Broadmeadow Magic 2-2 Edgeworth FC (Broadmeadow won 4-3 on penalties)
Broadmeadow Magic coach Jim Cresnar credited his substitutes for getting them over the line to be crowned champions over Edgeworth FC in a thrilling afternoon at Magic Park on Saturday.
Magic secured the premiership-championship double after the grand final against Edgeworth went down to the wire and had to be decided on penalties.
The premiers fired out of the blocks and asserted their early dominance in the first five minutes.
Magic’s Riley Smith threatened down the right-hand side and Wells caused havoc in the middle of the park but Edgeworth did enough to hold them out.
The Eagles struggled to get out of their own half but started to get into the game after the 30-minute mark.
Keanu Moore had a shot after finding space inside the penalty area in the 34th minute for the Edgeworth but Magic goalkeeper Lewis Alvarez was able to see the strike in time and make a strong save.
The sides went into half-time scoreless with all on the line in the second 45 minutes.
Magic endured a disastrous start to the second half when Alexander Rose was sent off after being shown a second yellow card in the 48th minute after he missed the ball and struck goalkeeper Ben Conway in the chest with his boot.
It did not take long for Edgeworth to make the most of their extra-man advantage, after a super strike from right back Aaron Oppedisano in the 56th minute.
Oppedisano received the ball out wide and unmarked before he smashed the ball from long range into the bottom corner of the net.
But the Eagles’ high was short-lived after they were also reduced to 10 men in the 58th minute when Xander Woweries was shown his second yellow card for a handball that stopped a promising Magic attack.
Ryan Feutz had the chance to double Edgeworth’s lead with a spectacular bicycle kick inside the penalty area but there was not enough on the shot and it fell straight into the gloves of Alvarez.
Edgeworth appeared to be creeping towards the title until Magic snatched an equaliser five minutes from full-time after a mistake from Conway.
The Edgeworth goalkeeper rose highest to collect a high ball but was unable to catch it. The ball spilled to the feet of Wells who stuck the ball into the back of the net.
The two teams showed desperation to edge ahead but neither side could be separated at full-time and the match headed into extra time.
The Eagles did not wait long to regain the lead after another powerful goal three minutes after the restart.
Seth Clark carried the ball up the pitch before he sliced a perfectly placed pass through to Riley van Haren.
The substitute struck the ball with power and it curled past the outstretched reach of Alvarez into the goal.
In a shock move, Magic coach Jim Cresnar substituted Broadmeadow’s star midfielder Wells as well as Jarrod Baker for Josh Benson and Tom Parkes.
But the changes sparked life back into Magic as they struck back again in the 105th minute through James Cresnar after he received a ball across the face of the goal and tapped it into the back of the net.
Broadmeadow thought they had sealed the win in the 112th minute when Parkes smashed the ball on target. But Conway pulled off a top-class save to tip the ball over the crossbar.
The score remained locked up at 2-2 at full-time of extra time which sent the game to a penalty shootout.
Edgeworth captain Andrew Pawiak stepped up first and converted from the spot before Magic’s Jayden Stewardson netted his strike.
Alvarez saved Sam Jones’s shot to give Magic the advantage and Josh Benson buried his attempt.
Mason King netted his strike for the Eagles before Conway got a touch on Sam Kamper’s shot but the ball bounced into the goal.
Edgeworth’s Chris Fayers hit the back of the net but Magic lost their advantage when Conway saved Nicholas Kacev’s attempt.
The competition’s leading goal scorer Fuetz’s strike went straight into the hands of Alvarez before Tom Beecham converted the winning penalty for Magic.
Beecham was awarded the D.G.Williams Medal for the player of the match.
Broadmeadow coach Cresnar said that he believed his substitutions made a big impact on the outcome of the game.
“I think just due to the dynamics of the team, we needed to make some changes later in the game,” Cresnar said.
“We needed to freshen up and to be fair to the substitutes they made a difference.
“I think they got us over the line. The ability to come back from 2-1 down, to have fresh legs like we had that wanted to go out there and win helped us.”
The Broadmeadow coach said that the victory meant a lot to the playing group and everyone at the club.
“I am emotional, very proud,” Cresnar said.
“The level of resilience and tenacity shown as well as the team culture was outstanding.
“We were able to get ourselves back into the game with the hard work and effort we showed.
“It is a huge thing for the club to win. To have first grade and reserve grade win is massive and shows the quality coming through our ranks. It gives us a great base to work off.
“I could not be more proud.”
Edgeworth coach Pete McGuinness was heartbroken to go down the way they did but was proud of his team’s efforts.
“Congratulations to Broadmeadow Magic. I think that they have had a fantastic season,” McGuinness said.
“I am super proud of this group. From where we were [without a win] after five weeks to where we have finished up is credit to the hard work.
“I am very pleased for the boys that they got to be here on the big day.
“We fell a bit short and maybe could have closed things out a little bit better at times but I mean it was an end-to-end game.
“I am very happy with the performance but disappointed for them. I wanted them to get something out of it.
“It could have gone either way.
“Edgeworth is back in the finals and that’s where we intend to stay.”
It was double delight for Broadmeadow after Magic had earlier taken out the reserve grade grand final, defeating premiers Newcastle Olympic 2-1.