Surging forward: Shepparton South’s Will Keenan brings it forward in his side’s 5-0 semi-final win over Spring Gully. Photos: Rhonda Marino
There’s nothing like a local rivalry and for supporters of Tatura and Shepparton South Soccer Clubs, their perennial contest will play out on the big stage this weekend.
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South will meet the Ibises this Sunday afternoon for the Central Victorian League Supercup Division One men’s grand final.
And the two sides have done so on the back of some resounding semi-finals performances.
Shepparton South dispatched of Spring Gully on Sunday with a resounding 5-0 dismantling on its home turf.
Braces to Joel Aitken and Craig Carley would help get the men in black and white over the line, but coach Rob Harmeston said an early goal put his side on the back foot.
Looking for an option: Shepparton South’s Craig Carley moves into space.
“We scored early, but I think that almost killed us in the end,” Harmeston said.
“We weren’t as clinical after that, when you score early it can go one of two ways, we were creating chances, but they weren’t quality.
“In the second half we corrected, came out and took our chances.”
Ahead of their last and biggest game of the season, Harmeston said he and his side were well aware of the occasion that presents itself this weekend.
“We’re well prepared — you can’t not get up for a game like this,” Harmeston said.
“We’ve got a few things up our sleeve, definitely keeping our consistency is a focus, we know they’re (Tatura) going to be tough, they only lost one game this year and that was against us.
“They’ll be up for it.”
Finding space: Shepparton South’s Greg Nash wheels away from his opponent.
For Tatura, a slick 5-2 win over Eaglehawk booked its spot in the decider, with a number of the side’s key performers getting in on the action on Sunday.
“Obviously it was a big hurdle for us, we probably went in favourites and it was a bit of a stressful game at moments, but in the end we got there pretty comfortably,” Ibises coach Tristan Zito said.
With his team returning to full strength ahead of the final, Zito said his side was brimming with confidence as it geared up for a South match-up.
“We’re really confident, we’re at full strength for the first time this year,” he said.
“We’ll have everything in place, we’ve just got to take the chance and there’s no excuses really.
“Everyone’s pumped up for it, it’s probably what we look forward to the most — playing in a granny — and playing against South as well makes it just as big.”
Touch: Shepparton South‘s Nathan Radevski brings it under control.
There will be a strong Tatura travelling contingent at Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve on Sunday, with the club’s League Two women’s outfit also making the grand final.
The Ibises got the job done in thrilling fashion with a 2-1 win over Moama-Echuca Border Raiders on Sunday.
Goal-machine Colette Suter put her side in the driver’s seat with an opener in the 37th minute, but Border Raiders skipper Jessica Pemberton would draw her side level early into the second half.
With the game seemingly headed to extra-time and the possibility of penalties beyond, Nicola Minicozzi was the hero for her side with a last-gasp winner.
Meanwhile, Shepparton South’s League One women’s season came to a close at the weekend.
Lucy Ciancio’s side was outplayed by a red-hot Spring Gully, which secured a grand final appearance with a 3-0 win.
It was also curtains for Shepparton Jaguars’ season in the League Two men’s division, after the side was forced to forfeit its preliminary final clash with Deniliquin Wanderers.
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