Sport
Shepparton earns first point but Tatura remains the side to beat in Bendigo Amateur Soccer League
Frontrunners are starting to emerge after three rounds of the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League season.
Eaglehawk had the chance to set the early pace with a standalone Saturday evening fixture away at Spring Gully, with the Trewhella Cup contested between the two clubs.
Without the offensive fireworks of the opening fortnight, Eaglehawk’s resolute defence nonetheless held firm to go nine points from nine with a 2-0 win, opening the year with three consecutive clean sheets to boot.
Not to be outdone however, reigning premiers and champions Tatura had a similar job to do in hosting Shepparton United on Sunday.
Mohammed Al-Gazaly notched his second goal of the season after a scoreless first half between the two, but an ever-reliable presence up top for Tatura in Thomas Leech was at the double from the spot to ensure the perfect record stayed intact in a 2-1 win.
Tristan Zito was relieved to get out with the three points, looking ahead with excitement to a huge top-of-the-table clash with Eaglehawk next weekend.
“Yesterday was a good game. I thought United came out and played pretty well,” Zito said.
“I thought we almost might have been lucky to come away with a win, but we were really happy.
“We’ve got a bit of history with some good games against Eaglehawk, so we know what we’re in for and we’re up for it.
“The goal is to go solo on top, but it’s a big week for the boys and we’re all excited.
“We’re confident that with the group we have, we can beat anyone on our day, and we’ve always got that with us.”
With those at the very top continuing to keep on keeping on, it was up to everyone else to formulate a chasing pack, making the Sunday encounter between Shepparton South and Strathdale at McEwen Reserve vital.
Highly touted striker Stephen Appiah found the back of the net for the first time in league competition for South, but the visitors had plenty of their own attacking options.
Dean Vlaeminck, Keian Tramm, Luke Roberts and Jack Lawrence all hit the score sheet for Strathdale in a big 4-2 win on the road that preserves an unbeaten start and keeps them within touching distance of the top two.
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Sending the in-swinger: Shepparton's Murtaza Gulzari. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 2 of 7
Taking space out wide: Shepparton’s Omran Al-Hamzah. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 7
Throw-in time: Shepparton’s Cemil Celikdere. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 7
Feeling flat: Shepparton’s Murtaza Gulzari. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 5 of 7
Man marking: Shepparton’s Yohan Locci and Epsom’s Travis Robertson. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 7
Waiting for the moment: Shepparton’s Seyhan Aslan. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 7 of 7
One-touch pass: Shepparton’s Leo Szwec. Photo by Rechelle ZammitTo round the senior fixtures out, Shepparton and Epsom met at Vibert Reserve in a clash between sides seeking their first points of season 2024.
After a blow-for-blow opening stanza, half-time substitute Hussain Algazali rescued parity for the home side, cancelling out a Cooper Arkinstall double and settling for a 2-2 draw that gives each team its maiden point of the campaign.
Round three of the women’s league produced some heavily lopsided affairs, with top three sides Strathsfieldsaye Colts, Spring Gully and La Trobe University all scoring at least five times in huge wins.
Tatura and Shepparton United did serve up a truer contest, with Rosemarene Legalo’s brace securing a 2-1 United victory.