Shepparton's Chukwuemeka Ekwo and Anmar Hussain watch as Shepparton South's Craig Mathieson hurdles onwards toward’s his first goal.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The Bendigo Amateur Soccer League season took another dramatic twist following the McEwen Reserve showdown between Shepparton South and Shepparton.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
With a swing of a goal or less in each of the club’s previous four games, the League 1 clash was always going the distance, with proceedings tied one-all closing in on stoppage time.
South striker Craig Mathieson laid the groundwork for the home side, beating the Reds’ keeper in the 18th minute.
Shepparton’s Theo Fernandes picked an opportune moment for his first goal of the season, curling his free kick around the South wall and into the net for the reply.
The Reds would have had another set piece strike if not for a sharp save from Ryan Hopping, sending both teams into half-time with a goal apiece.
But after finally coming out on the right end of a tight result in its 3-2 win over Eaglehawk, the Reds were once again consigned to more heartbreak.
Mathieson sealed his double with a crucial 88th-minute header from a corner, snatching all three points for Shepparton South and solidifying its grip on second place.
“To get the three points in this stage of the season is always vital,” Shepparton South coach Luke Viney said.
“(Shepparton) are playing some attractive football at the minute, so to get the result against them was fantastic.
“Felt like we were under the pump for quite a lot of the game, but it just shows a bit of character and a bit of courage for us to make sure that we get the win.”
Mathieson, Hopping, and defender Rohan Byrne earned praise for their performances by the South gaffer, who also confirmed two mid-season additions to the squad in the form of Shepparton’s Murtaza Gulzari and former GV Suns player Isaac Brooker.
“We've obviously picked up a few signings, which has just strengthened us and just made that quality in our team even better,” Viney said.
The result still has the Reds perched in sixth spot, but tied on seven points with Epsom for the last place in finals, setting up an enticing Vibert Reserve showdown in round 11 against the Scorpions.
Elsewhere, Shepparton United shook off a three-week break and a determined La Trobe University.
Rumesh Bartaula struck the only goal of the first half before Ermal Marku, Marcus Thomas and Riki Koyanagi ensured a 4-2 victory.
Tatura was equally clinical, gaining a one-point advantage at the head of the table after handing Eaglehawk a 4-1 defeat.
Xavier Black at the double and the combination of Fraser Gosstray and Tristan Zito headlined the scorers.
In the women’s competition, Grainne Egan picked up her third hat-trick of the season as the third-placed Ibises scored a 5-0 win over Eaglehawk.
Spring Gully remains the competition yardstick, now nine games unbeaten after toppling Strathfieldsaye.
But directly behind it is a Shepparton United side putting the pressure on, notching a seventh consecutive win on the back of a brace for Rosemarene Legalo and one to Rezwana Baqiri in a 3-1 win over La Trobe.
At McEwen Reserve, Maya Vukcevic (two goals) and Samantha Comline helped put Shepparton South back on the winners’ list with a three-nil win over Border Raiders.
12°C