Referees step in to avert repeat of previous farce

Teo Pellizzeri

September 8 2008

Shepparton News

Just a year after the penalty shoot-out scandal that rocked North Eastern Soccer League, clubs were playing with fire again at Mercury Dve on Saturday.

Players ineligible to take penalty kicks in Shepparton United's elimination final shoot-out win against Shepparton South linked arms with eligible takers in the centre square on Saturday.

But referees were taking no chances on Sunday afternoon at Cobram Showgrounds as commonsense prevailed to keep ineligible players on the sidelines.

In a thrilling weekend of soccer, both the elimination final and qualifying final went to penalty kicks after a pair of 2-2 draws.

Shepparton United won 4-3 on spot-kicks against Shepparton South, but both teams put the result in jeopardy as they made the same errors Shepparton and Yoogali did in last year's grand final.

A player already substituted from the field, Shepparton's Adrian Ingham, took a penalty and scored in the grand final last season.

The error came about due to Ingham standing in the centre square with unused substitutes and fellow players already subbed out of the game.

In professional soccer shoot-outs, only eligible takers may stand on the field, while unused substitutes and players already subbed out of the game must stand with coaches on the sidelines.

Saturday's elimination final had no ineligible players take a kick, the referees made sure the correct protocol was followed on Sunday as Cobram Victory advanced to the grand final with a 4-1 win on penalties.

The results mean Shepparton will play Shepparton United in the preliminary final at McEwen Reserve next Sunday for the right to play Victory in the grand final at Tatura Park the week after.