Ibises hope for lift from returning players

August 8 2008

Shepparton News

Tatura coach Rocco Bagnato is sweating on the availability of some of his stars coming into Sunday's crucial North Eastern Soccer League women's match against Cobram.

The Tigers have had the wood over Tatura, beating it in both of their matches so far this season, and it's important that the Ibises can break that hoodoo on the eve of the upcoming finals.

``They've beaten us 2-1 and 1-0, so it's an important game for us,'' Bagnato said.

``I find out about the availability of our (Bendigo) Vipers players tonight _ Derya Tanrikulu, Sophie Findlay and Lucy Ciancio _ it would be great to have them back, it would really strengthen our side.

``They give us a bit of a lift and it gives us a bit more firepower up forward.''

Tatura is coming off a 3-0 win against Kyabram last week, which broke a three-game winless drought.

``We hadn't scored for three weeks, so I just said to the girls `Attack from the start', and we got an early goal,'' Bagnato said.

``They played well and did without our normal goalkeeper Anna Heazlewood, so hopefully she's back this week as well.''

With the top four virtually settled, Bagnato knows this game could be a dress-rehearsal for a finals match-up in just a few weeks' time.

``It looks like we'll play them in the first week of the finals at this stage, so if we can get a win it would give us a bit of confidence,'' he said.

``I'm pretty confident we can get the points, but we'll have to play our best.''

In the other matches this round, ladder-leader Shepparton United hosts second-placed Shepparton, Shepparton South takes on Numurkah, and Kyabram travels to Cobram Victory.