Bendigo Amateur Soccer League has clutch moments and heartbreak in round 13

Shepparton United hosted the weekend’s only Shepparton-based fixture, taking on Epsom in a hugely important clash at McEwen Reserve on Sunday.

However, before that a trio of Saturday games featured one club each from this side of the Midland Hwy — and each one carried significant implications of their own.

First off the rank was Tatura, still in the pursuit of perfection away at Strathdale.

Physicality was more than a touch present in this one, with both sides reduced to 10 men once all was said and done, but the Ibises had done the job on the scoreboard by half-time once more.

It was a day of ups and downs for Maximo Traverso; he added a brace to consolidate a comfortable 4-0 win for his side, but was later sent off.

Later that evening, it was Shepparton’s turn in tangling with bottom side Spring Gully United, a fixture where only a win provided any hope of escaping relegation for the host.

While things stood level at a goal apiece heading into the sheds, the red and black visitors were incurring the referee’s ire more often than not in winding up with all four yellow cards on the night though, fortunately, none turned red.

In the end, amidst a roller-coaster, it was Leo Szwec’s sixth and seventh goals of the season which proved the difference as Shepparton scraped through to a 3-2 win with massive ramifications, ensuring its own finals place while consigning Spring Gully to the drop.

Out of nothing, the season might already go down as a success from here according to Shepparton coach Stefo Radevski.

“We knew we were pretty much safe without a doubt and we were happy with the result,” Radevski said.

“We’re so excited to be able to possibly finish as high as fourth now; to get that win on Saturday relieved a lot of stress and pressure from over the course of the year.

“There was chaos from even before round one with players wanting to play or not play, signing and leaving, and we haven’t had consistency in our starting line-up all season.

“To get to where we are makes me very happy. Once you’re in finals, anything can happen.”

Radevski hailed the collective efforts of those who sought to make Shepparton a competitive side in its return to football in the top division.

From here, though, there’s more on the table.

“To play in a grand final, we’d either have to beat Tat to get there or beat Tat to win it,” Radevski said.

“You would think they’d go all the way without a doubt, but if we finish sixth, we’d be the lowest-ranked team and have to play them in a semi.

“If we can win that first final and make it to a semi, we wouldn’t be disappointed.

“Knowing we had to build two teams from scratch, we got there in the end and the players we got all came together and made it happen.

“It was a bad start, but now things are looking up; when finals come around, something at the club just clicks.”

A clash of contenders rounded out Saturday’s affairs as Eaglehawk entertained a stumbling Shepparton South.

Jesse Matthews became the first Eaglehawk player into double digits for season 2024, stamping his authority early as the host took a slender lead into the break.

South continued firing its salvos with star man Stephen Appiah finding the score sheet in typical fashion, but ran out of manpower as coach Lewis Coyle and Brent Barassi were each given their marching orders and Matthews completed his hat-trick in a 4-3 victory for the host.

United and Epsom took to the McEwen Reserve pitch with survival guaranteed by Spring Gully’s defeat the day prior, but from there, it was time to look up the table as the door on finals threatened to shut.

This six-pointer looked all fine and good for the boys in blue at the midway stage after Asad Beet Sayed had put the host in front, but despite keeping usual primary target Cooper Arkinstall away from the back of the net, things unravelled for United in the second period.

Goals to Kyle Smith, Travis Robertson and Harry Bennewith secured a pivotal 3-1 comeback win for Epsom, which vaults into sixth with the knowledge only a draw against Shepparton is necessary this week to close out United from finals.

While the South men continued to struggle, there was sweet relief for the women in notching their second win of a difficult campaign as Maya Vukcevic’s strike secured a 1-0 result against Eaglehawk.

Rosemarene Legalo’s league-best 22nd goal of the year was enough for Shepparton United to overcome Strathsfieldsaye and secure second in the process, while there were far more comfortable wins for La Trobe University and leader Spring Gully.

Check out the footage from the game below that News photographer Rechelle Zammit captured.