SOUTH NOW RULES ROOST AFTER DOWNING TATURA

12 May 2015

Shepparton News - By Gregor Mactaggart

Shepparton South has gained top spot on the FFV Goulburn North East men’s division one ladder.

But time will tell whether that grip is a firm or temporary one.

South leapfrogged Cobram Roar, which

Shepparton South 2 d Tatura 1 had the bye, thanks to a 2-1 home win against Tatura at McEwen Reserve on Sunday.

Reno Lia’s men jumped to an early two goal advantage thanks to strikes from Spanish sensation Oriol Fernandez and Matt Gleeson.

Fernandez has four goals in as many matches during his second season in the league.

The striker scored five times in 16 appearances last season for Tatura and came back to haunt his former club with a smart finish.

The Ibises rallied in the second stanza thanks to a goal from playing coach Ben Shepherd.

The man in the middle was kept busy with six bookings handed out, five to Tatura and one to Shepparton South.

The match of the round occurred in the second division as Kyabram Phoenix and Cobram Roar played out a 5-5 draw, despite wet conditions.

Phoenix, who had previously struggled to hit the back of the net, brought their goalscoring boots with Shane Boylane hitting a hat-trick and Mohammed Shamri a brace.

The draw gave Kyabram its first point the season.

With three first-half goals Shepparton South retained top spot on the ladder against Tatura.

Braden Hale, Joel Aitken (his 11th in four matches) and Tom Tennant got on the scoresheet for South.

An Ahmet Savran strike proved the difference as Shepparton United down Shepparton 1-0.