It took until the 87th minute for the deadlock to be broken between the two title contenders and the winner came from an unlikely source. With South Hobart central defensive juggernaut Daniel Brown busting the game open with a well taken volley.

It was the biggest match in the history of the Victory League with a win for either team having a major say in the title race. Victory meant the reigning champions now hold a one point lead over Olympia and are favourites to retain the title. If they win all of their remaining games they will win the title but if they falter and draw a game and Olympia win the remainder of their games, then they will snatch the title by two points. 

It isn’t over for the Warriors though, as South have to negotiate a tricky few weeks with Launceston City and Northern Rangers either side of their Westfield FFA Cup game next Tuesday.

The game itself was a tight one, Olympia had to make a last minute change after captain Alex Holmes twisted his knee in the warm up and couldn't take his spot on the field. Harry Woolley filled in at right back and Jake Vandermey moved back into a central defensive role.

Olympia can only have themselves to blame for losing this game with both halves of the game unfolding in a similar pattern. Olympia were on top of general play for large periods until the latter part of each half but didn’t capitalise on it, and then it was South Hobart that seemed to lift their work rate and get right into the game.

Olympia playmakers Gavin Hoy and Warren Wadawu were excellent for the visitors, with both players completely dominant in some outstanding buildup play.  The opening half was a tight tussle in which neither side created many chances. Olympia dominated general play and in the 27th minute the dangerous Hoy could have been through on goal (with a lot left to do) but was scythed down by Brown in a professional foul, for which the big man collected a yellow card.

In the 31st minute, Darcy Hall should have done better after he was afforded too much space at the edge of the 18 yard box, his shot off target and was likely covered by a diving Sean Lewis anyway. Olympia continued to dominate possession from this point until about the 40th minute of the first half. Chris Hunt had a chance in the 42nd minute after a ball fell to him inside the 18 yard box, but he hit his shot straight at Lewis and he collected comfortably.

Wadawu collected a yellow for a foul on Hugh Undy in the first minute of added time in the first half. It was from the resulting free kick that Alex Leszczynski hit a thunderous shot into the top left side of the goal frame before Lewis swatted away the rebound. It was the last piece of action before Brenton Kopra blew for half time.

At the start of the second half Olympia came out firing on all cylinders. For a period of about 20 minutes they were all over South and really should have had something to show for their efforts, but they were wasteful and ‘keeper Kane Pierce was excellent when called upon. He made himself huge in the 49th minute when Hoy played in Fabian Gustaffson on the inside right channel. Pierce came out and smothered the shot magnificently to deny the Warriors a golden chance to take the lead.

The game petered out and looked to be heading towards a draw. Olympia made two substitutions with Wadawu and Hoy were subbed off in the 78th and 82nd minute respectively, moves that were questioned by fans  as they were two of their teams better players in a creative capacity on the day.

South boss Ken Morton brought Alfred Hess on in the 73rd minute and he provided a big body up front and played an important part in the final minutes of the game. In the 86th minute, a foul by Emmanuel Tsakiris on Brown just inside the South attacking half gave the hosts a chance from a set piece. Pierce played the ball deep inside the Olympia 18 yard box and Brown competed for the header before the ball bobbled to Hess who shielded the ball and played it back towards Brown who had been lost by his marker after the header. Brown smashed a sweet volley into the bottom left corner and turned and celebrated with real gusto as he was mobbed by teammates.

There were cries for handball in the lead up to the goal but Kopra’s whistle went un-blown and South Hobart were free to celebrate a likely match winner.

Olympia had a couple of half chances late, but nothing of note. If football was a game that was decided by possession as the basis for a win, then Olympia would have won on the day but its about putting the ball into the onion bag, and they didn't manage to do so and South Hobart did.

South Hobart coach Ken Morton was satisfied with the win but wasn’t getting carried away with title talk.

“Well we have to be (satisfied) to snatch three points like we did at the death is brilliant for us,” said Morton.

"The last minutes we started to assert a bit of authority and a bit of pressure on them. I think over the game both teams had chances they missed but perhaps should have scored with but that's the way football goes and then Daniel Brown pops up with the winner.

"We haven't won anything yet, we just gained three points and went top of the league.”

The South boss admitted the title race is now in their hands.

"It's ours to lose now (the title). We have Launceston City next week prior to heading off to Sydney".

"I always thought we would be battling for the number one spot. It was always going to be difficult to knock off Olympia."

Olympia coach Glenn McNeill was understandably flat after a big loss for their season.

"Yeah obviously we're disappointed. We said at half time it was likely only to be one goal in it and it was likely to come from a set piece. Obviously it wasn't from us it was from them. But I just wanted to say I'm really happy and impressed with the way our boys went about it today, they gave everything but it was just a set piece that did us in the end."

"Again not getting strikes on goal has been a constant frustration for us. But we've still got four rounds to go so anything can happen,” McNeill said.

McNeill admitted the Warriors tried to close out the game for a draw late, knowing a draw would play their way.

"…A draw was the second best option for us so that's why we brought Nick (Meredith) on late to try and sure it up a bit and obviously Manny (Tsakiris) came on and that was to just provide a bit of pressure on the central defenders... sometimes hindsight's a beautiful thing."

"They'd be pretty devastated (the players) at the moment. You could hear a pin drop in there. Well we just have to (get back up) we have Kingborough this week and we'll be playing our best 11 and having a red hot go at it.”

After leading the league for months, Olympia now become the chasers and need to rely on a loss or draw from South Hobart in order to claim a maiden title.

In the weekend's other action - Kingborough Lions grabbed a 3-1 away victory on Saturday to leap frog their hosts Launceston City into fourth spot in the PS4 Victory League ladder.

Kingborough took the lead in the 35th minute and it came direct from a corner, Keiron Dale whipping in a right footed inswinger which dipped in over the head of David Smith in the City goals. The City keeper complained that he was being obstructed but the referee waved away his protests and awarded the goal.

Just one minute later the Lions doubled their lead, Watkins doing brilliantly to beat his man on the left side of the box, before getting to the byline and cutting it back for Cowen who slotted home with his right foot.