Spencer Park win second LGSHA men’s A-grade premiership in three years in thrilling 2-1 win over Manypeaks

A last-gasp goal from Brock Keymer has helped Spencer Park secure grand final glory, beating Manypeaks in a terrific Lower Great Southern Hockey Association men’s A-grade grand final on Saturday. Scores were level at three-quarter time but Park exacted grand final revenge on their opponents, who beat them in last year’s decider, when Keymer produced a stunning strike in the final three minutes of the contest. The goal handed Park a 2-1 triumph in the rip-roaring affair, claiming their second A-grade premiership in three years. Park player-coach Darren Parkes said he was proud of his side’s resilience in the thrilling result. “We had some injuries, so our whole team had to change structure,” Parkes said. “We were missing key players Andre (Gabriel), Yappa (Tim Yap) and JL (James Leiper) so we just had to restructure. “The boys did really well to play in positions that they haven’t all year, they’ve done really well. “It’s definitely been a long year with the country champs and everything, so to come away with a win in the grandy, it just makes it all sweet.” Both sides wrestled for control in the early stages and Park couldn’t convert from an early penalty corner attempt. The first real chance fell to Park’s Mitchell Dolan after a terrific run had him through to the goal-circle but Peaks goalkeeper Andrew Lister denied him. Peaks’ Andre Van Rooyen and Hayden Mills also had opportunities sail wide in the late stages of the quarter and scores were locked at nil-all at the end of the first period. In the opening minutes of the second term, Peaks’ Taylor Pocock emerged with a clever close-range finish, firing home a well-deserved goal to give Peaks the advantage. At the other end, William Mutton found himself clear for Park but another stunning save from Lister denied an equaliser before defender James Mosby got in the way of two of Mutton’s rebound shot attempts. With momentum firmly in their favour, Park earned two penalty corners in the space of five minutes. In the final minutes of the half, Darren Parkes trapped the ball from a penalty corner and laid it off into the path of Brodie Sarre who thundered home the ball to level scores. Both sides were afforded limited opportunities in front of goal in the third period, Parkes having the only real chance from a penalty corner. Superb tackling was on display in the fourth period, with possession changing hands several times in a frenetic first five minutes. Parks’ Sarre looked to be through on goal after a stunning run but was tackled at the last moment and Alex Fergie narrowly missed a shot on goal minutes later. With three minutes left to play in the match, Benjamin Ross flicked a ball across goal to find the valuable stick of Keymer who gave Park the lead, slamming home the winner at the back-post to spark jubilant scenes. Peaks substituted goal keeper Lister in the final moments of the contest in an effort to field an extra outfield player and steal a leveller but Park held on for a gritty 2-1 triumph. Sarre was named best on ground for a terrific game in midfield and he was well-supported by Parkes and Charlie Hudson in defence and Keymer up forward. Mitch Bradbury and Pocock toiled hard for Peaks while Hayden Mills and Van Rooyen also provided strong support. Peaks coach Ashton Mills was pleased with his side’s performance in the nail-biting loss. “I was very happy, the boys gave it their all,” he said. “They were absolutely spent and it could have gone either way, someone has to be a winner and unfortunately this year it wasn’t us. “We had a bit of an up-and-down season as did everyone with COVID and we had a few injuries. But we got in the big dance, which was the main thing but unfortunately it didn’t go our way.”