INTERNATIONAL Soccer Club’s senior team has claimed premiership glory in the 2018 Limestone Coast Football Association grand final.
Taking on Gambier Centrals in the anticipated decider, a 2-1 win to Inter saw it defend its title.
Played at Casadio Park on Sunday, the match was almost a mirror image of the qualifying final which saw Centrals book its place in the grand final.
A hard-hitting opening half saw Inter on the front foot and two quick goals midway through the term put the reigning premiers in a good place at the break.
The first came off the boot of Matt Bueti, while captain Christian Cella banged through the second.
With the Lions yet to hit the scoreboard, a massive second half was expected.
And they did not disappoint.
Centrals applied heavy pressure from the whistle.
Despite controlling more of the play, the side was unable to really threaten until late in the game.
That was mostly to the credit of Inter’s defence, which was led well by Dan Bronca, with the likes of Patrick Wilondja, Josh Grubb, Chris Fallas and Fintan Cuthbertson forming a brick wall down back.
Goalkeeper Brayden May was also in fine form and his efforts saw him rewarded with the best-on-ground honours as voted by the referees.
Adelaide referee Carlos Zepeda umpired the game and yellow cards were in plentiful supply, with a total of eight issued for the match.
When a penalty was awarded to Centrals and captain Cameron Saint lined up to take the shot, the Lions were able to finally claw one back.
Saint’s first attempt was saved by May, but he ran in to chip the ball into the net on the rebound.
All of a sudden it was a one-goal match and with little time left in the game, Centrals stepped up a gear.
It had plenty of the play and goalkeeper James Kipping was in fine form to reject any attempts from Inter in the second term.
Youngster Jasper Whitehead played a solid game and fought hard all day to deny the black and blue an easy shot on goal.
Brayden Coppick was another young-gun who excelled on the big stage, while the likes of Saint, coach Nathan Fleetwood and Lewis March tried desperately to score the equaliser.
March and Saint both had shots on goal in the dying minutes, but May stood tall and repelled the attacks.
Inter also had its chances, with shots from Bueti and Sar Hay Moo saved and at the final whistle it was the minor premiers who took out the title.
Inter coach Gareth VonDuve was aware of the stakes and knew whichever team started strongest would likely come away with the win.
“They (Centrals) proved it in the semi-final, they came out of the blocks firing,” he said.
“And we did as well (on Sunday).
“If we did not get those two goals early and we went in (at half time) nil-all, they would have been up and about holding us goalless for another half.”
That would have tightened the game up even more and could have resulted in a different result.
“I knew their second half was going to be huge,” VonDuve said.
“I just did not know how big it was going to be.
“To the boys’ credit, they just kept going and did not stop.”
VonDuve gave credit to Centrals as well, as the team did not back down all day.
“The likes of (Nathan) Fleetwood and Cam Saint and those type of players for Centrals were fantastic,” he said.
“Jake Blackwell went off, but I thought he was really good early.
“He was hurting us a bit.
“Centrals controlled a lot of the second half.
“They were the better side in the second half by a mile.”
However, the first term set the tone for the game and VonDuve gave credit to the many players who stepped up to the level required to win a premiership.
Nick Morony was one major inclusion, as he made his return to the starting list after injury had left him sidelined recently.
“He controlled the midfield a lot and just dominated,” VonDuve said.
“To have that kind of player in there makes a massive difference for us.”
Inter was also served well in the backline, which was the difference on the day.
“The likes of Dan Bronca was fantastic and Fintan (Cuthbertson) and Pat (Wilondja),” VonDuve said.
“The way they played was just huge.
“We gave Patty Wilondja and Grubby (Josh Grubb) the job to watch Fleetwood.
“I thought Patty did a fantastic job of that.
“He (Fleetwood) still had an influence on the game up the pitch, but not so much deep down.”
Ricky McRobert also played his part well, causing some havoc up front and acting as a target for Centrals players.
VonDuve reflected on the successful season the club has had this year, but confirmed changes will be made next year.
With VonDuve returning to Adelaide to further his coaching career at a state level, Inter will be left to find a new head coach.
“We start pre-season up there in mid-November,” VonDuve said.
“It is sad to already have that pencilled in, but the opportunity was there and I really wanted to take it.”
It adds a bitter-sweet touch to the premiership, but VonDuve will leave behind plenty of knowledge and Inter will no doubt be at the pointy end of the competition again in 2019.
