South keeps finals composure

August 11 2009

Shepparton News

Shepparton South came from behind to be the only top three club to emerge without defeat on a weekend of shocks and surprises in women's Goulburn North East Football Association.

The Southerners returned to a share of top of the ladder with Shepparton United after the Blues and fellow top two aspirant Shepparton both suffered defeat at the hands of clubs from Cobram.

While all three Shepparton-based teams are likely to occupy the top three at season's end, all are mathematical certainties to play finals, the trio all had weaknesses exposed on a tough day's play.

Shepparton South was the main beneficiary on Sunday as it came from a goal down at McEwen Reserve to defeat Numurkah, 2-1.

The Knights took a surprise lead when Jane Webb, playing in the same team as daughters Shari and Samantha, scored to give Numurkah the lead.

But South battled back into the game with Maddy McGuffie and Chelsea Clarke scoring in the second half.

At Central Park, Shepparton United allowed South to join it at the top of the ladder on 28 points as it lost 4-3 to a resurgent Cobram.

While the Tigers' chances of making the finals were not improved due to fourth-placed Tatura's 5-0 win against Kyabram, they did complete a pair of wins for the season against the reigning premier.

Bianca Dikkenberg had a day out as she scored all four of Cobram's goals, while Allyson Newton scored two for United and Leanne Rawson the other.

Shepparton had the chance to take outright top spot on the ladder with United's slip up, but also faltered at Barooga as it went down 2-1 to Cobram Victory.

Belinda Amodio scored for Shepparton, while Hayley Cornish and Nicole Startari netted for Victory to leave Shepparton stuck in third on 27 points with a game less than United and South to play.

Wins for the two Cobram teams kept their slim finals hopes alive, both on 20 points behind fourth-placed Tatura on 24 with two games remaining.

The Ibises shored up their hold on the last attainable finals place for the chasing pack, with two goals each to Mikayla Lia and Rosemary Scrimizzi along with a goal to Natalie Anderson easing it past Kyabram, 5-0.