James Murphy
GAMBIER CENTRALS 4 d APOLLO 2
GAMBIER Centrals held onto the top rung of the Premiership Cup ladder after a successful result in Sunday’s Limestone Coast Football Association grand final rematch.
The Lions hosted Apollo for the anticipated clash, which also had the Dyson/Vanderley Memorial Shield on the line.
The shield is contested between the two clubs the first time they meet in the premiership season each year and after losing it in 2021, Centrals was keen to see it return to the den.
A taste of winter weather was given on the day but there were still plenty of goals to show for it and at the final whistle a 4-2 result earned the Lions the bragging rights and the shield.
The win was set up by a strong start with Cameron Saint, Sam Shoemark and Christian Fleetwood patrolling the midfield.
They set up several opportunities and their forward momentum allowed youngster Mickey Richardson to score the first goal of the game early in the piece.
Shoemark also hit the board and all of a sudden Centrals was up by two.
However, Apollo hit back 10 minutes later with a goal from Shar Nay Than to raise the stakes.
From there play tightened up slightly but Centrals remained the more dangerous of the sides going forward.
Apollo’s So Chree Htoo was solid in defence, while goal keeper Jesse Widdison saved a free kick to keep his team in touch.
The guests were not without their own chances but lacked the finishing touch and when Saint scored for Centrals four minutes before the break the home team took a handy 3-1 lead into half time.
Sidelined due to a calf injury from Round 1, Centrals co-coach Brodey Koop was pleased with the effort shown in the first half.
“We built ourselves up for this one especially with the shield on the line,” he said.
“We wanted to come out hot and set the tempo early with it, which I think we achieved.”
As such he was happy with where the team sat at the break but knew the work was not over.
“To Apollo’s credit they came back out after half time and really brought it to us,” Koop said.
“The conditions favoured them a little bit at that end.
“They came at us hard and I thought we defended really well.”
James Davey and Steven Crowther led the backline well in a strong performance from the Centrals defence.
Apollo found an opportunity through a penalty and when Robbie Nagy converted suddenly it was back to a one-goal game.
However, it was another youngster who emerged for the Lions and Richard Kinyabugma put away the final goal of the day to settle the game at 4-2.
Koop was impressed by the output from his team.
He said Saint and Shoemark really controlled the first half, while a strong 90-minute performance from Fleetwood provided Centrals with a backbone for attacking play.
Centrals will now regroup in preparation for another big game when they play International this Sunday.
NARACOORTE 3 d BLUE LAKE 1
Over at Malseed Park, Blue Lake hosted Naracoorte for a tough match between fourth and fifth on the ladder.
Both teams had shown improvement early in the season despite some tough results but on the day it was the visitors who emerged victorious, 3-1.
Scores were locked at one-all heading into half time, with a tight second term expected.
However, it was Naracoorte which claimed the upper hand and two further goals put the guests in the box seat for their first win of the year.
Gay Lay Htoo Ku scored the Rangers’ only goal, while Augustine Halumwane was the main target for Naracoorte with two goals and Hossian Panahi slotted one.
INTERNATIONAL 9 d MILLICENT 2
Another solid win came from International on Sunday as it hosted Millicent for a seven-goal triumph.
Millicent has struggled in the opening rounds but will take merit from scoring two goals against one of the powerhouses of the league.
At half time the score sat at 4-1 – a closer margin than Inter had probably hoped for.
However, another five goals after the break to Millicent’s one put the game to bed.
Matt Bueti has proven consistent with a third hat-trick from as many rounds, while Matt Ferguson replicated that feat on the day with three goals of his own.
Erike Irakoze, Christian Cella and Nick Morony also hit the board, while for Millicent it was Isaac Veron and Keean Ferguson who converted.
Looking ahead to this Sunday, the match of the round will be contested between Inter and Centrals at MGA Park.
Apollo will look to bounce back from its loss when it hosts Blue Lake at Webb Street, while Naracoorte will be favoured to win when it travels to Millicent.
