Isaac Brooker’s League 1 squad ticked off a fifth consecutive clean sheet in Sunday’s 3-0 triumph over Strathdale at McEwen Reserve, a stingy back third and goalkeeper Nathan Radevski refusing to concede a goal since May 10.
A Declan Kinnane brace – taking him to seven goals for the season – and Murtaza Gulzari’s sole strike saw South shake a determined Blues outfit in round 10.
“It was a good performance against a solid team,” Shepparton South coach Brooker said.
“(Strathdale) defend well and make it really hard and we did well to break them down.
“The most pleasing thing is we didn’t concede.”
Brooker directed plaudits to seasoned defensive leader Greg Nash and his two-time goal-scorer, but reinforced South’s fifth straight win has come on the back of the entire XI’s efforts to lock down across the pitch.
“Greg Nash is always a great example for the team, he just does the right thing at every moment,” Brooker said.
“He’s had to come in at centre back the past few weeks and he’s a big leader for us.
“It’s a cliche’, but everyone contributes to defending and keeping a clean sheet from front to back.
“Declan’s been in good form, he’s scoring most weeks now.”
The result, coupled with Eaglehawk’s 3-2 win over Epsom, has seen the Eagles open a five-point buffer on sixth-placed Strathdale.
Elsewhere, ladder leader Shepparton United took full toll of undermanned La Trobe University.
The Blues hosted La Trobe in the Saturday fixture and came away victorious 17-0, Marcus Thomas striking seven goals and Joseph Sepe, Tutu Taya and Hassan Alhilfi scoring two each in a mammoth win.
Tatura exacted similar dominance on Shepparton at Howley Oval, an 11–0 winner over the Reds.
Xavier Black extended his lead at the top of the League 1 goal-scoring with two to take his tally to 17, Gerald Corbo, Cody Sellwood and Zachary Ferlauto also scoring at the double.
In the women’s league, only two games were fixtured for round 10.
Shepparton South went into half-time against Castlemaine-Goldfields only 2-1 down, but by the end of the clash the good work of Samantha Comline (two goals) and Teagan Kelly was cancelled out by a seven-goal haul for the visitors.
Tatura also found the going tough against Bendigo-based foe Colts United, but after conceding the opening goal, the Ibises found themselves ahead thanks to an own goal and Nicola Minicozzi’s ninth-minute strike.
However, it was all the Colts from there, slamming home 10 unanswered strikes to run away a 12-2 winner.
In the Youth competition, Shepparton South retained top spot on the back of a 5-0 win, spurred by two goals to Toby Short.
Castlemaine and Spring Gully remain hot on their tail, but Tatura also kept itself in the figuring with an upset 1-0 defeat of the Reds, Jobanpreet Sandhu striking in the fifth minute before the Ibises were forced to defend grimly after being reduced to 10 men.
League 1 Men’s goal-scoring table
Xavier Black (Tatura) - 17
Marcus Thomas (Shepparton United) - 13
Jasper Williams (Spring Gully United) - 10
Rumesh Bartaula (Shepparton United) - 10
Cooper Arkinstall (Epsom) - 8
Willie Sauiluma (Shepparton United) - 8