Shepparton United got revenge on Shepparton South with a comprehensive 3-0 win at McEwen Reserve on Sunday in the biggest result of its Bendigo Amateur Soccer League season so far.
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Having lost 2-1 to the Southerners, the Blues came back with a vengeance and led for almost all of their strong win, a result that earned them fifth on the table.
Inside 10 minutes they had a lead with Ermal Marku able to open the scores, but, just as United coach Roven Shaholli expected, South proved difficult to break down and battled into the contest, still down a single goal at half-time.
But the game was broken open on 65 minutes as Fabrice Ebe lashed a left-footed laser into the top corner from 18 yards, before Shaholli put the icing on the cake in stoppage time with a miraculous goal Nick Kalafatis said looked like one football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic would score.
Reflecting on the performance, Shaholli was pleased his side had controlled its way to a quality result.
"I was really happy, happy for the boys that the game plan is starting to come together a little bit," he said.
"I thought we started really well, we've been starting games well and it's about keeping that intensity throughout the whole game. It was important we took the lead to half-time, last time they equalised with a minute or so to go.
"We got to the rooms and went out strong in the second half, and it was all over when we got that second goal, we were feeling confident on the ball."
Shaholli had expected South would not go down without a serious fight and said being tactically flexible had been crucial to winning the game.
"South is a very strong side, we knew we'd need more than one game plan to beat them, they shut us down and we had four or five different things to try and get through for a few goals," he said.
"South is well structured, I've noticed that every time we've played them. Last time our gameplan went well in the first half but we made too many chances without hitting the scoreboard.
"What worked best was our speed, we've got some lightning speed. The scoreboard looks really good, but it would have been even better for the confidence if we'd scored four or five."
Other fixtures had Tatura grind out a 3-2 win against Shepparton to move within two points of top spot on the ladder.
The Reds grabbed the lead in the opening seconds via Jorge Blemings, but Thomas Leech tied things up in the fifth minute to get the Ibises back into the game.
Leech scored again on 21 minutes and Tristan Zito made it 3-1 minutes before half-time to give his side some breathing room.
Shepparton could not find a way back in until the 82nd minute where Tom Kielty pulled one back, but the Ibises were able to hold on and take the three points.
The Ibises are still fourth on the table, but are just two points back from Eaglehawk, although second-ranked Strathdale has a game in hand on them.
Moama-Echuca and Eaglehawk played out a thrilling 3-3 draw, Epsom beat La Trobe University 2-1 while Colts United beat Golden City 3-0.
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