NPL TASMANIA
A thrilling end to the NPL Tasmania season saw Glenorchy snatch the title off reigning champions Devonport while RIVERSIDE finally picked up their first win in their last game.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With the top two tied together on 47 points, Strikers only needed to match the Knights result.
However, with Glenorchy leading 1-0 over LAUNCESTON CITY thanks to Lucas Hill's strike, a 1-1 draw at Kingborough was not going to be enough.
A pulsating final few minutes saw Strikers throw everything at the Lions, including keeper Nathan Pitchford in his final match, only for the home side to snatch a dramatic late winner through Ben Hamlet.
The news took seconds to travel the 20 kilometres from Lightwood Park to KGV and the Knights players erupted in celebration as their game finished in a 1-0 win which avenged their loss to Devonport in the Lakoseljac Cup final.
Lino Sciulli's City side were already guaranteed a fifth-placed finish and completed their campaign with seven wins, 13 losses and just one draw.
Meanwhile Riverside players had to re-learn their club song having waited all season for a rendition.
An emotional 3-1 victory against second-bottom Clarence wasn't enough to save the Windsor Park outfit from the wooden spoon but avoided the ignominy of going an entire season without a win.
After 17 losses, three draws and a total of 82 goals conceded, Olympic fell behind on 12 minutes but did enough before the break to double their points tally for the campaign.
Fletcher Fulton set up Mitch Jones for the equaliser on 18 minutes with the roles reversed on 37 for Fulton to claim his 10th goal of the season.
When Adam Walker was upended in first-half stoppage time, Luca Vigilante stepped up to convert at the second time of asking.
In what is expected to be his last game for the club, the popular Argentine hugged coach Alex Gaetani when substituted moments from time.
In the day's other game, South Hobart beat Olympia 2-0 at Darcy Street to cement third spot.
WOMEN'S SUPER LEAGUE
LAUNCESTON UNITED confirmed runners-up spot in their maiden Women's Super League season without kicking a ball.
Enjoying a final-round bye, the Birch Avenue outfit knew a Kingborough victory would push them down to third.
However, the Lions could only draw 3-3 with Devonport Strikers to finish third, ahead of Olympia on goal difference as just three points separated second from fifth.
Clarence ended up winning the title by a phenomenal 22 points while bottom two Taroona and South Hobart drew 1-1 at Kelvedon Park.
NORTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP
LAUNCESTON CITY women completed their campaign with a 2-1 win at Somerset, courtesy of a double from Zali Kirkman, sending coach Barry Baker into the off season a happy man.
"We progressed steadily for a young side and finished with eight wins, three draws and 10 losses," he said.
"A lot of young players are coming through and we can only improve."
Champions Ulverstone beat Devonport 5-1 while second-placed NORTHERN RANGERS finished their season with a goalless draw at LAUNCESTON UNITED.
RIVERSIDE OLYMPIC coach Jo Haezebrouck reflected on what might have been after his side drew 2-2 at Burnie to finish the season third.
Meg Connolly and Margaret White scored the goals in what the coach said were difficult circumstances.
"It was a fair result," he said. "With the wind you do end up playing less soccer but it's the same for both sides.
"We lost a lot of players in the last five or six weeks but over the season we've beaten Ulverstone and we've beaten Rangers and if we'd had good numbers and the right mindset all season ... am I happy with third? Not really."
Somerset clinched the men's Northern Championship with a 7-1 defeat of LAUNCESTON CITY.
RIVERSIDE went down 4-2 at Burnie.
Twice the visitors equalised stunning United goals, Mackaye Jago heading in Aaron Campbell's cross before substitute Dan Shaw's cross was turned in for an own goal.
But just as Olympic were ready to push for victory, a stunning Will Ferrall save preceded two mistakes and two more home goals.
"If that doesn't sum up our season I don't know what does," lamented coach Joey Evans.
LAUNCESTON UNITED defeated NORTHERN RANGERS 1-0 in a tight affair at Birch Avenue while Devonport Strikers won 6-1 at Ulverstone.