Mitch Bradbury seals men’s A-grade grand final berth for Manypeaks after extra time epic against Spencer Park

An extra-time goal from Mitch Bradbury got Manypeaks into the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association men’s A-grade grand final after an epic first semifinal against Spencer Park on Saturday. The two sides couldn’t be separated after 68 minutes of regular time, sending the match into golden goal extra time, but the deadlock was eventually broken by a superb tomahawk strike from Bradbury. Bradbury worked his way into the circle with less than two minutes left in the first period of extra time and held the ball away from the opponents before spinning around and slotting the winner to send Peaks into the decider for the first time since 2018. The 2-1 win broke a run of three straight losses for Peaks in pursuit of a first premiership since 2016. Bradbury starred in the victory, netting both goals for Peaks, and they had the only eight penalty corners of the game. Park controlled possession for much of the first term despite Peaks having two strong chances to score. Bradbury missed a tomahawk in the first four minutes of the game, and the resulting penalty corner and follow-up shot were saved. Park had a chance inside the final two minutes of the first term to go ahead but failed to convert. Peaks broke the deadlock early in the second term through Bradbury, as he flicked his penalty corner shot into the top left corner inside the first three minutes. Park’s Tim Yap was yellow carded midway through the term for entering the pitch before a player came off but his team got an equaliser through youngster Mitch Dolan when he converted a field goal attempt about seven minutes later. With scores level at 1-1, Peaks did all the attacking early in the third but Park goalie Simon Whitfort produced two great saves in the same passage of play before Peaks missed a golden opportunity when Whitfort came off his line but they failed to conjure a shot on target. Chris Metcalfe and Bradbury then missed chances and Park also had an opportunity to score but the sides went into the final term level. Peaks had two opportunities to score in the last term from penalty corners but both were denied by a desperate Park defence. Bradbury was terrific and sealed the Peaks win with his clutch goal while Damen Guest and Tim Metcalfe also shone. Whitfort was superb in goals with a number of great saves for Park, midfielder Brock Keymer won plenty of possession and Andre Gabriel was vital until he broke his hand in extra time.