Benalla salvages last-minute draw

May 12 2009

Shepparton News

Women's league contender Benalla saved itself with a last-minute goal on Sunday after almost literally handing Shepparton South a win in Goulburn North East Football Association.

While South missed the chance to take an outright lead in the women's league, Shepparton found a late goal against Tatura to remain top of the ladder on goal difference.

South had taken a 2-1 lead 15 minutes from full time in its match at McEwen Reserve when Benalla's goalkeeper fumbled the ball into the back of a defender and across the line for an own goal.

But Liz Mason came to the rescue for the Rovers as she netted her second goal of the match in stoppage time to save the game.

Sophie Findlay opened the scoring for South in the first half but had her goal cancelled out midway through the second period as Mason ran onto a through ball and finished neatly on her left foot.

The Goulburn North East summer league representative then netted her second as she and a desperate pack of South defenders knocked Bonnie Denison's cross from the right flank across the line.

"We're a fit team and very good at finishing off games," Rovers coach Peter Gebauer said. "We're stepping up for the big games, South, United and Shepparton will all remain tough teams this season."

Shepparton retained top spot on the ladder after Isabella Cook's equaliser earned it a 1-1 draw with Tatura.

Cobram earned its first point of the women's season but was unable to post a maiden win as it was held 1-1 by Numurkah.

Luckless Kyabram suffered more heartbreak in the weekend's other match as it blew a 2-0 lead and lost 3-2 to Cobram Victory. A Kim Kenny double put Kyabram in the box seat for a first-ever women's league win, before two goals to Josephine Latina and one to Nicole Startari turned the game in Victory's favour.