James Murphy
GAMBIER CENTRALS 6 d INTERNATIONAL 3
IN a back-and-forth match, Gambier Centrals booked themselves the first spot in the Limestone Coast Football Association senior grand final with a 6-3 win over International.
The Lions were quick out of the gates in the qualifying final and put two goals on the board through Sam Shoemark and Cameron Saint before Inter could respond.
They carried a 2-1 lead into the break after a dominant first half, with Inter’s Sam Bueti scoring late to keep it a one-goal game.
However, the momentum traded hands early in the second term and when Matt Bueti hit the board with a converted penalty, the playing field was suddenly level.
Sam Bueti turned it on to score his second for the day shortly after from long range and Inter was in front.
Centrals appeared to be on the back foot but a resurgence from the Lions changed the tides again.
The result was four unanswered goals for the boys in orange, putting Inter to bed on their home deck.
Shoemark finished his day with three goals, while Lewis March converted one in a standout performance, while an own goal brought the total to six.
Centrals co-coach Brodey Koop was elated to book the first place in the grand final after a solid performance against a tough opponent.
“I thought we probably had the edge of things in the first half – we were really happy with our first half,” he said.
“We went in 2-1 up, but we have played them that many times and we knew that was not going to be enough.
“The great team they are, they were always going to come back and challenge us, which they did for that first part of the second half.”
Koop was pleased with the response from his team and the strength to pull things back to their favour.
“We were very clinical in the end and when we had chances, we put them away to take it out quite comfortably in the end,” he said.
With a strong performance across the ground, there was one player who rose above on the occasion.
“Hands down the best player on the ground was Lewis March,” Koop said.
“He had an absolute field day out on the wing.
“He scored one himself but I think he had a hand in setting up all the rest as well.
“He looked dangerous all day and it is good to have him back to full fitness.”
Centrals will now enjoy a week off, while Inter faces a must-win battle with Apollo in the preliminary final.
The sides have had some tough battles this season and another thriller can be expected.
