Tatura's Brodie Pena slides to cut off Shepparton South's Greg Nash.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
With five rounds remaining, the race to FV Greater Bendigo finals is heating up.
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For Shepparton South, however, it was revenge on the mind drawn against Tatura in round 13.
South exacted a six-goal turnaround against the Ibises to nab another pivotal win in the League 1 title race, turning a five-nil loss in round four into a one-nil win at McEwen Reserve.
Declan Kinnane’s 25th-minute strike ensured the three points flew South this time around, as a stingy defensive effort saw the black and white walk away unblemished.
The result moves Isaac Brooker’s squad four points clear in that coveted second spot, only two behind ladder leaders Shepparton United.
Shepparton South's Ali Naveed prepares for a throw in.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Tatura's Tristan Zito utilises the header.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Shepparton South's Malivai Daninthe and Tatura's Tristan Zito compete.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Tatura's Brodie Pena and Shepparton South's Greg Nash battle in the air.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Shepparton South's Declan Kinnane and Tatura's Harteaj Singh jostle for possession.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
However, the reigning premiers look to be in no mood to relinquish top billing.
The Blues blasted Golden City 6-0 as Marcus Thomas slammed home his third hat trick of the season, while Rumesh Bartaula (two goals) and debutant Alexander Georgiou also hit the back of the net.
United has only dropped one game from its 13 starts and is far and away the league’s highest-scoring team with 82 goals, setting up a mouthwatering McEwen Reserve derby against Shepparton south this Sunday.
Around the league, Strathdale had Shepparton’s measure in a 9-0 triumph, while Spring Gully accounted for La Trobe University 5-0.
In the women’s League 1 race, Shepparton South put back-to-back defeats behind them with a hard-fought win over Tatura.
Ibises striker Grainne Egan opened the scoring just before half-time, but it was Angela Pearson at the double, scoring 10 minutes later and then finding the winner in the 85th minute, who helped South clinch an important victory, their sixth of the season.
Spring Gully remain the competition pacesetters after a 9-0 win over La Trobe University, while Castlemaine-Goldfields had the better of Colts United 7-1.
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