Tatura has kept its stellar start to the Central Victorian League One Women’s season rolling after toppling Strathdale in an eight-goal thriller at the weekend.
The Ibises had no trouble finding the back of the net at Howley Oval, Tatura, with Nicola Minicozzi scoring a brace as her side prevailed 5-3 in a high-scoring encounter.
Minicozzi was one of four goal-scorers on the day for Tat, with Delana Trask, Cayla Ruijters and Ava Rosella also on the score sheet.
The Ibises are off to a flier in their first season back in the top flight of the women’s competition, with two wins to start the new campaign.
Their victories over Shepparton South in round one and Strathdale at the weekend even have the Ibises sitting on top of the ladder.
Tatura coach Damien Rosella said there had been a fantastic vibe among the playing group.
“It is unreal, it is really good. I told the team after the game, being 2-0 is a fantastic effort to start off the season,” Rosella said.
“It is unbelievable, it is crazy the way things have started. We just have to keep working hard and keep our heads on our shoulders, we still have a long way to go. We’ll keep enjoying it as we go.”
Rosella said the team’s work ethic had been one of the things that had impressed him most.
“They work hard on the track on Tuesday and Thursday nights and obviously it pays off on Sunday,” he said.
“We have said the way we train is the way we play and obviously it has been working for us.”
In Sunday’s encounter, it was Minicozzi who opened the scoring three minutes into the match.
Maddy McGrory drew Strathdale level at the 15-minute mark, but parity didn’t last long as Trask put Tatura back in front a minute later.
Ruijters made it 3-1 midway through the first half, before McGrory’s second goal reduced Strathdale’s deficit just before the break.
Up by one, Tatura didn’t waste much time in putting the game to bed in the second half.
Rosella made it 4-2 shortly into the second half, with Minicozzi’s second soon after extending Tat’s lead to three.
Strathdale got a late consolation when Stephanie McDonald scored her first goal of the year, but it wasn’t enough to stop Tatura from claiming the three points.
“We knew Strathdale would be a hard team, we just had to stick to our game plan and work hard and we got the result, which was good. It was a great team performance,” Rosella said.
“We worked well in the attacking third and the defence held strong, it was a great team effort.
“Nicola was great up top and I thought Colette, Cayla and Ava all did their bit as well.”
Minicozzi has been Tatura’s leading lady in front of goals with three this season, while Ruijters has also hit the back of the net in both games.
Meanwhile, Shepparton United suffered its first league defeat of the year after falling to Spring Gully United at McEwen Reserve.
Spring Gully had a 2-0 lead at the break, doubling its advantage in the second half before Olivia Saron netted a late consolation goal for Shepp United from the penalty spot.
United is in fourth spot on the seven-team ladder, with one win and one defeat.
In the league’s other result, Strathfieldsaye Colts United defeated Eaglehawk 4-0.
Sixth-placed Shepparton South was out of action at the weekend with a bye.