THREE GOALS, THREE POINTS

5 May 2015

Shepparton News - GREGOR MACTAGGART

GRAY’S SCORE AGAINST FORMER CLUB OPENS FLOODGATES AS SOUTH PUTS THREE PAST REDS IN SECOND HALF

Shepparton South produced a superb second-half display to take all three points from its FFV Goulburn North-East division one clash with Shepparton on Sunday.

Little separated the crosstown rivals during the opening hour at Mercury Sports Complex, but the match turned when highprofile recruit Matt Gray broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute.

Gray, who guided a young Reds outfit to the then GNEFA top-flight grand final in 2013, came back to haunt his former club with a welltaken finish.

The goal capped a typically industrious game from the English midfielder, who promises to be a fine pick-up for Reno Lia’s side.

With that 1-0 advantage, Shepparton tried to chase the chase and were caught on the counterattack just eight minutes on.

Damian Russo found space down the right flank and illustrated a touch of class when he produced a sublime shot past Reds custodian Lachlan Brett.

What was 2-0 soon became three as substitute Alhajie Kamara sprung the offside trap to convert just four minutes after coming onto the field.

The final scoreline was a tough one for Shepparton to cop after illustrating so much resistance for a sustained period.

In a losing cause, Troy Kennedy, Ben Hawkes and Johnny Radevski impressed.

Gray, Russo, right back Tim Lardner and Brendan Barton featured among a long list of better players for Shepparton South, who occupy second spot on the ladder behind pacesetters Cobram Roar.

The Roar continued its superb start to life as a merged entity with a third straight success, this time over Tatura 2-0 at Howley Oval.

The mercurial Spiro Vourgaslis proved the difference in a tight battle, scoring both goals.

Vourgaslis produced a top-shelf finish on his left foot to make it 1-0 for Cobram inside the first 20 minutes.

The striker illustrated his predatory instincts in number two from a matter of yards out midway through the second stanza.

And backed by a defence harder to crack than the former Berlin Wall, Cobram ensured the trip home would be a happy one.

Roar coach Adam Gatcum rated the success as one of his sides most impressive displays to date.

‘‘I thought the firsthalf was the best half of football we’ve played this season,’’ Gatcum said.

‘‘The second-half we saw the game out pretty well, especially after Spiro showed his fox in the box instincts for that second goal.’’

Gatcum issued a warning to Cobram’s rivals that his side had plenty of room for improvement, a worrying thought when you consider they have not conceded a goal in more than 270 minutes of action this season.

‘‘We’re heading in the right direction, but we’re far from the finished article yet,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s been a good, solid start for us, we’ve been strong defensively and we’ve also been able to hit the back of net regularly.

‘‘We’re not a team of superstars, but we’re playing a really good brand of team football.’’

Vourgaslis, Marius Williams, Tyler Seabrook (left wing) and Andrew Zito (right wing) earned mentions as Cobrams leading lights.

Tatura was best served by playing coach Ben Shepherd and returning defender Adrian Corbo.

Shepparton United had the bye.