Finn finishes it off for United

 

Teo Pellizzeri

April 29 2008

Shepparton News

Finnish exchange student Anette Aittasalmi piled the pain on Shepparton in the women's North Eastern Soccer League on Sunday as her late strike gave Shepparton United a 1-0 win.

The Blues' least convincing win of the season has kept its winning streak alive at four games and sees the reigning premier top the ladder by three points.

Defeat was rough justice for the Reds after goalkeeper Rebecca Bowles saw off more than 20 attempts on her net, the majority on target and needing to be saved.

But Aittasalmi's tap-in after latching on to an Imogen Head cross was one chance too many as United found a way past the previously impassable Bowles.

United even failed to convert a second-half penalty after Jess Theobald was legged in the area and sent Vanessa Loverso to the spot.

But Bowles went the right way to stop Loverso's penalty low to the left corner of the net.

Shepparton then had its best chance to steal the points as Samantha McIntosh's shot on the turn was deflected above the crossbar and out for a corner.

Head was United's best player in the dying stages as she stung Bowles' outstretched hand with a long shot the Reds' goalkeeper managed to tip into the post.

At McEwen Reserve, a Numurkah team on the rebound defeated Shepparton South 2-1 to recover from a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Shepparton United last week.

Maddy McGuffie gave South the lead before Gabby Gasparroni played through Stacey Tomasino and Stephanie Vanderzwaan to set up Numurkah's goals.

Knights coach John Vanderzwaan said the 4-0 defeat against United was a misleading scoreline and was pleased to have come away with a win against South.

``Heads went down after the second goal last week and that's why it ended up being four,'' Vanderzwaan said.

``But after South's goal we didn't give up because they felt we shouldn't have gone behind.''