Left: Alex Van Heerwaarden leads the Langwarrin celebrations as the Southern Stars, believing their promotion hopes are dashed, collapse to the floor.
By Gavin Staindl
THE Southern Stars have pulled off a soccer miracle by securing promotion with their last kick of the season.
Chris Greechan made the most of a goalkeeping mistake to slot home the 95th-minute winner against Langwarrin – and steal a place in next year’s Victorian Premier League.
Only a win could have guaranteed the Stars a promotion and after holding a 3-2 lead for most of the match, their hopes of back-to-back promotions appeared dashed when it gave up a goal in the 92nd minute.
Needing to secure at least a draw to avoid relegation, the Langwarrin crowd at Lawton Park Reserve went into a frenzy when Alex Van Heerwaarden scored the equaliser with only minutes remaining.
But a dropped catch by Langwarrin keeper Michael Sivulja in the 95th minute found its way to Greechan, who stunned the locals by calmly slotting the winner with the final kick of the game.
“I’ve been involved in the game for nearly 30 years in Australia and never have I experienced anything like that,” jubilant Stars coach Dean Hennessy said. No one could believe what they saw. If you had written a script like this, it would have been scrapped because no one would have believed it.”
Heading into the match, the Stars not only needed a win but relied on either Port Melbourne or Whittlesea Zebras losing their rubbers.
But before the Stars could worry about outside results, they had to deal with issues of their own as Langwarrin jumped to a 2-1 lead.
However, goals to Joe Di Iorio and Mark Leech returned the ascendency to the visitors.
Hennessey kept his players updated on the results of the outside games during their game – and as it headed to a close, an increased sense of optimism surrounded the Stars camp. That was until Langwarrin struck.
“Up until that moment (when Langwarrin scored), we were playing in the VPL,” Hennessey said.
“I couldn’t believe it. I pulled my tracksuit jacket over my head for what seemed an eternity and when I pulled it back down, I saw tears in the eyes of the bench and players on the floor.
“We had worked so hard to get here, I thought it was over. But it’s a credit it to them that they got back in it and after a mix-up, Greechen just happened to be at the right place at the right time. It is unbelieveable really.”
The Southern Stars become the fourth team Hennessey has coached to a Division One promotion. If he re-signs with the club, which appears a mere formality, it will be Hennessey’s fifth time as a VPL coach.
MEANWHILE, Dandenong City is gearing itself up for promotion play-offs after topping the South-East Division Two competition.
Dandenong City wrapped up the season with a 2-1 over South Springvale at Warner Reserve and will be hot favourite to be promoted into Division One when it contests the Division Two play-offs next week.
Heatherton bowed out of Division Two with a 2-1 win over Noble Park at Warner Reserve.
