Red Devils win shootout and the cup
WANGARATTA has broken a 20-year drought by claiming its first league cup since 1995 with victory over arch rival Myrtleford on Sunday.
In front of a bumper crowd at Jelbart Park, the Red Devils prevailed 4-1 on penalties after scores were deadlocked after full time and extra time.
Wangaratta, which last played in the cup 15 years ago, continued Myrtleford’s cup misery.
The Savoys have never won a cup in the AWFA and have now lost four cup finals from four attempts since 2006.
The match ended in somewhat controversial circumstances.
Wangaratta led the penalty shootout 2-1 when Tom Frawley stepped up.
Frawley didn’t score his penalty, but the referee gave him another shot, judging Myrtleford keeper Jayden Vescio had moved off his line.
Frawley made no mistake with his second attempt to make it 3-1.
Myrtleford’s Lewis Holloway then failed to convert his penalty, with the league’s Star Player, Adam Burchell, fittingly scoring the last penalty of the game to give Wangaratta the win.
“I saw that Jayden moved the penalty before that, except Stoycho’s went in so they had to play on,” Wangaratta coach Mario Antonello said.
“It’s a bit unlucky, isn’t it, really.
“It’s a terrible way to lose it, but an awesome way to win it.”
Myrtleford youngster Vitaly Leschen was awarded the man of the match, which lived up to expectations.
Myrtleford took the lead in the fourth minute when Nathan Mirt won a clever header in the six yard box to beat Wangaratta keeper Jon Shaw.
The Savoys had all the early running, with Mirt, Holloway, Nick Murphy and Leschen dominating.
Wangaratta suffered another blow when Raff Molinaro went down with another serious knee injury on 42 minutes and had to be stretchered off.
The Red Devils then moved Shaw up front, with Hamish Busk moving into goals.
Down 1-0 at halftime, Shaw almost made it 1-1 early in the second half before Wangaratta was awarded a penalty for a hand ball.
Burchell made no mistake on 65 minutes to level the scores at 1-1.
Wangaratta completely dominated the second half, with Burchell causing havoc on a wing and assistant coach Ivo Madeira controlling the centre of the park.
Veteran Mark Waddington had two golden chances to put Wangaratta in front, the best one a free header at the back post.
Normal time ended 1-1 and there were no goals in extra time, so penalties were needed to decide the match.
Wangaratta then shifted Shaw back to goals for the shootout.
Myrtleford’s Dan Kelly and Lewis Holloway failed to convert their penalties, with Burchell sealing the shootout win 4-1 for Wangaratta.
“Until we scored that last penalty I really did not think we were going to win,” Shaw said.
“Traditionally we just don’t beat Myrtleford.”