The Barry Maney Premier League kicked off on the weekend with lots of exciting matches played in both the men’s and women’s competitions.
MEN
Apollo v International
Apollo and International kicked off their 2024 season in a high intensity game with Inter coming out on top in a classic rivals game at Apollo Football Club.
The match began as expected with the two bitter rivals going at it from kick off.
Early bookings were made with Apollo’s Caine Ellis getting a yellow card in the 10th minute.
Soon after tempers boiled over as Apollo’s Christopher Bytheway was booked with a red card in the 15th minute.
After the early game antics Apollo drew first blood with Caine Ellis scoring the first goal for the blue and white.
Inter stayed composed and responded with a Matthew Bueti penalty that tied the game in the 23rd minute.
The tied scores did not last long as Bueti again found the back of the net three minutes later.
In the 35th minute another card was flagged, with Apollo’s Sharn Robinson picking up a yellow, following shortly after by Bueti being shown a yellow.
In the 45th minute Apollo made a double substitution, taking off Sharn Robinson and Say Say Wah for Paul Jaroenram and Jean Francois Kwibuka Kakule.
The first half finished with Inter holding a one goal lead.
Inter started strong in the second half with Cedar Sopha using his fast feet to score a goal only one minute into the half.
After Inter’s goal they made a substitution in the 51st minute with Samuel Bueti coming off for Federico Viezzer, before the black and blue made another substitution with Cedar Sopha came off for Seth Michielan 15 minutes later.
From there the game went back and forth with Apollo making another sub with Jakob Hann coming on for Caine Ellis.
Right after Apollos’ change Inter made another one with Andrea Menotti coming on for Federico Viezzer in the 76th minute.
After Inter’s sub Bueti added to their lead with another goal in the 79th minute, prompting Apollo to bring on Jock Prentice for youngster Rafael Rigopoulis.
Inter closed out the game on a high with Bueti scoring another penalty in the 85th minute before Dan Allwright found the back of the net for another goal in the 90th minute.
Matthew Bueti continued his goal scoring form of recent years, claiming four in Inter’s 6-1 win.
Blue Lake v Naracoorte
Blue Lake came away with a high scoring thrilling win over Naracoorte United at Malseed Park on Sunday.
Naracoorte got off to a great start with Mojtaba Hussanini opening the game with a goal for United in the 21st minute.
Blue Lake responded well, scoring three unanswered goals all coming from Shar Nay Than who levelled the game in the 27th minute before sending his side ahead in the 30th minute and then adding to the lead with a penalty in the 33th minute.
Right before half time Naracoorte bounced back with a goal from Kevin Marshall in the 44th minute.
In the second half the visitors made a substitution, taking off Lauren Mather for Ali Akbar Qalandari in the 52nd minute, before Hossian Panahi was booked with a yellow card.
In the 73rd minute Blue Lake subbed Jack Latham for Eh Hsa Htoo before Kevin Marshall levelled the game with a goal to bring it to 3-3 just two minutes later.
Another two minutes later Marshall was handed a yellow card, as was Blue Lake’s Richard Kinyabugma.
Blue Lake was awarded a penalty in the 82nd minute, as Than stepped up and slotted it to take the lead, with his side rallying to hold off Naracoorte and take the three points.
Blue Lakes Shar Nay Than had a big game, scoring all of his side’s four goals.
Blue Lake defeated Naracoorte United 4-3.
WOMEN
Apollo v International
Apollo kicked off its 2024 season on a high with a big win over Inter at Apollo Football Club.
Apollo scored the first goal in the fifth minute with a goal from Alix Lesurce, who then found the back of the net again in the 10th minute to give her team a two goal lead.
Apollo continued to add to their lead with another goal in the 20th minute from Deni Atkin.
With the score 3-0 Apollo kept the intensity going, adding another goal in the 26th minute from Daylia Daylia to hold a 4-0 lead at half time.
The scoring slowed down in the second half with Apollo’s Demi Ingley netting the first second half goal in the 53rd minute.
From there Inter worked to reign in Apollo, slowing the scoring until the 73rd minute when Deni Atkins struck again to add to the goal total and give her side a 6-0 win.
Apollo’s Alix Lescure and Deni Atkins both contributed two goals in the win.
Gambier Centrals b Millicent
Millicent United picked up its first win of the season over Gambier Centrals at MGA Park on Saturday.
Millicent’s Lana Shepherd kicked off the goal scoring in the 25th minute, and soon after Eliza Dower put the ball in the back of the net for another United goal in the 30th minute.
Shepherd scored another goal for United in the 34th minute to bring the lead to three goals at half time.
In the second half Millicent fell apart in the opening minutes of play thanks to an own goal from Meredie Widdison to give Centrals their first score.
Shepherd continued her great play and in the 60th minute scored again to complete her hat trick and cap off a great game. Millicent United defeated Gambier Centrals 4-1.
