United hangs tough to claim victory

July 8 2008

Shepparton News

A late Shepparton United goal has denied Cobram Victory the chance to be the first team to take points off the reigning women's North Eastern Soccer League premier as the Blues escaped 2-1 on Sunday.

Goals to Allyson Newton and Imogen Head either side of a Georgia Oudeman wonder-strike gave United its 13th straight win of the season and left Victory marooned nine points off a finals place.

Oudeman's pinpoint shot to the top corner of the United net drew Victory level and gave it hope of taking something from the game midway through the second half, before United finally made its attacking dominance pay with a second goal.

With more than 20 shots for the game, United missed the shooting of the league's top-scorer Jess Theobald who missed the match.

United's win extended its streak to 20 in a row, it leads the ladder on 39 points by 14 from Tatura on 25.

The Blues' last loss came to Tatura on July 15 last year and they play the Ibises on Sunday.

Tatura kept hold of its narrow lead in second place with a 1-0 win against Numurkah.

Mikayla Lia's first-half long shot was the difference between the teams as Tatura maintained its one-point lead from Shepparton on 24 and Cobram on 23.

Numurkah's season took another turn for the worse with the defeat as it fell 10 points off finals pace, the Knights are in sixth place on the ladder with Shepparton South on 13 points, while Cobram Victory is the highest team outside the top four with 14.