Wilson the Lions’ hero
LEICHHARDT goalkeeper Joshua Wilson went from villain to hero in the most incredible 15-minute period in recent FNQ Premier League history.
The shot-stopper was in good nick throughout the topof-the-table clash with Edge Hill United on Saturday, but nobody could have predicted him to be the man to score a decisive goal, deep into added time, in a 2-2 draw.
With minutes left on the clock, Edge Hill United found a go-ahead goal after a mad scramble in the box, and while Wilson appealed he had been taken out of the play, the referee awarded the goal.
Wilson blew up deluxe, and was promptly sent to the sin bin for dissent, the referees not appreciating some of the colourful language.
Leichhardt had already spent the previous 30 minutes one man short after Josh Mulla was shown his second yellow card for a nasty challenge which left young Tigers midfielder Ben McDonnell with a broken leg, which has likely ended his season.
Lions coach Karl Bennett used his last change to send Michael Hood on as a goalkeeper, though Wilson could return with three minutes left.
“He went on to be on their last man and just to compete,” Bennett said. “We’d been playing with 10, and then nine for the past 10 minutes. We needed someone for our guys to pump a long ball up to and try to get a hold of it. It was just to give us a focal point – and to
make up for his indiscretion.”
It was about as far as Wilson could get from his normal role – he rarely takes shots at training, let alone in a game.
“As a goalkeeper, he’s got to kick the ball quite well and use
a good technique to get good purchase on it and get the ball up over halfway,” Bennett said.
“But, no, I couldn’t say I was expecting a goal. I didn’t have a lot of choices left.”
It proved to be a coaching master stroke from Bennett.
Nazario Lim held it in the midfield, then fired a long ball behind the Edge Hill United defence. Wilson pounced and, with one touch, beat Tigers keeper Kev Ward for the equaliser with just seconds left.
Wilson celebrated accordingly, heading straight to his now-relieved coach and the enthusiastic bench.
It finished at 2-2, but it felt like a Leichhardt victory; the way they controlled the tempo for most of the contest, had the better of the chances, stifled Edge Hill United’s attacking opportunities – and the reaction after the full-time whistle.
“We had 10 men, went down to nine. For them to keep putting in, keep getting back and keep getting in the way and defending so well, I was really glad for them, and glad for Josh,” Bennett said.
A sticking point for Bennett was the card count – his players were shown six, and he got one himself, compared to Edge Hill United’s one. The coach had a lengthy meeting with the referees after full-time.
Edge Hill United coach Crios O’Hare, who was credited with two goals, was not happy with his team’s performance, though any feeling about the game was overshadowed by concern for McDonnell.
“We were off the pace in the first half,” O’Hare said.
“We responded well after halftime, but to concede late like that is disappointing.
“We were complacent from the start. They started better, and seemed to win every tackle, challenge, every 50-50.”