The Reds have battled through a gruelling League 1 season, but the hard work finally paid off in emphatic fashion, claiming a well-earned three points with a 4-2 victory over La Trobe University.
Hussain Algazali opened the scoring for Shepparton at the Bendigo campus, and when Wael Al Bahadeli converted a penalty in the 31st minute, it seemed the Reds were well and truly on the march heading into half-time.
Two goals in three minutes from La Trobe’s Joel Bish instead saw scores level at the main break, but it wasn’t long after the resumption of play that Omran Al-Hamzah reclaimed the lead for the visitors.
A tense 42-minute stanza ensued with both sides probing the other’s defences, but three minutes into added time it was Nasir Khtaf, brought onto the field late, who proved the super sub, sealing Shepparton’s maiden win and snapping an 11-game losing run.
Elsewhere, Shepparton United ensured it remained top of the league with a 3-1 win over Spring Gully, with usual suspects Marcus Thomas, Willie Sauiluma, and Hassan Alhilfi scoring.
The Blues were reduced to 10 men with Samip Magar dismissed, but the resulting converted penalty from the Gully ultimately went in vain.
Tatura responded from last round’s defeat by dispatching Golden City 5-1, Brodie Pena’s brace first-half brace laying the groundwork for a convincing win.
Meanwhile, Shepparton South continued its winning ways with a 3-0 win against Epsom, holding second spot thanks to Elijah Brooker and Murtaza Gulzari.
In the women’s League 1 competition, a top-of-the-table clash between Shepparton United and Spring Gully delivered a tense affair at McEwen Reserve.
Just as they were in round three, the two competition pacesetters were inseparable once again.
Spring Gully’s Madeline White goaled in the 32nd minute to fire the unbeaten ladder leaders to a strong start.
However, it didn’t take Ella Loverso long to level proceedings only seven minutes later, with their undefeated status also on the line.
As it turns out, that’s precisely how it remained for both clubs, tireless efforts to break the deadlock going in vain as the match ended one-all.
The Blues sit four points behind Gully on the ladder, but if these two sides meet come finals time, supporters are in for a genuine thriller.
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