By Lachlan Onions
APOLLO 1 d INTERNATIONAL 0
INTERNATIONAL’S perfect start to the 2023 Limestone Coast Women’s Premier League season came to an end on Sunday as Apollo claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win at Casadio Park.
The clash was between two sides expected to be competitive at the pointy end of the season and after 40 minutes, there was nothing to separate them.
Both sides were rock-solid at the back and the deadlock remained unbroken until there was just 10 minutes left to play.
In the 70th minute, Inter’s Amy Nitsche unfortunately put the ball into her own net to give Apollo the lead.
From there, the girls in white and blue held on to claim a massive three points.
NARACOORTE UNITED 2 d/w GAMBIER CENTRALS 2
Naracoorte claimed a momentous draw at home against Centrals on the weekend.
After suffering defeat in every single game last season and the first three matches of this season, the odds were against Naracoorte when it hosted Centrals on Sunday.
Rose Irakoze opened the scoring for the Lions in the sixth minute of the game in what was the only goal of the first half.
However, seven minutes after the break, United’s Masoma Panahi levelled terms after she found the back of the net.
Naracoorte was then in dream land as it went up 2-1 thanks to a goal from Sile Legoe in the 63rd minute.
United was just 15 minutes away from a historic victory before Janaye Donaldson scored for Centrals to make it 2-2 in the 66th minute.
From there, neither side was able to find the back of the net in the closing stages but Naracoorte could still earned its first point in two years after a hard-fought display.
MILLICENT UNITED 5 d BLUE LAKE 1
A shock upset took place at McLaughlin Park on Saturday as Millicent claimed an resounding win over the reigning premiers.
The Rangers’ star attacker Jasmine White broke the deadlock in the 28th minute but United remained unfazed.
Leonie McCallum levelled scores in the 36th minute before Lana Shepherd continued her impressive form and struck two minutes later to give the hosts a 2-1 at the break.
Shepherd was front and centre again as she scored her second goal of the game in the 50th minute to give Millicent some breathing space and an upset was well and truly on the cards.
United then scored a fourth goal through Kelsie Wilkinson in the 64th minute and it was going to take a miracle for Blue Lake to recover.
With the visitors left shell-shocked, Shepherd completed her hat-trick three minutes later to put the game well beyond doubt and sealed the three points for Millicent.
The win moves Millicent up to third on the ladder with only goal difference separating the top three sides.
Looking ahead to this weekend, Inter will look to bounce back when it plays Naracoorte, while Blue Lake will be determined to return to form when it faces the Lions.
The match of the round will be between Millicent and Apollo on Saturday at McLaughlin Park where second and third place on the ladder will face-off.
