By Lachlan Onions
APOLLO 3 d GAMBIER CENTRALS 2
APOLLO continued its undefeated start to the 2023 Limestone Coast Premier League season with an impressive 3-2 win over Gambier Centrals on Friday night.
In what proved to be the match of the round, the first half was an even battle between two of the big three sides and the deadlock remained unbroken after an hour of play.
However, that all changed in a hectic 11-minute period where five goals were scored.
Apollo’s Gay Nay Say Ler opened the scoring in the 67th minute before Sam Shoemark equalised just just three minutes later.
Then in the 74th minute, Tobbei Kennett put Apollo back in front before parity was restored just two minutes later thanks to Cameron Saint.
However, the chaotic second half continued as it took just two minutes for Apollo to take the lead for a third time thanks to Jack Donehue.
Donehue’s goal proved to be the winner as neither side could find the back of the net in the final stages of the game.
INTERNATIONAL 16 d MILLICENT UNITED 0
International made it three wins from three on Sunday as it claimed a monster 16-goal win on the road.
Matt Bueti opened the scoring in the fourth minute before Thomas Weedon doubles the advantage just two minutes later.
From there it was all one-way traffic as Inter took a hefty eight-goal lead at the break.
Caleb Casey scored the first goal of the second half in the 48th minute which was the first of eight goals in the second stanza.
Matt Bueti rounded out the goals with the 16th for the black and blue in the 87th minute.
He led the way for Inter with a monster six goals for the game, while Casey scored a hat-trick, Christian Cella, Dan Allwright and Sam Bueti all scored twice and Weedon found the back of the net once.
Allwright and Matt Bueti now lead the golden boot race with seven goals each.
BLUE LAKE 7 d NARACOORTE UNITED 4
Blue Lake claimed an incredible come-back win at Malseed Park on Sunday.
The clash had it all with a red card, a yellow card, two penalties and 11 goals.
Naracoorte stormed out to an early 3-0 lead thanks to a brace from Ciaran Shouksmith and a goal from Charles Kelly.
However, the Rangers’ Shar Nay Than gave his side some hope with a goal in the 25th minute.
Kelly then added his second goal shortly after to restore United’s three-goal advantage.
Merreh Htoo then struck on the cusp of half time to reduce the deficit to two goals at the break.
In the 55th minute, Blue Lake scored its third goal of the contest thanks to Lay Bae Htoo, who held his nerve from the penalty spot.
Then just five minutes later, Naracoorte’s Netiphong Khotama was sent off and the visitors had 30 minutes to survive with 10 men.
It did not take long for the Rangers to make use of their extra man as they equalised from a Gay Ni Hsar penalty in the 65th minute.
Naracoorte held on for the next 20 minutes and looked like it was going to hold on for an important hard-fought point away.
However, Saw Nai sent Blue Lake faithful into raptures as he scored in the 87th minute to give the Rangers the lead for the first time.
Shar Nay Than then rounded out his hat-trick with two late goals to seal an incredible 7-4 win for the hosts.
Looking ahead to Round 4, a blockbuster clash is set to take place at Casadio Park on Sunday between Apollo and Inter with both sides heading into this contest undefeated.
Millicent and Blue Lake will face-off in Millicent, while Naracoorte will host Centrals.
