A ROAD trip to Portland saw International Soccer Club fight for the bragging rights on Sunday, after a surprisingly close encounter with the hosts in round six of Limestone Coast soccer.
Looking at the final score you could be forgiven for thinking it was a typical result, as the black and blue emerged 6-0 victors at the final whistle.
But the win did not come easily and it was not until late in the game Inter broke away on the scoreboard.
At half time the margin was 1-0, thanks to Dan Bronca’s first of three conversions, while an unlucky shot in the dying seconds of the term prevented a more comfortable two-goal buffer at the break.
The absence of key striker Matt Bueti, along with talented youngsters Skayper Johnson and Phillip Muzaliwa saw alterations to formation and further changes were made at half time which paid dividends.
“We found it hard to break their defence down and it took us a little while to get going,” coach Tony D’Agostino said.
“We had different avenues and different systems in place, but at half time we changed things up and went back to something the boys were more comfortable with.”
Those changes saw a steep increase in opportunities for the guests, but Inter was unable to convert them onto the scoreboard.
Portland appeared to be on the back foot, but a push into the forward line saw a penalty awarded about 20 minutes into the half, providing a chance to level the scores.
Inter goal keeper Brayden May was up to the task and saved the shot, which was a turning point in the game.
Shortly after Lachlan Charlton stepped up and scored Inter’s second goal, which opened the floodgates.
Captain Christian Cella was next to find the back of the net, before Bronca chimed in with his second and Nick Morony slotted the fifth.
Bronca capped off his solid outing with the final goal of the day.
D’Agostino was impressed by his team’s opponent and said he was surprised Portland had not seen more success in 2019.
“It was a surprisingly tough game,” he said.
“Portland really played well and I have to give them credit.
“They were very competitive and made it very hard for us.”
Conditions were good and the sun made an appearance on Sunday, which was a far cry from the abysmal conditions Inter last played in, when they suffered a muddy loss to Apollo in round four.
Since then the long weekend and a bye saw the black and blue have time to rest sore bodies, with both Cella and Bronca having missed several weeks each.
They were in fine form on Sunday and appear to be back at their usual best.
“The extra couple of weeks we have had off have really helped us,” D’Agostino said.
“We are hoping to get back to a nearly full squad by next weekend.”
Despite the slow start, D’Agostino was pleased with his team’s performance and said it was a combined effort on the day.
“All of them performed, there was not one player I thought who didn’t,” D’Agostino said.
“One guy who stood up was Nick Morony.
“He was good in his leadership with Christian Cella, while Lachie Charlton was good when we needed him.
“Brayden May as well, we can always count on him.”
D’Agostino was also impressed with the youngsters in the lineup, who continue to prove their worth in the side each week.
The win comes as a good confidence booster, after Inter found itself in the unfamiliar position of having two losses after four games.
“It was really important for the team’s sake that they reacted,” D’Agostino said.
“Even though it took us a while to get into it on Sunday, it did show what we are working with is working well.
“Hopefully we can move forward from here.”
In other games, Naracoorte claimed a tight 2-1 win over Blue Lake.
Blue Lake has struggled so far this season and the Naracoorte hosts took advantage of their home deck to deal a fifth consecutive defeat to the Rangers.
Up 1-0 at half time, another goal after the break cemented the win, while Blue Lake co-coach Tristan Guess scored to keep his team in the match, but was unable to help it across the line.
The final game of the round saw Gambier Centrals with a another commanding win, this time over its Millicent hosts.
Nathan Fleetwood was again a deadly prospect in the forward line, with four goals for the match, while the consistent Rhyleigh Hollands bagged another two goals.
Captain Cameron Saint and Henry Shoemark both chipped in with singles to see the final 8-0 scoreline.
This week will see Inter and Millicent face off, while Centrals makes the trip to Naracoorte and Apollo hosts Blue Lake.
