On any other night, the Metro 3 Grand Final could have been one of frustration for Dan Sharpe’s team. With the match well past the hour mark, Eli Townsend’s goal looked like it could prove decisive for North Pine.

In the previous two matches, Westside Grovely had been scoring goals for fun. This included a 4-1 demolition of Premiers Kangaroo Point Rovers on their own turf in the final game of the regular season, followed by an even better 6-1 victory in the Semi Final, away at 2nd placed Newmarket.

These score lines were an indication of the chances being created, and how the team were finding the net at the perfect point of the season.

The Grand Final, played at Moreton Bay Sports Complex, was proving to be a much bigger challenge, however.

With Westside generating a handful of half chances in the first half, getting that clearcut opportunity that had appeared freely in the past two games wasn’t quite happening. The threat posed by North Pine on the counter attack was clear, and as the sides entered the half time break scoreless, it was beginning to feel as though this game could be won from a single mistake or moment of magic.

North Pine emerged from the break on the attack. Instead of playing on the break, they appeared more confident in holding the ball in Westside’s half. A few shots from distance and dangerous crosses threatened to break the deadlock, however it was clear that North Pine were taking a hold in these moments.

This pressure eventually told. Following a corner, limbs were flying as both teams attempted to make a decent contact on the ball. After a clearance was mis-hit, the ball popped out to Townsend on his left foot. The resulting shot was as clean a hit as you could hope for in a Grand Final, hitting the top left corner with precision and sending the North Pine players and supporters into a frenzy.

The goal had flipped the match in an instant. North Pine now appeared content to sit on the lead, and Westside were keen to try and raise the intensity and create some chances in their attacking third.

Despite their best attempts, the crosses, long throws, and chances around the box looked like they weren’t going to fall favourably for the team in red.

As the minutes continued to disappear, it was beginning to feel like it would just be one of those nights.

After another ball was launched in to the box in the 70th minute, things changed for Westside. The ball dropped in a pocket of space in the box, and centre back Liam Metcalf was on hand to volley it back across goal. The left footed strike settled inside the right hand post. The celebrations marked a massive swing in the atmosphere. North Pine had given everything to defend their lead, and that wall of players had been breached.

Dan Sharpe made his intentions clear on the sideline. The game was there for the taking, and he wanted his side to keep going.

As North Pine tried to mount counter attacked, the opportunities began to present themselves. Andrew Cloete, Dan Healion, and Euan Bain all had shots from the edge of the box that were either just wide or blocked by the last defender.

With five minutes remaining, Westside worked the ball from left to right, and with two sweeping passes, Bain found a foot of space as he entered the penalty area. His right footed strike was clean, and flew past the keeper and into the far side of the goal. Westside had their lead, and it was now a matter of whether they see the game out.

Despite the natural instinct to shut the game down, they continued attacking. North Pine were piling players forward in a desperate search for an equaliser that would certainly send the match to penalties. A goal did arrive, however it was another for Westside and Euan Bain. A cross fell his way at the back post, and after the initial attempt wasn’t hit cleanly, he had the chance to put the ball away from only a few yards out.

The second half had ended with a flourish of activity, with Westside clinching the victory to become Champions.

Congratulations to the Metro 3s and the coaching team of Dan Sharpe and Liam O’Sullivan, on a fantastic win and a brilliant 2026 season.