Shepparton stoush highlights Bendigo Amateur Soccer League round eight

The game’s opening half-hour was not shy on chances, but neither side felt like breaking through as a fervent atmosphere built in the stands.

Just a handful of minutes before the break, South found the decisive moment as a goalmouth scramble off a set piece led to Joel Aitken eventually tapping home to silence United’s active supporters.

Aitken continued his remarkable recent touch, having netted four in his previous three games — and he wasn’t done searching.

Midway through the second half, though, an affair that looked every chance to go down as a tight South win over an unfancied, bottom-placed rival turned on its head in an instant.

First, it was Abbas Al Gazaly who latched on to a looping central through ball and slotted home on the left past a helpless keeper to bring the underdogs in blue level.

It felt like almost no time had passed once Asad Beet Sayed put United ahead, sending the blue half of the crowd into raptures as its side raced to the touchline to celebrate.

Indeed, the situation continued to grow more dire for South when a keeper collision left star striker Stephen Appiah unable to continue or bear weight on one leg, withdrawn 15 minutes before time.

With United fans starting to rejoice as stoppage time began, it was Aitken who proved the most measured, poking home a desperately needed equaliser with South’s last foray of the game.

Now with eight for the season and six in his past four outings, Aitken’s late heroics completed another brace and salvaged a point as the sides shared the spoils.

However, the 2-2 result didn’t sit entirely well with South coach Lewis Coyle.

“I didn’t think we played well by any stretch of the imagination,” Coyle said.

“We never really got started and we had maybe a 20-minute patch where we grew into the game.

“For me as a coach, it was a bit below par, but it was good to show a lot of heart, desire and grit to get back into it.

“The derby is always a big game for both teams and I knew the crowd would be into it; I knew if we gave them a foothold, they’d take it with both hands.”

Nothing less than the high standards Coyle upholds would be acceptable as South hurtles towards a grand final rematch this Sunday against a rampaging Tatura.

With one established name out and a fresh worry picked up with Appiah’s injury concerns, the South boss sees opportunity in the absence — or absences — he may deal with.

“It’s definitely something for us to work out. Jamie De Smit is probably out for the season with his knee and Stephen is a doubt at this stage,” Coyle said.

“We want young players to come through and play in big games. It’s a learning curve for us next week to see what we can do.

“We know we’re not going to catch Tat in the league, but for us it’s about finishing in the best position possible.

“We’re going to put 110 per cent into that game.”

The competition was centred on Bendigo during Saturday’s play, with both of the weekend’s opening games out west including the first 0-0 draw seen in the senior divisions this season as Spring Gully and Strathdale met in a stalemate.

To say the result was different at Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve might be a mild understatement as Tatura went right on its merry way at Epsom’s expense.

Five different goal scorers netted for the dominant Ibises led by a Xavier Black double, savaging their hosts 7-1 to kick the second half of the league campaign off in much the same way they controlled the first.

One local side at least walked away happy on Sunday, though, as Shepparton sprung the upset to knock over Eaglehawk at Vibert Reserve, ensuring Tatura would open up a nine-point gap atop the table.

Mohammed Al-Gazaly, Leo Szwec and half-time substitute Abdal Al Hashoush did the damage for the host, which now sits one win outside the top four.

In the women’s draw, the top three sides continue to split themselves from the pack after recording wins across the weekend.

Spring Gully stayed perfect by taking care of La Trobe University 3-1 on Saturday afternoon after third-placed Strathsfieldsaye Colts completed a 2-1 win over Tatura.

Shepparton United continued its charge by taking bragging rights with a 2-0 victory over Shepparton South before Eaglehawk notched its third win by knocking over Kyneton Districts 2-1.