LGSHA 2025: Spencer Park grab extra-time win over Manypeaks to secure spot in men’s A-grade grand final

Spencer Park progressed to the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association’s Retravision men’s A-grade grand final thanks to a 2-1 extra-time victory over Manypeaks in Albany on Saturday. Two goals from Mitch Pike, one swept in during the second quarter and the second beating Manypeaks goalkeeper Jon Blechynden for the winner, saw them through. They now await the victor of Saturday’s preliminary final between Peaks — who live to fight again after finishing second on the ladder — and North Albany, who face off at the Albany hockey stadium at 4pm. Spencer Park defender Darren Parkes said both teams had chances to win the semifinal, but his side got the edge in extra time. “It was a tough, physical game and domination seemed to swing quarter by quarter,” he said. “I think we were in control in the first, they turned it on in the third, but we just had a bit more hunger and grunt to get it over the line in the end.” Park certainly had the better of a scrappy first quarter but could not make the most of two penalty corners. Their opening goal came from an intercepted hit-out which was then crossed for Pike to convert as he slid in. They could have had a second, even while being down to 10 men after a green card, but Finlay Robertson fired wide. Peaks pressed after half-time and Park goalkeeper Antony Payne was called into action to clear from Oliver Douglas. However, they lost some momentum when a rolling tackle on Darren Parkes resulted in a card for Mitch Bradbury, which was green but could easily have been yellow. Parkes, who had landed on the turf with a thump, eventually jogged off but sat out the rest of the quarter. In the meantime, Peaks should have done better with a Hayden Mills shot which went wide and two penalty corners which Bradbury was unable to convert. The Manypeaks equaliser came with eight minutes to go and was an unstoppable reverse-stick thunderbolt from Mills. They seemed to have the impetus as the game went to extra time, but as the momentum shifted it was Pike who had the last word, leaving Park with the spoils and Peaks having to do it all again this week. Peaks and Redbacks have met five times already in this campaign, with Redbacks notching three wins and Peaks two.