Aaron Niglia whips in a corner.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
After uncharacteristic back-to-back defeats Tatura looked destined for another Bendigo Amateur Soccer League thriller at Howley Oval.
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Hosting Epsom in round five, the Ibises went into half-time with scores locked at 2-2 courtesy of Xavier Black’s two goals.
Any lingering doubts about the outcome, however, were emphatically dashed by the Ibises' talismanic striker, who unleashed a devastating double strike in the 72nd and 73rd minute.
Fraser Gosstray and Tristan Zito put the result beyond doubt to secure the 6-2 win, but Black’s four goals were a showstopper for the Ibises.
“He’s been stellar all year,” Tatura coach Cody Sellwood said.
“He's a coach's dream. He wasn’t scoring massively at the start of the year, but it really didn't matter, he was still doing all the right things.
“He scored a couple of important goals last week and the flood gates have opened up, so good luck stopping him.”
Sellwood said Tatura would be sweating on some injuries, but a week off the pitch due to the competition bye has come at the right time.
The Ibises mentor was pleased the club’s depth had stood up when called upon.
“There are plenty of ressies boys that are standing up.” he said.
“A lot of those boys are stepping up without complaints and, as a coach, when things obviously aren’t going your way with injuries and people missing, you really appreciate those people that can step up.”
Meanwhile, the team that unseated the Ibises in round four, Eaglehawk, continue to shape as the team to beat in League 1.
Shepparton United’s three-game winning run came to an end at the hands of the Hawks at McEwen Reserve after Riki Koyanagi’s strike was cancelled out by Declan Cahill’s equaliser and Alex Caldow’s go-ahead goal in the 53rd minute.
Elsewhere, Shepparton South had a point snatched right out of its hands in the remarkable final minutes of the clash against La Trobe University.
After neither side was able to convert until stoppage time in the second half, South’s Caleb Walmsley’s 91st-minute strike appeared to clinch the three points until La Trobe’s Fraser Lee equalised two minutes later.
Shepparton also found itself at the wrong end of a close game, upstaged by the winless Strathdale 2-1.
In the League 1 women’s competition, Shepparton United produced another scintillating second-half performance to topple Eaglehawk 6-0, Maria Villani producing a hat-trick.
The South v La Trobe clash emulated the men’s game with a 1-1 draw after Maya Vukcevic’s second-half goal secured a point after La Trobe scored in the opening minute.
Tatura lined up against Spring Gully, but was no match for the visitor, going down 4-1 to the reigning champion, which now sits undefeated at the top of the table.
In the League 1 reserves, Shepparton United handed ladder leader Eaglehawk its first loss, Tatura defeated Epsom 11-2 and South and Shepparton picked up convincing wins.
