Vance uses his head

April 29 2008

Shepparton News

Vance uses his head

Stuart Vance headed Shepparton to its second win of the season in a come-from-behind 2-1 victory against Shepparton United in North Eastern Soccer League on Sunday.

Shepparton's goals came from carbon copy corners delivered by playing coach Andy Ingham as Vance rose highest to reverse a 1-0 deficit.

James Kalafatis opened the scoring in the second half to put United in front and on course for what would have been an upset win.

But Vance's seventh and eighth goals of the season saw Shepparton hold onto third position on the table with nine points, three ahead of Tatura and three behind Cobram Victory and Shepparton South.

Riding crest of wave

Cobram Victory defeated Kyabram 3-0 in women's North Eastern Soccer League at the weekend to extend its winning streak to three games.

Victory now has a share of second place with town rival Cobram, but trail the Tigers by three goals difference.

Victory captain Georgia Oudeman scored for the third straight week for Victory, while Annika Mogg and Alexandra Nielsen also struck goals.

At Tatura Park heavy rain couldn't stop Cobram edging out Tatura to defend second place on the ladder with a 2-1 win.

Cobram benefited from an own goal with Bianca Dikkenberg scoring the other, while Tatura's goal-scorer was Sophie Findlay.

Tatura's yo-yo form has seen it win one week and lose the following to start the season, but the Ibises hold fourth on six points from Shepparton by two goals difference.

Both Victory and Cobram have already matched their win totals of three from last season, needing just four games to do so.

Vipers have venom

North Eastern Soccer League players with the Bendigo Vipers women's premier league team have helped push the side away from the relegation zone with two positive recent results.

Tatura's Derya Tanrikulu and Cobram's Jacinta Dikkenberg both played on Wednesday night as the Vipers defeated Gippsland 3-2 at Darebin International Sports Centre in Melbourne.

The duo was back in action on Saturday along with former Shepparton South forward Angela Foley as the Vipers held ladder-leader Box Hill to a 0-0 draw.

Former Shepparton United forward Amanda Lawless played for Box Hill as her side dropped points for the first time this season.

Box Hill leads the women's premier league with 16 points, while the Vipers sit seventh on six, still six points away from a top five place.

In the men's premier league, Brendan Beni made his first appearance in the Richmond senior team at the weekend as it beat Coburg United 3-0.

Beni, a former Shepparton United player, came off the bench in the 87th minute after having to wait until round 10 to break into the first team.

The midfielder was a regular in Richmond's set-up last season before overseas education commitments interrupted his soccer career.