Gallery | South’s streak comes to an end as United goes top

Travelling to take on Eaglehawk, it was the home side that prevailed 3-0 to inflict South’s first defeat of the campaign.

An early red card put South behind the eight-ball, with Eaglehawk taking full advantage as it put three goals past its undermanned opponent.

South coach Rob Harmeston said his team simply was not up for the challenge on Saturday night.

“I think they just shocked us. They came out and they rattled us, to be honest,” Harmeston said.

“They came at us flying out of the blocks. It didn’t help that we had a man sent off quite early on and we were down to 10 men.

“The crux of it is that we turned up at Eaglehawk and saw their results and I think certain people might have thought they were in for an easy night, and you never get an easy night at Eaglehawk.

“I think we got what we deserved at the end of the day because they were the better team on the night.”

South was on the back foot almost from the get-go, but the moment that changed the game came in the 19th minute.

Captain and centre back Nathan Radevski was given his marching orders following a crunching slide tackle, leaving his side down a player for more than two thirds of the match.

Eaglehawk then opened the scoring 13 minutes later, taking a 1-0 advantage into half-time.

Given the circumstances, Harmeston said he thought his side was in an okay position at the break, but two goals shortly into the second half sealed its fate.

“We regrouped at half-time 1-0 down. We played most of the half with 10 men, so I thought 1-0 down was not too bad,” he said.

“We went out and conceded two very quick goals and that was the end. Once that happens, the nails are in the coffin.”

A loss they needed to have?

While the result stung, Harmeston said he hoped his side could learn from the match – with early signs showing the team was hungry to bounce back.

“I think it was one of those results that we needed, I think we needed a defeat, to be honest,” he said.

“We haven’t lost in the league since 2021. We went unbeaten last year and this year that is our first defeat, so I think you forget what it feels like to lose. Hopefully that feeling will stay with the team for the rest of the year.

“There were people that were fired up after the game. I think it was a wake-up call and I was delighted that was the reaction.

“They could just sit there and laugh about it or whatever, but it was more of a ‘right, that’s it. The sleeves are rolled up’ reaction. People were disappointed, and that is a good sign.”

Given their numerical disadvantage for a majority of the game, Harmeston said he was pleased with the endeavour of those out on the park.

“There were a few players that put an awful lot of hard work in, but when you are down to 10 men, we just couldn’t seem to get our football going. We just struggled to get ourselves going,” the gaffer said.

“Once we had the man sent off, Nicholas Mori put his hand up and wanted to play at centre back and fill that gap. He went in there and for someone who hasn’t played there at senior level, I thought he had a really good game.”

A new league leader

The defeat means South has lost its spot on top of the league one ladder following a key result elsewhere.

Shepparton United has jumped above its local rivals into first place following its 4-3 win over Epsom on Sunday.

There was action aplenty at McEwen Reserve in Shepparton in a match that had seven goals, six yellow cards and one sending off.

United had a 2-1 advantage at half-time thanks to goals from Thomas Raditsas and Lewis Coyle, setting the stage for a frantic second half.

Each team scored twice as four goals rustled the onion bag during a frantic 10-minute stretch.

Ryan Brooks and Coyle scored for United, before Coyle was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

But after all the action and drama, it was the home side United that held on for a win that now gives it a three-point buffer over South.

Tatura celebrated its biggest win in the league after thumping Strathfieldsaye Colts United 10-0 on Sunday.

Tristan Zito netted a hat-trick, Thomas Corso and Cody Sellwood netted twice and Gerald Corbo, Damian Russo and Riley Sanders got on the scoresheet as well.

In CVL1 women’s competition, Shepparton South celebrated its first win of the season after topping Eaglehawk 3-1.

Maya Vukcevic (two goals) and Rosemarene Legalo (one goal) did the damage for South, sealing the club’s first win back in the top flight.

Tatura meanwhile was dealt its second defeat of the year after falling to Strathfieldsaye 4-0.

In CVL2 men’s, Shepparton toppled La Trobe University Red 3-2 to move up into second spot on the table.