Shepparton South against Tatura in the big dance ― it’s a familiar tale of late.
The two Bendigo Amateur Soccer League (BASL) powers went hammer and tong in an epic 2022 grand final and will contest silverware again this Sunday in the League Cup decider at Bendigo’s Truscott Reserve.
It’s the Ibises who had the last laugh in a penalty shootout last September.
Tatura coach Thomas Corso said the prospect of another trophy for the cabinet had his charges licking their lips, but the League Cup grail is only the appetiser.
“We’re pretty excited, I think any time silverware is up for grabs there’s a little bit more morale in the group,” Corso said.
“There’s obviously a bigger goal for us, but I think this would be a good one to tick off and get a bit of momentum leading into the last couple games of the year and the finals.”
South claimed the league title last season with a near-perfect record, drawing only to Tatura.
This season it’s 1-1 on the ledger between the sides, leaving South coach Rob Harmeston buoyant about getting one-up on the old foe.
“I’m happy to be competing for trophies at this stage of the season,” Harmeston said.
“It’s a big game against league leaders who have set the standard this year.”
South’s forwards have dug out their shooting boots this season, with three black and white-clad members heading the league’s golden boot charts.
Nick Mori, Joel Aitken and Sean Grant have combined for 57 goals this season, while Tatura will look to Cody Sellwood (14) and Aaron Niglia (12) to cause havoc in the attacking third.
Niglia and Damian Russo were two Ibises Corso has liked the look of in recent weeks, with Daniel Coombs’ return galvanising the defence while Thomas Leech and Tristan Zito remain out of action.
“We’re looking a little bit better than we have the last couple of weeks, we’re slowly getting some players back ― we’ve got one out of three back that I’m waiting for,” Corso said.
“We definitely won’t be at full strength, where we’d want to be, but it gives all players an opportunity to show what they’re made of and prove to myself that they’re capable of being in our team for the finals.”
With the League Cup format fresh to the BASL, some may be quick to give it a ‘’Mickey mouse’’ label.
But it seems both teams on either side of the Broken River aren’t going that approach.
South captain Nathan Radevski dredged up last year’s grand final loss, saying there’s an extra air of feeling heading into Sunday’s clash.
“I think that’s something you always want to do in football and I know for the lads that were involved in the cup loss last season, they’d definitely want to get one back on them,” he said.
“It’s always a tense match between the two clubs and I don’t expect that to be any different.
“Regardless of how much meaning some would put on this cup, it’s still an opportunity to win a cup and I think everyone would rather take that opportunity than not.
“The message has been pretty clear from Rob at training, win all our remaining matches this year and we are guaranteed at least two trophies, so that’s what we will strive for.
“Who knows, we might even end up with a treble.”