Clutch comebacks and top sides collide in round four of the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League

During the first weekend to feature four simultaneous kick-off times in 2024, action was coming thick and fast — but nobody made a more imposing start than South.

Already up 3-0 at the break through a blitzing Stephen Appiah hat-trick, a safe passage to six points for the season seemed all but laid out.

The visitors rallied tremendously out of the sheds though, firing home twice in the first 15 minutes to spark some much-needed life into the derby.

The 88th minute brought about a stirring conclusion, with Shepparton levelling from three down as South eventually held out to settle for a bitter 3-3 draw.

The result further stalls momentum for last year’s grand finalists, now languishing at four points from four matches.

The celebration was less than exuberant for the still-winless Shepparton though, after striker Hussain Algazali suffered a serious injury that looks set to rule him out for an extended period.

Shepparton coach Stefo Radevski surmised that the result was fair in the end.

“I reckon we controlled the game, even in the first half,” Radevski said.

“We made three mistakes where we didn’t control the situation and got punished three times by a very good player.

“If you put that aside, we were moving well and playing within our game plan; in the second half, we just kept getting behind them and putting pressure on defence.

“We probably could have gone on and won it, but I was really happy. It was our best performance of the season.

“Unfortunately, Hussain landed very heavily on his shoulder, and it didn’t look great but hopefully he’s back sooner than later.”

Out at Truscott Reserve, between Eaglehawk and Tatura, the last two perfect records in division one were at stake.

Although Keegan Smyth had found the back of the net to give Eaglehawk a shout with the sides level at 1-1 following the first 45 minutes, the premiers soon exercised their might.

In the end, Eaglehawk conceded its first goals — four in all — of season 2024 as a Fraser Gosstray brace helped secure a 4-1 result for the visitors, who sit two points clear on top.

Another big win out west was the reason Tatura’s buffer remains modest, with Strathdale maintaining its own unbeaten start at the expense of a 10-man Shepparton United.

A scoreless first half would take few by surprise, but Joseph Sepe’s red card opened the floodgates eventually as four different Strathdale players found the score sheet in a big 4-1 win.

At the other end of things, Spring Gully and Epsom duked it out in search of their respective first wins.

Michael Lee, off the bench less than half an hour into the game, found the back of the net alongside Joshua Woods’ double, as Spring Gully earned its maiden three points in a hard-fought 3-2 win.

In the women’s draw, Kyneton Districts also earned their first success with a 4-2 win over bottom-placed Shepparton South.

Spring Gully maintained its perfect record and ended that of Strathsfieldsaye Colts in the process, while Tatura finally entered the win column as well, in knocking over Eaglehawk. Shepparton United moved to third by defeating La Trobe University.