Boot of devastation

July 22 2008

Shepparton News

A second five-goal haul in as many games from Stuart Vance has given Shepparton a crunching 6-0 win in North Eastern Soccer League against Tatura at the weekend.

Shepparton all but sealed a qualifying final date with Cobram Victory with the win, moving to 39 points on the ladder, one behind first-placed Victory and 13 ahead of third-placed Shepparton South.

Vance's pace and composure in front of goal made him an unstoppable force on Saturday afternoon, outrunning and outthinking a Tatura backline that appeared intimidated whenever he was on the ball.

To the Ibises' credit, the team battling for a finals position held its own in the first 20 minutes.

But Vance struck on 20 minutes when he ran onto a long ball and opened an angle to finish past Tatura goalkeeper Nathan Beavis.

Tatura's best chance to hit back came at the start of the second half when David Turkovic had an ambitious attempt headed off the line, the rest of the game was one-way traffic for the Reds.

Vance bought down a long ball and dropped a slow-moving shot into the net for a 2-0 lead early in the second half, then completed his hat-trick when he sprung the Tatura backline to finish for 3-0.

The striker then made it four when persistent work on the right byline from team coach Andy Ingham teed up Vance in the six-yard box for 4-0.

Carl Triglia scored Shepparton's fifth goal, before Vance completed the rout.

Shepparton's backline was rarely threatened in the second half.

Tatura's goal difference suffered with the defeat, down to -13, but it still holds fourth spot with 25 points to fifth-placed Shepparton United on 23.

Vance was last season's top-scorer with 22 goals in the home and away season and has matched the tally in 10 games this year.