future."

Asked about the controversial penalty calls, Gaetani reverted to tactful mode. "That's the pressure of the game. Those things don't always go your way. But it's disappointing to lose in that way."

Again the foundation for Olympic's performance was an impressive display from Jarrod Hill, the teenage keeper denying Kieran Mulraney, Connor Parke, Daniel Syson, Eddie Bidwell, Gianluca Pizzirani and Joel Stone while Bidwell also clipped a crossbar and Max Reissig was on hand with a pivotal goalline clearance.

Olympic were not without threat themselves, Gilmore having an effort cleared off the line while Aaron Campbell's free-kick was tipped over by Nathan Pitchford.

The finishing of Kasper Hallam proved the difference as LAUNCESTON CITY went down 3-1 to South Hobart.

The talented striker bagged a hat-trick but his teammates' wastefulness, the agility of City keeper Daniel Nash and the Prospect Park woodwork kept the contest closer than it should have been.

"I'm very happy with the win but we missed a lot of chances," was South coach Ken Morton's accurate summary.

His opposite number agreed.

"They were the better side and deserved it and if they had taken their chances they would have been out of sight a lot earlier," said Roger Hardwicke.

City's consolation was a maiden top-flight goal for Josh Bula, the under-18 graduate slotting home a tidy finish from Matty Oh's 68th-minute throughball.

"He's got a lot of talent and a bit of everything - pace, power, he holds the ball up well and has a nuggetyness," Hardwicke added.

Glenorchy recorded the biggest win of the season with a 7-0 thumping of 10-man Kingborough.

Alex Walter scored three and missed a penalty, Daniel Schmidt bagged a brace and Cade Smith and Joffrey Nkoso one each.

Davis Bryan was sent off for the Lions.

Luke Huigsloot and Thomas Little saw Clarence to a 2-1 win at Olympia, for whom Callum Brown scored.

LAUNCESTON UNITED continued their championship charge with a 4-1 derby win over third-placed NORTHERN RANGERS.

Isobel Cootes, Laura Dickinson, Adilat Otto and a Jess Robinson rocket did the damage for Cameron Heazlewood's side although the coach was quick to praise the half-time pep talk of his assistant Nick Rawlinson.

"I couldn't be prouder as we roll into a challenging game against Somerset next weekend," Heazlewood said.

Moana Chamberlain claimed Rangers' consolation goal.

Two goals from 14-year-old Amelia Wing couldn't save RIVERSIDE from a 9-3 drubbing at second-placed Devonport.

Coach Jo Haezebrouck was proud of his young team but said not much went their way after Wing had them soaring with a shock early lead.

"It probably would not make a difference to the end result but an offside goal and two handballs made a big difference in the first half," he said.

Wing's second and a Meg Connolly penalty restored some pride as the Strikers ran riot after the break.

"I'm very proud of the side and we have something to build on for next week when we face our old friends Northern Rangers," Haezebrouck added.

Darcie Reilly scored the only goal as LAUNCESTON CITY beat lowly Somerset 1-0.

Yitay Towns continued his hot goal-scoring streak as NORTHERN RANGERS romped to a 5-0 win at title-chasing rivals LAUNCESTON UNITED.

The returning club favourite made it five goals in just two games with a timely double as Adharmakur Ngor, Vince Wolfhagen and Braeden Cobern completed the scoring in the second-versus-third clash at Birch Avenue.

A penalty from Mexican import Jhostan Padron wasn't enough to save RIVERSIDE OLYMPIC from a 2-1 defeat at leaders Devonport.

LAUNCESTON CITY also went down to North-West opposition, Stef Tantari hitting their goal in a 3-1 loss to Somerset.