South Hobart take a huge step towards the title

Photos (Top to Bottom): George Kalis...took over in goal for Olympic; Lee Mason tangles with University's Alexis Bull; University's Iain Fletcher tangled up with Olympic's Chris Tsakiris; Olympic's Michael Bulis takes on two University defenders

South Hobart took a giant step towards retaining their Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League title when they beat Tilford Zebras 2-1 away at KGV Park tonight.

The win put South on top, three points ahead of Zebras, who dropped to second, and with a game in hand.

Zebras have just two games remaining and South have three.

Defender David Cooper volleyed South ahead after a Kostas Kanakaris corner in the 33^rd minute, while South goalkeeper Mark Moncur produced a brilliant save in the 61^st minute from Ricky Self’s blistering shot to deny Zebras an equaliser.

But, Henry Fagg made it 1-1 in the 72^nd minute with a powerful header after Dwayne Walsh had flicked on Tommy Fotak’s chip from midfield.

Kanakaris hit the post in the 78^th minute and, as Zebras failed to clear, he squeezed the winner under goalkeeper Troy Kaden.

South were the better side and might have scored more goals through Gary Upton, Ricki Eaves, Kanakaris, Julius Ross and David Abbott, while Zebras also went close through Ben Crosswell, Walsh, Jayden Welch and Fagg.

Bottom-side University, who were walloped 5-0 on Thursday by Clarence United, kept relegation at bay for another week when they held out in a torrid second-half to beat Hobart Olympic 4-3 after leading 4-0 at half-time.

A goal by Aaron Hindmarsh, two by Rory McCallum and another by Alexis Bull put University well on top in the first half, but Olympic struck back in the second with two goals by Adam Hedge and one by Dipendra Kunwar.

Olympic replaced novice goalkeeper Valandis Matsouris with George Kalis on the hour, but it was one-way traffic in favour of Olympic for most of the second half.

Hedge hit the post with the last kick of the match as Olympic narrowly failed to salvage a point.

First-half goals by Marcus Bremner and Tom McDonald gave Kingborough Lions United a 2-0 win over Glenorchy Knights.

Metro stayed top in Division One with an easy 6-1 win over Northern Suburbs DOSA at home at North Chigwell.

Beachside easily accounted for Nelson Eastern Suburbs 5-2 at home at Sandown Park, with Bernhard Klasen netting a hat-trick and Colin Shepherd and Sebastian Milford scoring a goal apiece.

Northern Rangers and Devonport City stayed neck-and-neck at the top of the Forestry Tasmania Northern Premier League after both had convincing wins.

Northern Rangers beat bottom-side Launceston United 6-0 away, with Paul Bremner notching a hat-trick.

Devonport City overcame second-last Launceston City 5-1. Chris Mckenna grabbed the first two goals for Devonport, while Nathan Gratton, Kieren Mulraney and Ben Pizzarani scored the remainder.

Prospect Knights downed Somerset 2-1, and Riverside Olympic beat Burnie United 2-0.