James Murphy
MILLICENT 2 d/w BLUE LAKE 2
ROUND 4 of Limestone Coast women’s soccer could not have been much closer.
Of the three senior matches, two ended in a draw, including Saturday’s meeting between Millicent and Blue Lake.
Played at McLaughlin Park, Blue Lake would have entered the clash with confidence, sitting in second position while Millicent was in fourth.
However, what eventuated was a neck-and-neck contest with both teams showing fierce determination on the day.
The Rangers drew first blood when a penalty was awarded at the 15-minute mark and Pip Crewe put it through to take the lead.
It was another 16 minutes before the scoreboard was touched again and this time it was Millicent’s end where the action happened.
A scuffle in the home-team’s forward line resulted in an own goal by Blue Lake’s Adele Wilkinson, which levelled the playing field at one-all.
That concluded the first half and despite best efforts neither team could obtain the advantage before the break.
Blue Lake responded shortly in the second term to take back the lead when Chelsea Frost converted in the 44th minute.
Once again Millicent hit back and eventually found the equaliser through Lana Shepherd in the 58th minute.
That would be the game and as intensity levels raised, the final stages of the game became a stalemate and teams were forced to share the points for the round.
NARACOORTE 2 d/w INTERNATIONAL 2
Another draw occurred at Naracoorte when International visited for Round 4.
Both sides were searching for their first win of the season but were ultimately denied that in the end.
It was a game of two halves and heading into the break Inter would have felt confident in its ability to see out the game.
It held a two-goal lead after both Skye Robertson and Stephanie Gilbert found the back of the net within a 10-minute period late in the first term.
However, Naracoorte hit back in the second half and when Sophie Hole scored at the 55th minute it was back to a one-goal game.
It was not until the 76th minute the equaliser would come, with Ashlae Pilven putting the finishing touches on Naracoorte’s second goal to tie the game at two apiece.
The final whistle followed shortly after and the two teams secured a point each.
The result was Inter’s second draw in as many weeks, with it holding onto fifth position as a result, while Naracoorte still resides in sixth place.
APOLLO 2 d GAMBIER CENTRALS 0
The only winner of the weekend’s senior competition of Limestone Coast women’s soccer came from Webb Street when Apollo hosted Gambier Centrals.
The ladder leaders remain undefeated after four rounds and did all of their scoring in the opening half on Saturday.
It was not long before the first goal was put through, with Isobelle Fewster scoring at the three-minute mark to put Apollo on the board.
From there the game settled somewhat, but the hosts found their mark again in the 28th minute when Demi Ingley found the back of the net.
That gave Apollo a 2-0 lead heading into half time and that would be how the scoreline remained.
Centrals upped its defensive efforts in the second half and managed to deter any further scoreboard pressure, but the Lions were unable to find a way through Apollo’s backline themselves.
The two-goal win moves Apollo further ahead of the pack and it now holds a vauable goal difference of 18, while being five points clear of second-placed Blue Lake – who have a goal difference of three.
This week will feature a top-of-the-table clash between Blue Lake and Apollo at Malseed Park on Saturday, while Centrals hosted Inter at MGA Park, also on Saturday.
Sunday’s match up will have Millicent host Naracoorte at McLaughlin Park.
