It was billed as do or die and South Hobart proved far too good for their fierce rivals Hobart JEEP Zebras with a 4-1 win demolition on their home pitch, Darcy Street.

It was a must-win match for both sides to stay alive in the title fight but it unfortunately failed to reach great heights with the match all-but over inside 15 minutes, with the hosts bolting away with an early three-goal blitz.

The chief destroyer in South's early frenzy was an unlikely one, with energetic midfielder Hugh Undy striking a brace inside 11 minutes. His first was an opportunistic tap in from close range, Chris Hunt swung in a corner from the right that went over the pack and out to Brayden Mann. Mann powered a shot on the volley that deflected off Kurt Engels at back post and fell to Undy, who scrambled a shot away just yards from the goal line.

Undy wasted little time to double up his efforts, heading in masterfully just three minutes later from some superb Hunt delivery. Hunt recaptured sparkling form with some sumptuous crossing to create goals and dashing runs down the wings. Undy found metres on his marker with thanks to some lacklustre marking from the Zebras and nodded Hunt's well weighted ball into the bottom right corner, making it 2-0.

The third came from the penalty spot with Mann earning and finishing off a penalty. Hunt played in from the right to Mann in the middle of the box, the spearhead was chopped down by Zebras 'keeper Graham Wright, leaving Kim Barker little choice but to show the scotsman yellow and send Mann to the spot. He fired home the spot kick convincingly, making it 3-0 inside 14 minutes.

Zebras appeared shellshocked and lost for ideas but pegged one back against the flow of play through an intelligent quick free kick from Jayden Hey. Hey caught South Hobart ‘keeper Kane Pierce unaware as he was setting his wall, quickly taking and curling the dead ball into the left side of the goal off the post from the edge of the 18.

As it ticked on toward the end of the opening half South Hobart cancelled out Zebras' lifeline through Dan Brown. It was again diabolical defensive work from Zebras at a set piece with Hunt the orchestrator once more, he whipped in from the left wing to an unmarked Brown, who charged in unchallenged to send a fizzing header into the top right corner.

South Hobart took a 4-1 lead into the break and closed it out with minimal fuss despite the introduction of Zebras new recruits in the second half.

Foes one week, friends another, South Hobart will be cheering on the Zebras next week as they face Olympia FC Warriors. South will be desperately hoping the Zebras can cause an upset over their traditional rivals and help their title tilt. Ken Morton's men face a tricky task of their own, travelling north to face Devonport at Valley Road.

Olympia FC Warriors were not at the top of their game but found a way to grind out a 1-0 win over Northern Rangers.

The Warriors struck the game's only game from the penalty spot and had a golden chance to double the advantage in the second stanza but had a spot-kick saved, leaving the door ajar for an equaliser until the final whistle.

The game was deadlocked at 0-0 until the 31st minute, where Olympia found the game's only goal. Fabian Gustaffson received a pass inside the left side of the 18 yard box and took his first touch toward the six yard box, cutting towards the goal.  Harry Thanhausser brought down the winger after tracking his run diligently.

Referee Craig Phillips didn't hesitate in blowing for a penalty and it certainly looked like a penalty in real time but on review the Warriors were maybe a touch fortunate to get a spot-kick. A replay revealed Gustaffson nipped inside of Thannhauser and felt for the contact from the Rangers midfielder before tumbling to the turf.

They were awarded the penalty though and Emmanuel Tsakiris stepped up to the spot and tucked it away into the bottom left confidently to make it 1-0.

In the 65th minute, de ja vu as Gustaffson again went down in the box under a physical challenge from Pat Lanau-Atkinson. Again in real-time it appeared a clear-cut penalty but on review it was very light contact made on the Swedish winger. This time, Tsakiris' spot kick was soft and easily saved by James Wilson in goals, in what many at the ground saw as justice served for a soft penalty decision.

Northern Rangers had an opportunity late to salvage a point with a free kick. Midfielder Towns stood up and blasted over the bar, seeing the Warriors off the hook and in the box seat at the top of the table.

The Devonport Strikers were too strong at home for the Kingborough Lions, winning 4-1 at Valley Road.

Kingborough got off to the perfect start (only 3 minutes in!) after their four hour bus ride (the longest in Victory league football) when Danny Cowen rose unchecked at the back post to fire home a header from a corner. He picked high to the right hand of Devonport goalkeeper Tom Pearce and left him with no chance.

Devonport were quick to respond and levelled the score on the 10 minute mark. A quick counter attack began when Pearce released a brilliant throw to the half way line which put Michael ‘Turtle’ Holden into space on the right-wing. Holden drove down the right flank shaking off two opponents and crossed to Beau Blizzard who was unmarked at the back post. Blizzard had the time to take a touch and slot the ball into the bottom left hand corner.

Five minutes later, on the quarter hour mark, the Strikers took the lead. Devonport’s English import Daniel Syson played a long ball from the left attacking wing towards the top of the 18 yard box. Lions’ Joel Schuth was first to the ball but his header didn’t clear danger and instead found Adam Gorrie who picked his spot past the stranded ‘keeper Andrew Duncan who had half-come out to the long ball from Syson.

Devonport began the brighter in the second half and that would be the way things stayed for much of the second 45. Within seven minutes of the restart, Devonport had doubled their lead. Blizzard took a quick free quick on the left wing and laid the ball back a few metres to Dom Smith who swung the ball towards the penalty spot where Todd Hingston jumped best and headed past the approaching Duncan who couldn’t impact the contest. It was Hingston’s first goal in Devonport colours and Devonport's third for the game.

The Lions threw men forward late and paid the price for the gamble as Devonport’s Beau Blizzard prized open the heart of the Lions defence with a delightful pass to Syson who took a touch and finished expertly past the approaching Duncan to seal the game with three minutes remaining in regular time.

This result sees Devonport leap-frog Kingborough on the ladder and take sixth position condemning the Lions to seventh position.

Launceston City ground out a 3-0 victory over bottom placed Glenorchy Knights at KGV yesterday, as both clubs fight to remain in the PS4 Victory League, a week out from an expected announcement from Football Federation Tasmania.

Having by far conceded the most goals of any PS4 Victory League club, Knights did well to hold out City for the opening 25 minutes. It took a moment of individual brilliance from Aaron Mattarozzi to break the deadlock when his low and hard shot from outside the box found the back of the net.

In the 75th minute Rossi crossed from the right to find Degetto who scored in the bottom corner with a delightful back heel flick, making it 2-0 to the visitors.

Livewire Aaron Campbell put the game beyond doubt when he rounded Knights ‘keeper Alex Woodham in the 86th minute and calmly slotted home.

The win puts City into fifth place, only two points behind Launceston rival Northern Rangers as the fight for fourth place heats up.

Both Glenorchy Knights and Launceston City will be anxious this week as they await the decision by Football Federation Tasmania on who has secured a Victory League licence for 2016-2018.