It was billed as a must-watch League Cup decider, yet nobody could have predicted the final result, not even victorious Shepparton South coach Rob Harmeston.
South blew arch-rival and Central Victorian League division one men’s league leader Tatura to pieces with a dominant and ruthless 7-2 victory on Sunday.
South talisman and talented forward Sean Grant notched up a classy hat-trick, Jamie De Smit put in a “quality shift in midfield”, while a rare eye-catching appearance from No.10 Liam Nash was the cherry on top for Harmeston’s charges.
With Bendigo’s Truscott Reserve the stage, South went about dismantling Tatura with a 3-1 first half ― before the floodgates opened with four strikes finding the back of the net after the break.
The League Cup final blitz hands South the first piece of silverware ― and bragging rights ― in the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League campaign.
“I wasn’t expecting it to be honest. Driving home (last night) I was like, ‘did that just happen?’,” Harmeston said.
“Tatura sits top of the league and so you go in expecting it to be a big and close game. We started quite slow, but then a few opportunities presented and the boys found a bit of confidence.
“We were able to create and take our chances when they presented to us ... I think the scoreline reflects that we executed our chances and they couldn’t quite get their game going.
“We’ve had games this season where we’ve had plenty of chances, but we just couldn’t take advantage, so it was pleasing to finally see that happen.”
Jake Rumble kicked off proceedings two minutes into the final thanks to being in the right place at the right time to catch a deflection off a Nash volley.
Nash, who has struggled for minutes due to work commitments this season, would go on to etch three assists to his name against his former club in a performance that earned the praise of Harmeston.
Tatura pegged one back prior to the quarter-hour mark, thanks to coach Thomas Corso, yet any thought of being back in the contest was evaporated when Grant scored in the 34th and 41st minutes.
Grant sealed his hat-trick less than five minutes after resumption with a swiftly-taken penalty ― the second of three spot kicks in the final ― which rubber stamped the win.
Tatura midfielder Fraser Gosstray converted a penalty in the 55th minute, before Rumble added a second and De Smit and Nick Mori jumped in on the fun late.
All eyes shift to the league battle and the ensuring finals race, with Harmeston pointing out there’s still plenty of work left to do.
“Given the timing (of the final) we’ll look to gain some momentum and carry it into the final few league games and finals,” he said.
“Tatura still holds all the cards though and we know we’ve got our work cut out if we are to win the league.”
In the remaining League Cup hit-outs, Shepparton United secured silverware in the CVL women’s division one and CVL reserves.
The women’s final was an electric contest, one that was decided by penalties, following a 2-2 extra-time result.
United held its nerve to claim a 3-2 win in the shoot-out over Strathfieldsaye Colts United.
In the men’s reserves, Shepparton United knocked over Shepparton South 2-1.