The maiden Limestone Coast Football Association Steeline Senior Women’s home-and-away season enjoyed a show-stopping finish on the weekend.

Ladder positions one, two, four and five were still undecided seconds before the final whistle and only three of those sides could stay alive.

The biggest shock occurred at Malseed Park where International performed an incredible heist of the minor premiership from under Blue Lake United’s noses.

The ladder lead had been in the Rangers’ possession since round 1 and few expected it to leave Malseed Park, but Inter had other ideas.

International ran out with fierce determination to prove a point to the pace setters of the competition and did just that.

Having already put the confident home side on the back foot after the Tess Andrews’ led midfield gained control of possession, livewire Ella Doody sent the black and blue contingent into raptures by kicking the opening goal.

Despite Doody being the only player to find the back of the net in the first half, she broke through again once play resumed, while Satu Aumo put the result beyond doubt with a great goal of her own.

The 3-0 result vaulted Inter to the top of the ladder due to the team’s superior goal difference to Blue Lake United and victorious coach Ricky McRobert said the minor premiership was a historic moment for the club.

“It is very hard to put into words what this means,” he said.

“Across the whole 17 years tracing back from when the team was called Inter CFC and County, a seniors premiership had never been won.

“Although it is called the minor premiership, this is the one in our minds where you work all year long to earn those points, maintain goal percentage and prove you are one of the best teams going around.

“There were so many positives for us and it proved to the girls we are a good team and capable of matching and beating United.”

McRobert said the pursuit of snatching the minor premiership has been something his determined team has eyed for a long period of time after sensing an opportunity.

“Around three weeks ago we were still seven to eight goals behind them, so since then we have been trying to catch the goal difference up and the girls have worked their backside off,” he said.

“So we knew if we could win, we would take the minor premiership.”

But when gameday arrived, McRobert said the entire team lifted to score the big win.

“My whole defensive line was amazing because we had a huge out recently,” he said.

“Our number-one centreback Elly Bachmann could not play which was a bit of a worry, but Satomi (Unayama) and Lucia (Musci) played great roles cutting almost every single pass from their strikers.

“We knew stopping their key striker was just one of the key aspects to the game and Tess and Ella shook things up in the midfield.

“April Hockey and Satu were also very important after we lost two defenders in the first half.

“When those unfortunate injuries happened I was a little bit stressed, but April who is normally a striker without hesitation retreated to the defence to cover those positions, so all the girls were amazing.”

The other spot up for grabs was the fourth and final place in the semi-finals which was contested between Apollo and Millicent at Webb Street.

With both sides placed in a life or death scenario, it was on for young and old once the opening whistle blew.

Just like much of the season, nothing separated the rivals across the first half.

Letitia Izzo put the visiting Millicent side on the board early, but Daylia Daylia showed why Apollo was not going to go down without and fight by scoring herself.

With the scoreboard locked at 1-1 and a finals berth there for the taking, it was all to play for in a thrilling second half.

Notable names from both sides such as Emma Lang and Zoe Brooksby led the charge.

However, Izzo became the hero when she found another clean passage through Apollo’s defence and into the back of the net to send Millicent into an unlikely semi-final spot.

The other finalist avoiding the limelight Gambier Centrals was in cruise mode against Naracoorte.

Goals to Emma O’Callaghan and Danika Picken either side of the break ensured the Lions are roaring towards crunch time in winning form.

Naracoorte finished its maiden LCFA women’s season with a goalless, but lion-hearted effort.