August 24, 2015
It was a day of surprises – especially for Panthers’ fans – at the Evolution Solar South Burnett Football semi-finals day played in Nanango on Sunday.
The biggest surprise was Gunners’ defeat of Nanango’s Division 1 team in the Major Semi-Final – the first time the Nanango senior men’s team has been beaten in a local game since their 2013 defeat in the President’s Cup (also by Gunners).
All points were scored in the first half. Gunners’ defence withheld a sustained Panthers’ attack in the second half to earn the first slot in the Grand Final.
Nanango will now play Wests next weekend in the Preliminary Final for the right to fill the second Grand Final spot.
In the Division 1 Minor Semi-Final, Wests had no trouble despatching Barambah, who have been struggling to field two full men’s teams all season.
Eleven Barambah players backed up from the earlier Division 2 game but still managed to hold Wests to 1-all at half-time in a brave performance.
In Division 2, Nanango fans had a more pleasant surprise when their lowly ranked team tested Barambah in the Minor Semi-Final.
At the full-time whistle, the scores were locked at nil-all. Neither side could break through in extra time so the result went to a penalty shoot-out which Nanango won 3-2.
Nanango will now play the loser of the Division 2 Major Semi-Final, Gunners, next weekend.
In the Women’s Division, Christie Sippel slipped in a surprise goal for Barambah within a minute of the kick-off in the Minor Semi-Final.
The limping Gunnettes’ goalie was then replaced by Rahab Murray who was kept busy in the goal mouth for the rest of the day by Barambah shooters.
Gunnettes’ sole goal, by Kiara Wright, came from a surprise distance shot against the run of play in the first half.
At half-time, Barambah led 2-1 after Taylah Berlin slipped a goal into the corner of the net just centimetres above Murray’s outstretched fingers.
The understrength Gunnettes’ side was tested in the second half but held on until Berlin scored her second to take the final score to 3-1.
In the Major Semi-Final, the Panthers’ women kept their unbeaten season intact to go through to the Grand Final.
Wests will get a second chance next weekend against Barambah.
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Results
Division 1
- Major Semi-Final – Gunners 2 – Nanango 1. Gunners are through to the Grand Final.
- Minor Semi-Final – Wests 4 – Barambah 1. Wests will play Nanango next weekend in the Preliminary Final.
Division 2
- Major Semi-Final – Wests 3 – Gunners 1. Wests are through to the Grand Final.
- Minor Semi-Final – At full-time the score was nil-all. Neither Nanango or Barambah could break through in extra time. Nanango won the penalty shootout 3-2. Nanango will play Gunners next weekend in the Preliminary Final.
Women’s Division
- Major Semi-Final – Nanango 2 – Wests 0. Nanango are through to the Grand Final.
- Minor Semi-Final – Barambah 3 – Gunnettes 1. Barambah will play Wests next weekend in the Preliminary Final.
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Next Weekend
The sudden-death Preliminary Finals – to decide second spot in the Grand Final – will be played on Saturday (August 29) at Murgon Sportsground.
- Division 2 – 2:00pm – Nanango v Gunners
- Women’s – 4:00pm – Barambah v Wests
- Division 1 – 6:00pm – Nanango v Wests
