The fourth round of the 2021 Veolia Limestone Coast Women’s Football League kicked off on a high note with Millicent scoring its maiden win in unforgettable fashion at Vansittart Park on Friday night. After challenging starts to the season, the Saints and Kongorong clashed in search of a long-awaited taste of success and both teams gave it their all.
Nothing separated the pair after both sides kicked one goal and one behind each in the first term before Millicent edged ahead by a solitary point before the main break. Ella Little played a pivotal role in maintaining the Saints’ lead by scoring two majors inside 50, but scoring proved a challenge in the second half as nerves escalated.
The desperate rivals crowded the football searching for any advantage and Millicent found its golden chance kicking a crucial goal against the wind in the third term. The breakthrough major had a huge influence on the final result as the Hawks led by Heidi Cory did not allow the Saints to score in the fourth term and slowly clawed back the deficit.
But in a nail-biting finish, Millicent held on by three points much to the relief of coach Rick Grimes. “The pressure was on for the full four quarters and neither team could build any momentum, so it was a tight arm wrestle,” he said. “The ball transitioned quickly to either end and I thought Kongorong’s defence was very good at times and our back six played beyond their years. “I thought Kelsie Wilkinson and Ella Little were tireless working forward and back.”
Reflecting on the positive implications of putting the club’s first win on the board, Grimes looks forward to what is next after the result gave his young group a huge boost. “What stood out was the way they won because Kongorong never gave up and surged forward at the end of the game,” he said. “We have 10 under age players and five who have never played the game before, but they all did certain things which helped the team collectively. “It was a really good reward for three months of hard work and steady improvement.”
The final game played at Vansittart Park was the complete opposite with the home team no match for Casterton Sandford. Claire Nolte starred with a bag of six goals to lead the Cats to a huge 89-point victory over North Gambier. Emma Lynch and Erin Horsnell also performed for the Victorians, while Chloe Perryman shone for the Tigers.
The women’s football fraternity completed the long journey to Mundulla on Sunday where Penola and Kybybolite recorded strong wins. The Eagles flew high in the opening game by surprising Kalangadoo by 43 points with a performance headlined by a six-goal match from Angela Broad.
An impressive performance inside 50 from Della Hannaford and Dellie Brown pushed Kybybolite to an easy 82-point triumph over the home side. All four games will take place tomorrow night across two different venues -Vansittart Park and Naracoorte.
The match of the round will be between Penola and South Gambier as the pair look to maintain their unbeaten streaks at North Gambier.
