Gatcum leads charge as Tigers strike - April 8 2014

Gatcum leads charge as Tigers strike

Damen Francis

April 8 2014

Shepparton News

An Adam Gatcum hat-trick helped Cobram beat Tatura 6-1 in Regional Premier League round three action at Northern Oval at Kyabram on Sunday.

The Tigers were more switched on and had a much higher work rate than in their opening round loss to Shepparton South and it showed on the scoreboard.

Gatcum was moved from his usual role at full back into centre midfield and responded by opening the scoring with a thumping drive.

The lead didn’t last long, as Mohamad Alsharifi pounced on a defensive mix-up to equalise for the Ibises.

Talented wide man Sean Ellis restored Cobram’s lead and Spiro Vourgaslis scored on his Cobram debut, against his old club, to make it 3-1 at the break.

If the game was in the balance, it was over 15 minutes into the second half.

Goals to senior debutant Tyler Seabrook, 15, and Gatcum in quick succession made it 5-1 and Gatcum rounded out his hat-trick and the scoring, when usual penalty-taker Ellis allowed him to take a late spot kick.

Tigers co-coach Paul Amadei was subdued in his praise for his team, which he said still had a long way to go.

‘‘It was okay, but we’re coming from a long way back,’’ Amadei said.

‘‘Our work rate was the most pleasing thing. We went back to a 4-4-2 so everyone has a role to play and we have no passengers.

‘‘Hopefully now we’re back on track.’’

As impressive as Gatcum’s performance was, Seabrook’s maiden strike was the highlight of the day for Amadei.

Ivo Madeira overlapped Vourgaslis on the right and his cross was met by the young striker, who made no mistake.

‘‘His smile after he scored was something coaches love to see,’’ Amadei said.

‘‘He worked hard all day and had his mum and family watching, I was very pleased.’’

Amadei also singled out Johnny Davkovski, with the former Shepparton centre half a rock at the back.

Tatura playing coach Tom Black said his side was still a couple of players short and was mainly exposed out wide.

‘‘We had a bit of a break down in the way we set up our full backs, they pushed up a bit further than we wanted to,’’ Black said.

‘‘The first 20 minutes it didn’t feel like it would be that sort of game and at half-time it shouldn’t have been 3-0, but they scored two quick goals after half-time and some of last year’s lack of confidence came back.’’

In the other round three match, Shepparton United sank Kyabram Phoenix 5-0, with Carl Lamb grabbing a hat-trick.




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