Mark Rudan's side was looking to leap up to sixth if it could secure a fifth win from seven games, but had to play a man down for half the match.

Although a crowd figure was not announced, the Tasmanian fans who did turn out at UTAS Stadium were at least treated to some A-League history as United centre-back Andrew Durante became the first player in the competition's history to reach 350 appearances, and did so against his former club.

Five days after Connor Pain opened the scoring in the fifth minute, fans had to wait until the seventh for Ben Waine to give Phoenix the lead, the Kiwi teenager scoring for the third game running and taking his season tally to five from just five shots on target.

Pain went from scorer to creator on 27 minutes, tidily setting up Lachie Wales for his third goal in four appearances after the striker was a surprise call-up at the expense of the A-League's all-time leading goal-scorer Besart Berisha.

The eighth-versus-ninth clash proved somewhat spiteful with six yellow cards dished out in the first half alone, two of which went to full-back Brendan Hamill, followed by the obligatory red.

However, the second half was a dour affair as Phoenix failed to cash in on their numerical superiority.

They came closest two minutes from time when the post was struck by their brilliantly-named captain Ulises Alejandro Davila Plascencia.

United had become the first ever winners in the state when Pain's goal was enough to defeat Central Coast Mariners 1-0 on Saturday, eight years after the second of Melbourne Victory's two 1-1 draws.

Crowds of 5268 and 6238 saw those encounters against Gold Coast United and Central Coast respectively while 3203 watched Saturday's match.

Two Tasmanian female representative teams played curtain-raisers against Western United's affiliated women's team Calder United.

In the seniors match, the reigning NPLW Victoria champions proved too strong, winning 3-0.

English-born playmaker Jessica Robinson was the only Northern-based player in Chris Hey's squad.

Roared on by a cheer squad of Launceston United teammates, the 22-year-old former England youth international came on midway through the first half and played in the midfield.

Captain Aleksandra Sinclair gave United a 2-0 half-time lead, twice getting the better of Isolina Ottavi.

However, the Taroona keeper made amends with several strong saves as United were also denied more goals by the woodwork before Ava Groba completed the scoring.

Riverside's Chelsea Wing was on the scoresheet in the under-19s' 5-1 loss to Calder.

The middle of three sisters to play for Olympic, Wing poached her equalising goal moments before half-time.

Devonport's Maddy Payne led a counter-attack down the right and when she delivered into the box Wing claimed the final touch on the goal-line.

"It felt good to score when we had worked so hard in the first half," said Wing, 17.

"I knew Maddy was going to cross it in and thought there was no way this is not going in so I lunged at it and think I may have taken the defender with me.

"It felt really good out there. It's a big pitch and was a very fast game."

The goal kept the game level at the interval but the visitors always looked the more dangerous side and could have won by a much bigger margin.

After an even first half-hour, Anastasia Ramel headed them in front but it took three superb long-range efforts, two from Montanna Mathews and another by captain Alana Cerne, to confirm their dominance after the break. Sienna Cappola completed the scoring.

Wing, who had begun on the bench before being played wide left and later full-back, was one of three Northern players in the junior rep side.

Gonya Luate was predominantly used in defence by coach Simon Edwards and frequently linked up with her Launceston United teammate Jess McCallumsmith on the left wing.

In another Northern connection, the match was excellently refereed by Launceston College's Nathan Hill.