Tatura has clawed back Bendigo Amateur Soccer League bragging rights from Shepparton United by recording a smash and grab victory at McEwen Reserve on Sunday.
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After failing to claim a point against the Blues during last year’s campaign, the Ibises have gone from strength to strength this season and flexed their muscle during the contest to notch a 2-0 win against the reigning premier in testing conditions.
The win means Tatura sits in fourth spot on the ladder, five points ahead of Shepparton South, with coach Dom Cricelli over the moon at his side’s performance.
‘‘I am very happy to come away with three points, I think everyone played really well on Sunday,’’ Cricelli said.
‘‘In my opinion, that is the best game we have had all year.’’
A cagey affair in the first half, both sides had equal stabs at goal, but were unable to carve out any concrete chances heading into the dressing rooms at the break.
The Ibises upped the ante in the second half, finally finding their breakthrough in the 55th minute from import Liam Nash.
Nash ghosted into the United box to meet Jordan Leocata’s cross, slotting the ball beneath United custodian Adem Barolli to stun the United faithful.
Mishap soon turned to misery for the Blues, with Kyle Minicozzi capitalising on a handling error to poke the ball home from point blank range less than 10 minutes later.
Down but not out, United had a swathe of opportunities as the game progressed, but squandered precious chances in front of goal as Tatura dealt with wave after wave of pressure.
There was to be no fairytale comeback for the Blues as the visitors held on until the final whistle, signalling a famous win on the road for the Ibises.
Tatura faces a different sort of challenge this weekend when it makes the trip to Bendigo to take on seventh-placed Golden City, a game Cricelli said his side would not be taking lightly.
‘‘We will approach it much the same as we do every game, we will hit the track hard this week and look to play that same brand of football that we have been playing against the likes of United and South,’’ he said.
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