Sport
Premier contenders prevail, but fireworks fly in Bendigo Amateur Soccer League round two
There was no shortage of action across round two of the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League at the weekend — and some didn’t require a ball.
A Shepparton derby between United and South at McEwen Reserve had more than a hint of fire to it on Sunday afternoon.
Jamie De Smit’s early opener put South on the board for 2024 after its capitulation in the previous weekend’s grand final rematch, but a United side that flexed its offensive capabilities in the past fortnight would not go quietly.
A second-half fracas had United’s Ermal Marku and South’s Nathan Radevski sent off following frenzied scenes.
Once the dust settled, South had rediscovered the attacking flair that took it the distance last year to come out with a memorable 4-2 derby win.
South coach Lewis Coyle reflected on a highly eventful clash.
“We never really got going last week with those two early goals taking the wind out of us,” Coyle said.
“I said to the boys that if that happens again in the first 10 minutes, we still have 80 to play our football; I wanted a reaction from them and I’m happy we got the three points.
“I think some tempers heated up when those two ran into each other. You had a couple of people holding shirts and then there was a massive kerfuffle.
“They spilled over into the crowd; it was pretty ugly to watch and I still don’t know what happened, but emotions were high.”
Nonetheless, the three points are more than welcome for the black and white after their first-up pummelling.
Coyle says the message is consistent regardless of form.
“I’ve just told the boys to focus on our game,” Coyle said.
“We have to not worry about anyone else, so our focus is on what we can do on the field.”
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Bamboozling: Shepparton United’s Olivia Loverso. Photo by Holly DanielImage 2 of 9
Danger zone: Shepparton South’s Joslin Jo and Shepparton United’s Indiigo Sutton. Photo by Holly DanielImage 3 of 9
Turning on the jets: Shepparton United's Rezwana Baqiri. Photo by Holly DanielImage 4 of 9
Careful ball: Shepparton South's Jasmine Vukcevic. Photo by Holly DanielImage 5 of 9
Block the shot: Shepparton South’s Jasmine Vukcevic and Shepparton United’s Rezwana Baqiri. Photo by Holly DanielImage 6 of 9
Careful with the hands: Shepparton South’s Sofia Stojanovski and Shepparton United’s Trinity Cameron. Photo by Holly DanielImage 7 of 9
Pair of number nines: Shepparton United’s Alana Murray and Shepparton South’s Lucy Kinnane. Photo by Holly DanielImage 8 of 9
Taking control: Shepparton South’s Joslin Jo. Photo by Holly DanielImage 9 of 9
Pocket 11’s: Shepparton South’s Sofia Stojanovski and Shepparton United’s Olivia Loverso. Photo by Holly DanielElsewhere on Sunday, reigning premier Tatura made another grandiose statement to this competition that it will take some significant doing to bring it under control.
A Fraser Gosstray hat-trick proved the headline act with score sheet support from Christian Corso, Thomas Leech and Tristan Zito in a monstrous 7-0 destruction of Epsom at Howley Oval.
Saturday night had Eaglehawk join Tatura at six points from a possible six by mirroring its first-up effort, racking up another 5-0 thrashing at the expense of Shepparton this time.
Jesse Matthews produced a treble of his own alongside Alex Caldow’s pair of goals in the rout at Truscott Reserve.
In the Saturday twilight fixture, Spring Gully ensured Epsom would be the lone scoreless side after two rounds, but could not bring home its maiden three points in an entertaining 3-3 draw with Strathdale.
Shepparton United’s division one women got their first set of three points in the bag after a narrow 1-0 triumph over South at McEwen on Sunday morning.
Bethany Oliver’s strike proved the difference as South slipped to just a point from its first two fixtures.
Strathsfieldsaye Colts and Spring Gully maintained perfect starts to the year in commanding four-goal wins, while Eaglehawk piled the misery on bottom-placed Kyneton District in a 3-0 victory.