Shepparton savours a long-awaited Bendigo Amateur Soccer League division one victory

Shepparton United and Shepparton went head-to-head in perfect conditions for a local derby at McEwen Reserve with significant ramifications in a potential finals context.

Things could hardly have gotten off to a much worse start for the winless visitors, though.

While Irfan Haveric saluted for the boys in red early on, he became one of two injury-enforced withdrawals in the game’s opening 40 minutes for Stefo Radevski’s side.

Already facing issues with personnel, United swiftly took advantage as a quick-fire double through Ali Naveed and Asad Beet Sayed had Roven Shaholli’s men a goal to the good at the break.

The early stages following half-time had some of the usual push and shove you would expect in a derby, especially with both sides in need of three points, but this was largely at a minimum.

The crowd picked up when Shepparton earned its chance at an equaliser through a penalty that many were willing to dispute within the United-leaning McEwen crowd.

Nonetheless, Leo Szwec dispatched the spot-kick to set up a grandstand finish midway through the half.

As the game entered stoppage time, French import Yohan Locci got on the end of an incisive ball and slotted home on a tough angle to hand Shepparton a highly memorable 3-2 win, coming from behind for its first victory in the top flight since 2019.

Given the adversity his side faced, Radevski was certainly proud of the result and what it meant.

“We had to make changes after we lost Irfan early on and then Osman straight after. We brought on reserves who had played a full game,” Radevski said.

“Every game, we’ve had 10 or 15 minutes where we’ve completely stopped, and it happened again today before half-time.

“I gave the boys a talk at the break to change the shape and formation. We had to chase the game and get more attacking and, to the boys’ credit, we came away with what we deserved.

“That was all heart and all passion; we’ve been itching for a win, because we’ve been there or thereabouts every game except Eaglehawk.”

The result meant enormous relief to the club, bringing a trio of fives: five games played, five points, fifth spot on the table.

The task won’t get any easier for Shepparton going forward, though, with two more injuries on the day, match-winner Locci returning to France for personal reasons and striker Hussain Algazali still several weeks away from being fit.

“We’ve got some quality reserves players who could easily step up, but we just have to assess and see where our injuries are,” Radevski said.

“We’re confident with everyone we’ll play against, though; we’re not going to take a back seat because the boys are up for this challenge.

“I never went into the season saying we’d finish top two. I was a realist and my first goal was making sure we play finals.

“If we continue in this form, there’s no reason why we can’t do that, but it’s a long season.”

Getting back to the aforementioned Tatura clash, it figures to be a long season for anybody matching up with the reigning premier.

The home side made a pertinent example of Spring Gully in their game, effortlessly moving to 15 points from 15 in a thorough 12-0 destruction.

Xavier Black kicked his season into high gear in an instant, pocketing his first four goals of the year alongside a Tristan Zito hat-trick in the rout.

Tatura had six individual goal scorers on the day — one more than the Goulburn Valley League seniors in their interleague victory on Saturday.

Speaking of Saturday, the round’s two early games had Eaglehawk continue to let the good times roll, moving into second after squeaking past Strathdale 1-0.

Also out west, a Joel Aitken brace helped Shepparton South shore up fourth spot with a 3-2 win on the road at Epsom.

In the women’s draw, the top three sides have mostly insulated themselves from the rest of the pack after five rounds.

Spring Gully stayed perfect with its fifth win on the bounce away at Tatura, while victories for Shepparton United and Strathsfieldsaye Colts kept each side three points behind the leader.

Results for the La Trobe University meeting with Eaglehawk were not available.