A hobbled Willie Sauiluma broke the derby deadlock against Shepparton South in the 86th minute, heading Shepparton United to a one-nil win and all three points in Sunday’s heavyweight battle of the league’s top two.
Keen to make amends for its one-nil defeat to South earlier in the season, the Blues and their cross-pitch rival traded ample opportunities in the season’s second grand final rematch.
With five yellow cards handed out and the round 14 clash seemingly headed to a sharing of points in front of two vocal home crowds, a hamstrung Sauiluma rose for the match-winning header on the eve of full-time, beating gallant South goalkeeper Leyton Pain to break South’s run of clean sheets.
“Willie had a few niggles with his hamstring, and the way he battled out the game... he put the team in front of his own struggles,” Blues’ assistant Rahman Kutrolli said.
Thomas Raditsas anchored the Blues’ defence, and a ninth consecutive victory has the reigning champions perched five points clear on top of the League 1 men’s ladder.
“The boys were pretty fired up, and they wanted to make amends for last time,” Kutrolli said.
“It was a great team effort. Our midfield worked really hard, and it was an arm-wrestle from one end to another.
“I thought we had more opportunities that we couldn’t consolidate. A couple hit the crossbar and the side post, so we were a bit unlucky.
“You never discount South - we knew they were going to come out hard.”
With that result, a top two finish has been all but sewn up by United, while elsewhere Tatura closed within a point of South in second.
The Ibises slammed home six goals and Cody Sellwood had a hat trick before half-time in the clash against Eaglehawk at Howley Oval, taking a 6-2 buffer into the main break.
The Eagles pulled two goals back in their mission to retain sixth position, but to no avail, the Ibises rebounding quickly from last week’s defeat to Shepparton South.
Fifth-placed Strathdale (3-2) and eighth-placed Golden City (8-0) rounded out the League 1 winners’ circle.
Blues senior women exact revenge of their own
Shepparton United also had revenge on the mind in its women’s league derby against Shepparton South.
Also one-nil losers to the black and white brigade earlier in the campaign, the Blues made no mistake this time around with Olivia Loverso’s 43rd-minute strike proving the difference to inflict a one-nil defeat of their own.
The win keeps the third-placed Blues within two points of Castlemaine-Goldfields despite its 3-0 win over Kyneton.
Meanwhile, Tatura’s mission to play League 1 finals received a timely boost with an important win against Eaglehawk.
The Ibises held their spot in the top six with an 8-0 thumping of the Eagles as Cayla Ruijters and Grainne Egan spurred their side on with a hat trick apiece.
Nicola Minicozzi and Ava Rosella also hit the back of the net.
It’s a pivotal result in the scheme of the Ibises season, perched one point inside the top six of the competition.
Elsewhere, Spring Gully kept its unbeaten streak alive with a 7-4 win over Colts United.
10°C