Sport

GV Suns eye off enormous few days of football, while local rivalry reignites

By Liam Nash

Jul 6, 2023

Massive out: Joe Adoo-Peters will miss the weekend’s match due to injury. Photo by Megan Fisher

A buffet of unmissable round ball clashes are on the menu across Greater Shepparton this weekend.

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First up is Goulburn Valley Suns, who should treat this Saturday’s home tie against Box Hill United as a must-win if they wish to keep promotion hopes alive.

The Suns sit in third, well above eighth-placed United, but drew 1-1 with the side in round six and approach the battle missing a raft of impact players.

Import centre back Joe Adoo-Peters is still recovering from a rib injury, while Matt Lelliott and Declan Kinnane will be sidelined for the fixture due to racking up red cards last week.

Meanwhile, the date has been set for the Suns’ Round of 32 Australia Cup match against APIA Leichhardt.

Craig Carley’s men will take to McEwen Reserve on August 9, welcoming the Sydney juggernaut for a winner-takes-all blockbuster.

There’s more knockout business to attend to in the short term as the Suns also gear up for a Dockerty Cup semi-final against Melbourne-based National Premier League club Heidelberg United this coming Tuesday at home.

In Bendigo Amateur Soccer League, Shepparton United and Shepparton South’s division one men’s sides prepare to duke it out in a local derby.

The Blues enacted a late comeback to halve the points with South in the last instalment of the rivalry and will be out to shunt Rob Harmeston’s charges from second spot after salvaging a draw from their match against Strathdale last weekend.

For South, nothing short of a win is required to keep it an arm’s length from Tatura, which kicks off at Howley Oval against bogey side Epsom.

The first-ranked Ibises were handed a shock 1-0 defeat by Epsom in round three and won’t want to be thwarted in yet another possible stumbling block for the premiership holder.

An earlier timeslot has Shepparton United and Shepparton South square off in a fourth versus fifth division one women’s clash.

United heads in with a slight advantage over its rival, with South not playing since mid-June due to league and round byes.

Tatura has the chance to regroup as it has the week off.

Lastly, division two men’s action has Shepparton make the long drive north west to play Swan Hill, while Shepparton Lushi hosts Moama-Echuca Border Raiders at Vibert Reserve.