Following the midweek excitement of the KO (Knockout) Cup, Broken Hill Soccer Association (BHSA) switched its focus to league action with St Joes taking on Celtic and West clashing with Alma in the weekend’s fixtures.
In the A-Grade, St Joes produced a near repeat of their convincing KO Cup final victory over Celtic, dispatching Aaron Cunico’s side comfortably 8-0. The victory sees Joeys maintain their grip on top spot, as they move four points clear of Alma.
The other fixture saw a shock result as West’s struggling A-Grade picked up their first win of the season over the Mighty Goats. The shock 1-0 victory has handed Alma’s rival St Joes the advantage as we head down the home stretch of the league season. A penalty from Alan Garry secured the points for the Panthers.
“We knocked the ball around and played how we wanted to play. We had 11 on the pitch, which helps, and for what I had out there, it was a brilliant team performance. I couldn’t pick out one best player,” West coach George Bugeja told the Truth.
MENS A GRADE STANDINGS
| TEAM | MP | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| St Joes | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 46 | 12 | +34 | 19 |
| Alma | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 10 | +12 | 15 |
| Celtic | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 25 | -10 | 12 |
| West | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 43 | -36 | 4 |
Not to be outdone, the Women’s League also threw up a shock, with Alma knocking West from top spot in the table with a 6-3 victory. The result comes at the end of a horrid few weeks for George Bugeja’s Wests girls who had seemed invincible prior to star player Chelise Jones’s injury.
Alma striker Heaven Celotto led the charge by Codey Ralph’s side with two goals and the Goats now find themselves three points clear at the summit of the BHSA Women’s table.
Heaven spoke to the Truth saying the win was a combination of Alma’s surplus of players, and West having a couple of players out.
“There’s a weird energy around the league this season. It is very unpredictable. I think St Joes could be a bit of a wildcard. It is chopping and changing so much.”
In the other fixture, St Joes demolished a new look Celtic side 15-0. Although the result was not what any Celtic fan would have wanted, it was encouraging to see the Celtic women field a side.
St Joes remain outside of the top two for now but are looming large and will look to capitalise on any further slip ups by West.
WOMENS LEAGUE STANDINGS
| TEAM | MP | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| Alma | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 38 | 18 | +20 | 22 |
| West | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 69 | 20 | +49 | 19 |
| St Joes | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 18 | 30 | -12 | 12 |
| Celtic | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 99 | -99 | 0 |
Next week there is no BHSA action, the competition taking a week off during the school holidays.
