Tatura, Shepparton United geared up for Australia Cup clashes as another forfeit frustrates Shepparton South

But Shepparton South will have to wait another week to enter the tournament, with its scheduled opponent forfeiting for the second time in as many weeks.

Tatura will enter its clash against State League 3 outfit Point Cook full of confidence after a 11-1 smashing of Pakenham United last weekend.

The Ibises were simply far too good for the Panthers.

Fraser Gosstray netting a first-half hat-trick and four goals overall, with Aaron Niglia also finding the back of the net on three occasions.

Drawn as the home team, Tatura will take on the Jets at 3pm on Saturday at McEwen Reserve, Shepparton.

Point Cook finished eighth in State League 3 North-West last season, recording seven wins, four draws and 11 defeats.

Tatura coach Tristan Zito said his side would be ready to go come Saturday despite its unfamiliar opponent.

“Obviously we don’t know too much about them. They play in State League 3, so a pretty decent standard, so it should be a good test for our guys,” Zito said.

“Everyone is pretty excited. The cool part about the Australia Cup is that you get to play the teams you haven’t played before, so we are looking forward to it.

“We just set up as best we can. We are still working through pre-season and trying to get our fitness levels up, so that will still be the main focus and we will try and get a win as well.”

The Australia Cup has hundreds of teams from across the country compete to try and reach the national stage, with a possible match-up against a professional A-League men’s side the ultimate draw card for lower tier clubs.

Before that though, Victorian qualifiers will need to first fight their way through various State League and National Premier League clubs.

Zito said Tatura was aiming to just ride through the competition as far as it could.

“We got to the third or fourth round a few years back and to try and get that far would be really nice,” he said.

“That’s our goal, but we will just go out there and play our best for 90 minutes and hopefully get some good results.

“It is a bit more intense knowing it is knock-out and you have extra time and penalties there if it is still a draw. There has got to be a winner and if you are down a goal or two you have to push harder.

“It is a different feel and it is good to play in games like that with a bit more on the line, everyone is very excited.”

Point Cook advanced to the second stage after its round one opponent East Bentleigh forfeited last weekend.

Shepparton United had a bye in the opening round, but it will take to the field for its first competitive hit-out of 2023 when it faces Sunbury United at McEwen Reserve at 7pm on Saturday.

It will be the Blues opponent’s first meaningful game as well, with Sunbury United advancing thanks to a forfeit in round one as well.

Sunbury United plays in the State League 3 North-West, finishing fifth with 10 wins, four draws and eight losses last season.

Shepparton South was meant to be in action as well, but its Melbourne-based opponent Elwood City has already pulled out of the fixture.

It is the second time South’s opponent has forfeited already, with its opening-round adversary Old Xaverians also pulling the pin last week.

South coach Rob Harmeston said the back-to-back walkovers were an annoying way to start the tournament.

“Round one was frustrating because we found out the morning of (the game) that they weren’t coming up,” Harmeston said.

“We had all the plans and everything put together – we had the referees, we had the pitches ― and then found out about three or four hours before kick-off that they weren’t coming up.

“The first round forfeit was frustrating, the second round they just can’t get a side together. It is what it is.

“We just need games at this stage of pre-season. It is good to get a lot of games and a lot run in the legs and work out how we want to play this year.

“It is unfortunate that we haven’t had a chance to do that so far.”

There is a silver lining for South, however, with the club at least through to the third round of the competition.

Elswehere, fellow Bendigo Amatuer Soccer League sides Border Raiders and Epsom will take on Casey Panthers and Mount Eliza this weekend, respectively.