Darren Parkes guides reigning premiers Spencer Park into grand final after late goal against North Albany

A composed Spencer Park team will get one last crack at Manypeaks this season, winning through to the grand final after overcoming a persistent North Albany 1-0 in the men’s A-grade preliminary final on Saturday. Park finished on top of the ladder and went down to Peaks in their semifinal, however, a late Darren Parkes goal ensured his side get a shot at redemption in the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association grand final. Parkes played his first game back from a broken hand and was the hero to keep his side’s hopes for back-to-back premierships alive. Neither team was able to break the deadlock heading into the last five minutes of the game and extra time loomed as a possibility. However, Park were awarded a penalty corner and the ball hit a foot on the goal line and as a result they were awarded a penalty stroke. Parkes calmly put the ball past Redbacks goalkeeper Phil Stan-Bishop to seal the 1-0 victory and send his side into the decider. Redbacks tried to find an equaliser in the dying minutes but Park defended desperately to hold on to their lead. Youngsters Charlie Hudson and Will Mutton were impressive in the win up front. Simon Whitford was solid in goals and Parkes was also a vital contributor across the four quarters. Park had an opportunity to go ahead inside the first five minutes of the game after earning a penalty flick. Phil Stan-Bishop denied the stroke from Tim Yap, however, but Park had more chances in the first term. Youngster Mitch Dolan’s tomahawk shot was blocked and they had two more opportunities from penalty corners but they were both denied by a resilient Redbacks defence. Redbacks had the best chance to go ahead in the second term but Jack Carlson’s shot was off target. Dan Smith was yellow carded in the third stanza for Redbacks and Phil Stan-Bishop came sliding out in the final 10 seconds to stop yet another Park attempt. Brock Keymer’s shot went over the top of the goal in the fourth and his teammate Liam Wesson was carded soon after but Parkes’ goal would ultimately be the difference. Travis Douglas, Pieter Coetzee and Robert Stan-Bishop were solid contributors for Redbacks. Phil Stan-Bishop tried his heart out in goals with a number of superb saves.