PUMPED BLUES RIGHT ON TUNE

12 May 2015

Shepparton News

EVERYTHING GOES RIGHT FOR WRIGHT’S MEN AS UNITED FORCE HANGS TOUGH TO POST FIRST SUCCESS

Scores: Shepparton United 2 d Shepparton 1

The sounds echoing from the victorious Shepparton United dressing room on Sunday afternoon told the tale.

United’s youthful line-up loudly and proudly belted out a raucous rendition of the club song following a hard-fought win against Shepparton in a tense FFV Goulburn North East men’s division one clash at Central Park.

Goals to Omran AlHamzah and Fahed Saleh were enough to give the Blues a 2-0 lead midway through the second-half.

That deficit was halved when Donny Stojanovski hit the back of the net with a well-taken effort and the Reds pressed hard for an equaliser.

But some desperate defence, a fair slice of luck and intervention of reluctant goalkeeper Alex Ganino, helped United hang on to secure its first win of the season.

The result also delivered coach Billy Wright his maiden success at the helm.

‘‘The boys were ecstatic, especially singing the song,’’ Wright said.

‘‘We had been under the pump following two 7-1 losses to start the season, so there was a bit of relief and joy to get that first win under the belt.

‘‘Every week is a learning curve for the team and going about our football the right way, trying to play a passing game, so it is great to get some reward for effort.’’

Shepparton’s edge in size and experience nearly looked

Shot stopper: to pay off as it rallied from a two-goal deficit through the impressive Stojanovski.

But three chances to crash against the various posts and the intervention of Ganino were evidence that it was not quite the Reds’ day.

Ganino, who has been a regular outfield player in the United reserves, deputised for the suspended Mohammad Al-Hindawi between the posts and Wright said he produced an outstanding performance.

‘‘Alex filled in and pulled off three important saves for us, two in the first half and one in particular in the second half,’’ he said.

‘‘If it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t have got the points.’’

The returning Mohammad Hadi Dad also impressed for United, with Stojanovski, Ben Hawkes and Johnny Davkovski standouts in a losing cause for Shepparton.

The win lifts Shepparton United from the foot of the ladder to fourth and relegates Shepparton to bottom spot, yet to gain a point this season.