Apollo lands final chance

GOING FOR GOAL: Centrals’ playing coach Nathan Fleetwood takes a free kick at goal, while Apollo’s Matthew Pohlner attempts to block the incoming ball during their Belgiorno Cup semi-final meeting on Sunday. Picture: JAMES MURPHY

THE Limestone Coast Football Association’s Belgiorno Cup will once again see International and Apollo engage in a battle for the pre-season honours, as both senior teams claimed the win in their semi-final clashes on Sunday.

Inter secured a 4-1 victory over a determined Blue Lake outfit at Casadio Park, while for Apollo a surprising 3-1 triumph over Gambier Centrals was the result at the Bishop Road venue.

Apollo’s win comes as a positive sign for the club, after its A Grade team suffered some big losses to its lineup in the off season and their form for 2018 was shrouded in doubt.

In a relatively even contest, Apollo was able to capitalise on the scoreboard when it travelled to meet Centrals for the first time this season.

With Centrals looking to be a contender for the premiership this year under the guidance of incoming playing coach Nathan Fleetwood, along with a few other roster changes, Apollo went into the match as underdogs.

But with three goals in the opening half to Centrals’ one and no further scores after the break, Apollo claimed the victory.

The first of Apollo’s goals was a Centrals own goal, while a converted free kick from Giancarlo Cooper saw the side take the lead, backed up by a goal from Lungani Emmual.

For Centrals, Fleetwood scored the only goal for his side, but like Apollo, they were not without their opportunities.

Despite the second half leaving the scoreboard untouched, goal keepers at both ends were kept busy.

Centrals’ James Kipping saved a number of shots, while at the other end Ben Morris had some impressive saves to prevent the hosts from getting back in the game.

Apollo coach Bruno Vadori was pleased with his side’s efforts.

“Centrals are a very tough team,” he said.

“Obviously Nathan is one of their best players on the pitch, but you have to supply him.

“And they did that a fair bit.”

He said he has drilled the message of setting up a foundation in the opening term and it was good to see his team achieve this on the weekend.

“I try to get into them that the first half is the most important half,” he said.

“We missed a fair few (shots), but we got a few in so I am quite happy with that.”

Vadori said it was an even contest, but it was Apollo’s ability in front of goals which saw them across the line.

“There were patches where we overran them and there were patches where they overrun us,” he said.

“We were a little bit more effective once we got in front of goals.

“They did have a lot of run at certain times in the first half and they were quite unlucky not to score a few more against us.”

Cooper is in dominant form this season in front of goals, whether it be in soccer or Australian rules football and he has been among Apollo’s goal-kickers in every game.

He was among the best for his side again this week and Vadori said he was impressed by his ability in the attacking half.

However, it was a veteran of the club who Vadori said deserved the best-on-ground honours for the day.

“Best on the field for us I would probably have to give to our veteran Paul Prentice,” he said.

“He usually plays reserves, but he stepped up this week.

“He had a cracker game for a guy who is over 50 years old and playing against kids in their early 20’s – he really stepped up and made his position his own.”

The defence line was also praised, while Under 17 player Harry Wilson received special mention for stepping up to the big stage.

“All the guys in defence were good, even our keeper Ben Morris, he pulled off some really good saves especially in the second half when he was really up against it,” Vadori said.

“Harry (Wilson) played a solid game in the Under 17’s and then backed himself up in A Grade.

“To me you wouldn’t know he was an Under 17, he holds his head up high and really pushes the other guys.”

Apollo now prepares for its final clash against International to be played at Blue Lake Soccer Club.

Inter also put on a solid display on Sunday, with a comfortable victory over Blue Lake Rangers on Sunday at Casadio Park.

Leading by just one goal at half time, kicked by Sam Bueti, Inter lifted in the second half to kick three more to the Rangers’ one.

These goals came from Matthew Bueti, Christian Cella and Tom Weedon, who have all been in impressive form so far this season and will be looked to for big games this weekend.

For Blue Lake, Jared Vause converted his team’s only goal, but the side was not without its opportunities.

Before Inter was able to break away, the Rangers demonstrated impressive form, as play in the first half spent equal time at both ends of the pitch.

Going into the premiership season, if Blue Lake works on its conversion rate it will be a worthy contender for finals.

Inter coach Gareth Vonduve was pleased to see his team lift its form from last week’s meeting with Naracoorte, saying “the boys gelled a bit better” on the weekend.

“We played a lot better than we did the week before,” he said.

“Obviously in the semi-final, leading into the final, it was better we had a good performance.”

Despite the three-goal win, Vonduve gave credit to Blue Lake, who he believes will catch over-confident teams off guard this season.

“They are a lot stronger team than I think people give them credit for and I think Vausey (Jared Vause) and Tristan Guess have done a pretty good job with the squad they have got,” he said.

“They play a good brand of football now and I think they will catch a few teams out this year.”

In terms of best players, both Sam and Matthew Bueti were again in good form, while Josh Grubb played his role well along with the rest of the team.

“Josh Grubb played pretty well, he played a bit of a wing position and went and slotted into centre-back,” Vonduve said.

“Tom Weedon once again was really strong.

“There wasn’t really any passengers.

“Chris Fallas and Nick Morony have enjoyed a good start to the year and Patrick Wilondja is playing in a different position, but he is improving every week which is what you want as a coach.”

Going into this week’s final, Ricky McRobert will have a question mark over his head, after suffering an ankle injury in the first half of Sunday’s game.

However, Inter has the depth to cover this loss if need be and it will be an interesting clash when the two traditional rivals meet at Blue Lake Soccer Club for the Belgiorno Cup grand final.

 

THE RUN DOWN: International’s Sam Bueti takes control of the ball and runs it towards and open goal square, with Blue Lake’s Jacob Phillips hot in pursuit. Pictures: JAMES MURPHY