TIGERS TOO SLICK FOR SOUTHSIDE
HOLLYWOOD producers could have a field day with the Edge Hill story.
The FNQ Football premier men’s team went from not winning a game last year to lifting the grand final trophy on Saturday night after victory in a thrilling penalty shootout.
The Tigers trailed three times against Southside in the decider yet somehow kept finding a way back.
Edge Hill’s ability to win it was as much the talking point as the Southside’s ability to lose it.
When Edge Hill’s Toshio Surha was shown a red card in the 53rd minute, that should have been the ball game.
Southside, with a 1-0 lead and an extra man on the pitch, were odds-on to win.
But the Tigers wouldn’t lie down. They battled for every possession and managed to find a way back in when cocaptain Pat L’Orange scrambled a 77th minute equaliser.
From a comfortable position, Southside not only lost the lead, but then lost its player advantage when Brayden Phelps was sent off with a second yellow card.
Both sides, battling cramp, managed to push through until the full-time whistle.
Amazingly, three goals were scored in the first half of extra time.
Southside scored first through skipper Dylan Soares, but MVP Alex Moulsdale fired back almost immediately.
Kirito Higuchi slotted home his second to have the Comets leading with 15 minutes to play.
The Tigers had half a dozen players battling cramp but some Scott White magic managed to level the scores again.
Southside coach Dion Readman would later rue his side’s inability to handle Edge Hill’s set plays, with the Tigers scoring all their goals from throw-ins or corners.
By the end of extra time, both sides were out on their feet. Neither had the energy to run more than 10 metres and the ball was simply being kicked from end to end.
But when the whistle signalled the end of time and the start of the penalty shootout, the moods changed.
Edge Hill’s players looked keen for the challenge, confident of a good showing, while the Comets had their heads bowed.
The body language proved correct. Tigers goalkeeper Kev Ward instructed his side to defend the first penalty if they won the coin toss and the results demonstrated why.
Ward was strong on the line, while Southside’s Andrei Rachita looked hesitant at the spot. His kick lacked force and Ward judged it correctly to make the save.
Ryan Murray made no mistake with his attempt for Edge Hill and when Ward saved the second penalty, it was game over. That was confirmed when Matthew Harwood sent the Comets’ third shot flying over the crossbar.
Edge Hill coach Paul Fitzgerald was the proudest man at Endeavour Park on Saturday.
“They are the most honest, committed bunch of blokes I’ve coached,” he said.
“That’s what this team is. When we didn’t win a game last year we needed to change our mentality.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this performance.”
Fitzgerald said Edge Hill had copped some criticism about his side’s style, but said it was inevitable.
“When you don’t win a game you need to become competitive and that’s what we’ve done. We were hard to beat this year,” he said.
“Next year it will be about playing better football.”
THEY ARE THE MOST HONEST, COMMITTED BUNCH OF BLOKES I’VE COACHED. I COULDN’T BE PROUDER OF THIS PERFORMANCE. EDGE HILL’S PAUL FITZGERALD