Launceston City pulled off one of the biggest shocks in Playstation 4Victory League history, defeating back-to-back defending champions South Hobart 1-0 at Mitsubishi Park yesterday, putting a large dent in their hopes of retaining the title.

Off the back of lifting the Lakoseljac Cup last Monday, the highly favoured South Hobart were expected to comfortably account for traditional league minnow Launceston City. In the short history of the Victory League, City had never beaten South Hobart, but City again showed they are a much different beast in 2015, producing probably the competition’s greatest ever upset with a gutsy 1-0 win at home.

The hosts took the lead with their first clear chance in the 27^th minute through Ben Brookfield.  The ball fell to him in the box and he showed great composure to turn past a defender and rifle a left footed shot into the back of the net, sparking wild celebrations from the home crowd.

Despite a lot of South Hobart pressure, City held on to record a famous victory.

 

Glenorchy Knights again suffered a heavy defeat, going down 7-0 to Hobart JEEP Zebras at their shared home ground, KGV Football Park. 

Zebras sharpshooter Adam McKeown rediscovered some form, netting a handful with five goals against the Knights. Harrison Thomas got his first goal in black and white and Dwayne Walsh capped off the win with a  late goal.

 

Northern Rangers and Devonport City shared points 2-2 in a fierce northern battle at NTCA.

Northern Rangers and Devonport Strikers played out a feisty and entertaining 2-2 draw last night at the NTCA, and with the pre-match buzz all about the return of Rangers’ legend Todd Hingston to his old stomping ground it was no surprise he played a part in the Striker’s 80^th minute equaliser.

It was the home side who settled quickest and they took the lead in the 14^th minute from the penalty spot.  In form Rangers skipper Nick Lanau-Atkinson drove into the box and was felled by a clumsy challenge leaving the referee with no option but to point to the spot.  Yitay Towns stepped up to take the penalty and he made no mistake, coolly slotting into the bottom left corner.

Devonport made a change at the break with Kieran Mulraney replacing Ben Andrews and the substitute had an immediate impact, grabbing an equaliser in the 48^th minute.  Holden whipped in a dangerous left footed in-swinging corner, which Mulraney headed home at the back post.

Rangers struck back almost immediately, Nick Lanau-Atkinson restoring their lead in the 51^st minute with an absolute screamer of a goal.  The Rangers’ skipper smashed in a 35 yard effort which flew over the head of Tom Pearce in the Devonport goal and into the back of the net. 

The 62^nd minute saw the substitution everyone had been waiting for with Hingston taking the field for the Strikers, and his presence in midfield helped to further break up Rangers’ rhythm.

Devonport snatched their equaliser in the 80^th minute following a lovely move that was started by that man Hingston and ended with a back-heeled through ball which Bradley Chilcott strode onto before emphatically thundering the ball into the back of the net.

 

Olympia wasted an opportunity to go seven points clear at the top of the Victory League ladder, drawing 0-0 with fourth-placed Kingborough Lions at Lightwood Park on Sunday. 

The result increases their lead at the top to five points but following South Hobart’s loss to Launceston City on Saturday they had the chance to make the lead a formidable seven points with just ten games to go. For Lions it was a strong response following their 4-0 loss in the Lakoseljac Cup on Queens Birthday Monday. 

It was a game of two halves, with a dour, stop-start first followed by an action-packed second, in which Olympia had the majority of the chances despite having defender Harry Woolley sent off.

Despite sustained pressure in the second half and plenty of goal mouth action, Kingborough held on for a draw to secure a valuable point and consolidate fourth position on the table.

 

 

PLAYSTATION 4 VICTORY LEAGUE ROUND 11 

Glenorchy Knights 0 Hobart JEEP Zebras 7 (Adam McKeown 19? (penalty), 45?, 60?, 72?, 85?, Harrison Thomas 50?, Dwayne Walsh 90'+2) HALF TIME 0-2

VENUE: KGV Football Park, Glenorchy

 

Launceston City 1 (Ben Brookfield 27?) South Hobart 0 HALF TIME 1-0

VENUE: Mitsubishi Park, Prospect

 

Northern Rangers 2 (Yitay Towns 14? PEN, Nick Lanau-Atkinson 51?) Devonport Strikers 2 (Kieran Mulraney 48?, Brad Chilcott 80?) HALF TIME 1-0

VENUE: NTCA, LAUNCESTON

 

Kingborough Lions 0 Olympia FC Warriors 0 HALF TIME 0-0 

VENUE: Lightwood Park, Kingston