STRIKER PUTS FOUR TO FLOOR

19 May 2015

Shepparton News - By Gregor Mactaggart

COMETH HOUR, CUNNIFF MAN WITH ALL TATURA’S GOALS IN STELLAR DISPLAY AGAINST REDS

Jared Cunniff produced a performance from the top shelf for Tatura on Sunday.

The English striker scored all four goals as the Ibises downed Shepparton 4-1 in FFV Goulburn North East men’s division one action at Howley Oval.

Cunniff’s prowess has earned him a glowing reputation down under and his bag of tricks was on display in this win against the Reds.

He coolly completed a one-on-one with the Shepparton goalkeeper to break the deadlock midway through the opening stanza.

Cunniff used his head, literally, for number two when he efficiently completed a fine Ricky Luvara cross from the right.

What was a 2-0 lead at the main break stretched to a greater advantage in the second half through two more to Cunniff, although there was a consolation goal to the tireless Johnny Davkovski.

Davkovski, a shining light in a losing cause for the Reds, deserved his second-half strike.

But the star of the show was Cunniff, who has scored 26 goals in 15 top-flight appearances in the Goulburn Valley.

Eight have come in four matches this season alone.

Tatura playing coach Ben Shepherd acknowledged the standout contribution of his countryman Cunniff.

‘‘Jared played very well, when the chances fell for him he took it, he’s a dangerous forward like that,’’ Shepherd said.

‘‘Shepparton were hard to break down early on, but once Jared scored the first goal for us we found it a bit easier.’’

The win lifts Tatura to a clear hold of third spot on the ladder, but Shepherd admitted there was room for improvement for his team to work on.

‘‘We gave the ball away cheaply in the first 15 minutes of the first half and 10 of the second half,’’ he said.

‘‘We’ve also got to work on our finishing at training, we had a lot of chances to score more than the four goals we did.’’

Central midfielder Jacob Rando was another impressive performer for Tatura, which suffered an injury blow when Shepherd limped off the field with a bruised heel just shy of the hour mark.

But the playing coach hopes to be fit for the Ibises’ trip to Shepparton United at Central Park on Sunday.

 

Davkovski, Ben Hawkes and Troy Kennedy worked hard in a losing cause for the Reds, who remain anchored to the bottom without a point from four matches.