BLUE Lake is now in a prime position to defend its place in the top four of the Limestone Coast Football Association ladder, as it claimed the Round 12 points over Naracoorte at Malseed Park on Sunday.
In harsh conditions, Blue Lake was understaffed, a factor not reflected in the eventual 2-0 scoreline.
The match was hard going for both teams, with the state of the pitch far from its best due to the inclement weather of late, but players powered on and Blue Lake secured the advantage before the break with a goal to Saw Taw Lar Htoo.
In the second half, Naracoorte controlled the majority of play and pushed its host’s defence to the limit, but was unable to convert.
The Rangers held strong, with goal keeper Matthew Sykes in fine form, saving a number of scoring opportunities.
Every time Naracoorte pushed the ball into its forward line, Blue Lake’s defenders would respond with a turnover, making it difficult for the visitors to capitalise on its chances.
Naracoorte looked to be in the better position of the two teams in the second term, but the death blow was dealt when a turnover saw Blue Lake’s Bryce Strachan score to give his team a two-goal margin.
Blue Lake coach Rajko Kuzmanovic said he was pleased with the final result on the day, as his team was without the bulk of its force.
“I am very happy with the outcome in the end,” he said.
“We played without seven A Grade players, some of them injured and some away for different reasons.
“We had several Under 17’s and several players who had already played a full game in B Grade.”
Kuzmanovic gave credit to the Naracoorte side and said it upheld a high level of game and pushed his team to its limits.
“Naracoorte played reasonably well and pushed really hard, but we managed to score two goals,” he said.
“We managed to defend and we got them a couple of times with counter-attacks.
“We expected it to would be hard, they fought to the end and they fought hard, but the result for us was good.”
In regards to stand-outs in the game, Kuzmanovic named a few players he believed played well on the day.
“Bryce Strachan was probably the best player on the pitch, but Matt Sykes saved a couple of fantastic shots at the beginning and kept us in the game,” he said.
Kuzmanovic also said Hayden Cutting and Ei Plu Soe played well and he was impressed by both of their efforts on Sunday.
Currently sitting five points clear of the fifth-placed Portland, Blue Lake is confident it will make finals, with its draw for the final two rounds far more merciful.
“Portland play Inter and Centrals, while we play Tatiara and Millicent, so we are quite confident we will finish in front of them,” Kuzmanovic said.
Going into finals, Kuzmanovic hopes to see his team at full strength, as he knows it will need to be in season-best form if it is to have a chance at making it through the elimination final.
“I hope we will have an entire team together,” he said.
“We hope we can go through the elimination, but we will see.”
For Portland, finals dreams have quickly become a nightmare, after it suffered a 4-0 defeat to Apollo when the ladder-leaders made the trip to play in dismal conditions.
With the visitors holding a one-goal lead at half time, Apollo extended the margin in the second term.
Lachlan Bytheway, Nash Linden, Matthew Pohlner and Damon Wilmot each made their mark on the scoreboard, as they battled with the state of the pitch more than their opponents.
With Portland to face second and third on the ladder in the next two weeks, it will be unlikely the Panthers will see finals action in 2017.
International also recorded a convincing win in Round 12, as it hosted Millicent for an eventual 8-0 margin.
The class of the black and blue was too much for their seventh-placed guests, as William Circelli lead the way on the scoreboard with four to his name.
Inter’s captain Christian Cella also made his mark with two goals, while Fintan Cuthberston and the young Chris Fallas recorded singles.
In Bordertown, Tatiara hosted Gambier Centrals for yet another disappointing result for the league’s newest team.
With a 4-1 lead at the break, Centrals continued to apply pressure in the second half to claim a 6-1 victory.
Once again Lewis March remained consistent in the goal square, as he lead the way for his team with a tally of three.
Cameron Saint also performed up the front as he bagged two goals, while Henry Shoemark scored a single.
For Tatiara, it was Tameda Gabril who hit the scoreboard, but it was not enough to subdue Centrals’ onslaught.
