Tanrikulu saves the day for Ibises

By Teo Pellizzeri

May 27 2008

Shepparton News

A late Suzan Tanrikulu goal saved Tatura from a drop out of the top four in women's North Eastern Soccer League on Sunday as the Ibises drew 1-1 with Shepparton.

The Reds remain fourth on the ladder after the draw, Tanrikulu's late goal denying Shepparton a share of second on the table.

Tatura remains third on the ladder on 13 points, one behind Cobram on 14 with Shepparton fourth on 12 ahead of fifth-placed Numurkah on goal difference.

Tanrikulu chased down a long ball to score with five minutes remaining against Shepparton, the sweeper switched to midfield late in the match as Tatura pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

Samantha McIntosh's seventh goal of the season had opened the scoring and put Shepparton in front 15 minutes into the second half.

Tatura coach Rocco Bagnato said his side had peppered Shepparton's goal without reward until the late leveller.

"Lucy Ciancio watched McIntosh for most of the game and I thought she did well," Bagnato said.

"We had to take the risk late in the match of moving Suzan out of defence and thankfully it paid off."

At Central Park, a Jess Theobald hat-trick led Shepparton United to its eighth straight win with a 7-1 defeat of Shepparton South.

United led 2-1 at halftime after Maddy McGuffie had kept South in the contest with her fourth goal of the season.

But Theobald's treble took her to 21 goals for the season as teammates Holly Dimstas, Imogen Head, Allyson Newton and Anette Aittasalmi also scored goals for United.

The Blues' winning streak is up to 14 games, they now hold a 10-point lead at the top of the ladder on 24 points from Cobram on 14.