SOUTH GAMBIER 4.9 (33) d KYBYBOLITE 2.6 (18)
SOUTH Gambier secured the 2019-20 Limestone Coast Women’s Football League minor premiership in ominous fashion with a solid victory over rival Kybybolite in the final minor round at Glencoe on Sunday.
The pair dominated the entire home-and-away season with flawless campaigns and their opening match of the day was an anticipated clash.
Once the first siren sounded a tense battle panned out with supporters in full voice and both rivals hungry to claim the early ground.
It was the Demons who caught Kyby napping by being the only team to hit the scoreboard in the opening quarter.
A goal by Simone MacDonald allowed South to claim an eight-point lead by quarter time.
After a slow start, Kybybolite lifted its intensity and charged back into the game with a dominant second term.
They put the Demons’ back line under pressure by moving the ball quickly up the ground with long kicks led by Sophie Ford and Susie Maber.
It allowed Lauren Sandercock to find space and score a major from point-blank range, before Della Hannaford kicked a goal on the run in impressive fashion.
Suddenly the tables had turned and Kyby led by seven points at the main break.
After scoring just one point in the second term, South was under pressure to perform, but it responded with a huge effort in the “premiership” quarter.
Imogen Walker and Tess Andrews were dominant fixtures in the midfield and did not allow Kybybolite to push forward.
Their hard work set up many scoring opportunities for the Demons, which they pounced on.
MacDonald levelled the scores with a goal from the pocket, before Kendell Saffin and Walker kicked truly from long distances.
The burst gave South a 12-point lead heading into the final term, which proved too much for Kybybolite.
The ball was locked in the Demons’ forward half for the majority of the goal-less last quarter, as the Mount Gambier outfit eased to a 15-point victory.
South coach Taylor Saffin said he was relieved after his team finished on top in a tough contest.
“It was stressful for me as a coach, but I was really happy with the girls,” he said.
“We thought this was going to be the game that was going to test us and it was played at a higher intensity.
“So the skills and voice had to lift and the girls rose up and played a really good game.”
The turning point in the match arrived during the third quarter and Saffin and the coaching staff pushed the midfield to move the ball forward, who backed it up again in the final quarter.
“I think we made another step up in the third quarter,” he said.
“We really encouraged them to put that pressure on and use the ball cleanly to give our forwards the best opportunity to keep it there.
“Then coming into the last quarter, I told them the job is not done and they stepped up again, so I am really happy.”
Walker’s gritty performance saw her named best-on-ground for a second consecutive week and Saffin said her composure with the ball was impressive.
“Her ability to keep her feet, find space in the contest and go on to hit the target was second to none,” he said.
“It was a really strong all-round performance from her.”
Despite his side enjoying a perfect home-and-away campaign, Saffin believes it is far from the finished product.
“We have always got areas to improve on,” he said.
“As a team we are staring to gel down and get it all happening together.
“Our back line is starting to show some progression moving the ball into our forward line and we will continue to work on that.”
CASTERTON SANDFORD 6.10 (46) d KONGORONG 0.1 (1)
A DOMINANT display against Kongorong ensured Casterton Sandford secured a finals berth after the final women’s football minor-round at Glencoe.
The Cats were unstoppable from the outset and raced to a big lead.
Kongorong’s only impact on the scoreboard for the match was a behind, while the Victorians enjoyed a three-goal advantage by the opening break.
Casterton Sandford scored one goal in each of the last three quarters to wrap up a 45-point win.
Emma Lynch led the way with three majors, while Scarlett Jarrad impressed to collect two goals and best-on-ground honours.
The Hawks’ frustrating season came to an end with Marnee Formosa and Janita Galloway standing tall in a ninth-consecutive defeat.
MUNDULLA 9.11 (65) d NORTH GAMBIER 0.0 (0)
A CRUSHING victory over North Gambier gave Mundulla a boost of confidence ahead of finals in the 2019-20 women’s football season.
The yellow and black struggled to get a look in, despite its opponent not kicking accurately in front of goal.
Mundulla could only convert in two of its 10 scoring shots in the first half.
But the lead exploded after the main break, with seven goals across the final two quarters to ice the game.
Natasha Horne was the major contributor with a four-goal haul, while Carlee Feder and Tegan Roberts kicked two each.
The key player around the ground was Lauren Tink, who claimed top honours for the victors, while North’s best players were Lorrelle Walker and Piper Killick.
Mundulla’s 65-point win sealed third position on the ladder, while North’s tough season came to an end with a scoreless match.
PENOLA 2.4 (16) d MILLICENT 0.2 (2)
PENOLA finished its Limestone Coast Women’s Football season on a high with a 14-point win over Millicent.
The Eagles kicked two goals and managed to keep the Saints goalless across the four quarters of play.
No further details were supplied at the time of print.
GLENCOE 4.2 (26) d KALANGADOO 1.4 (10)
THE final minor round of the women’s football season ended with a bang after Glencoe completed a come-from-behind win against Kalangadoo.
The Magpies appeared to be cruising after restricting the Murphies to just a single point in the first two quarters.
But a scoreless second half brought Glencoe back into the game.
Led by a four-goal and best-on-ground effort by Alice Tentye, the Murphies surged in the final term to turn a nine-point deficit into a 26-10 win.
Jade Longbottom, plus Sarah and Laura Edwards were other key contributors for Glencoe.
