Dockerty Cup: Heidelberg United’s Harry Noon returns from injury and nets 94th minute winner

It’s a line that gets trotted out frequently and overused often, but there’s something special about the romance of cup football. On Wednesday night Olympic Village witnessed a top shelf, best-selling thriller.

Harry Noon returned from injury with a moment to remember. Picture: Steve Tanner

It’s a line that gets trotted out frequently and overused often, but there’s something special about the romance of cup football.

On Wednesday night Olympic Village witnessed a top shelf, best-selling thriller.

Just seven weeks ago, Heidelberg United’s Harry Noon lay slumped on the Olympic Village surface, leg gashed horribly after a freak accident involving the corner flag.

Talk of surgery and skin grafts and even the end of his playing career did the rounds for some time.

On Wednesday night, Heidelberg United’s Dockerty Cup clash against Avondale was locked at 2-2, with the match destined for extra-time,

But, as injury time ticked into a fourth minute, Noon — in his first game back after that horrific injury — charged into the box and volleyed an Alex Schiavo cut back into the back of the net.

The post-goal celebrations, though euphoric, had fans’ hearts in months as Noon slid towards the corner flag, seemingly forgetting the last time he’d done it.

“What a script,” coach George Katsakis said. “I think it (the slide) was premeditated, that was the same corner flag that took him out.”

Heidelberg United star Sean Ellis has been sorely missed during his time on the sidelines. Picture: Steve Tanner

But fairytale winner aside, it was the kind of Cup tie that lovers of the game dream of.

After a scoreless opening half, the match exploded into life after the break and soon developed into one for the archives. On 54 minutes Tom Cahill netted a Sean Ellis free kick to put the home side ahead. Ellis too was playing his first full match since a long injury sojourn and the return of the classy Scot instantly had Heidelberg standing a foot taller.

Soon after, Ellis was brought down in the penalty box and the referee pointed to the spot.

Bergers keeper Chris Theodoridis has made a stunning habit of netting the spot kicks of late, four in the past month no less, but he was denied by the reflex efforts of his opposite number in Chris Oldfield.

That rare miss started to tilt the scales back in Avondale’s favour and, with 59 minutes gone, diminutive forward Elvis Kamsoba edged the ball over the line despite the best efforts of Les Doumbalis to make a goal line save.

Heidelberg was again a goal to the good when Noon and Ellis combined to set up Schiavo in the 74th minute and that looked to be enough until, two minutes after the end of the regulation 90, Liam Boland dragged the match back on level terms.

With the contest marching towards extra-time, the clock dipping deeper into injury time, Noon then completed yet another fairytale win for a side that surely has enough for a couple of volumes at least.

“I was feeling fairly emotional on the sidelines,” Katsakis said. “We went one-up and we thought ‘we’re pretty good at defending a one-goal lead’, but the loss of the penalty got them (Avondale) going somewhat.

“Then Alex Schiavo came on and scores with about his first touch and I thought we’d done enough.

“But, it wasn’t to be and then I really thought we were headed for extra-time.”

The current Heidelberg line-up has made a habit of last gasp wins, giant killing cup runs and dealing with the adversity of a crippling injury toll.

For a club dubbed the Warriors, there have been none braver.

“It was a classic example of what we have in the room,” Katsakis said. “That never-say-die attitude.

“To think we had 40-odd games last year and we’ve had about 16 or 17 so far this year, a lot of credit has to go to the boys for developing that mentality.

“There’s a lot of character and many are saying this is the best (Heidelberg) team ever.”

Heidelberg will play Northcote City in a semi-final at Broadmeadows Valley Park on Wednesday night while Port Melbourne Sharks and Bentleigh Greens will clash in the other semi at Grange Reserve on Tuesday night.