Epping City keeper in late heroics

Epping City’s Reda Bourlem and Brimbank Stallions’ Matthew Galea make each other work for the ball. Picture Damian Visentini

Epping City is one win away from clinching the FFV state league 4 title.

Having already taken out the state league 4 north title, Epping City beat west 4 champions Brimbank Stallions for a spot in the overall division championship on Saturday.

Farouk Tijani scored twice for Epping City, which had to survive a late scare to seal the win.

With City leading 2-1 in the dying minutes, the Stallions were awarded a last minute penalty. Ibrahim Abou-Haidar became the hero, saving the penalty and assuring his side of the win.

Epping City will play Brandon Park in the grand final.

If Epping wins that match, it will have gone through the season undefeated.

State league 4 north Brandon Park won through to the final in thrilling fashion against state league 4 east premier Skye United.

Scores were 2-2 at the end of regular time, before Brandon Park scored the winner in extra time.

In state league 5, north champion RMIT FC will play Rosebud Heart in the grand final.

RMIT FC won through to the final by defeating North Melbourne Athletic 2-1.

In state league grand finals, Altona Magic defeated Mornington in state league 1, St Kilda was crowned state league 2 champions after beating Geelong 3-1 and Mazenod United is state league 3 champion after Geelong Rangers forfeited.

Hume City captain Nick Hegarty has become just the seventh player to win Football Federation Victoria’s Gold Medal twice.

At the FFV’s night of nights, Hegarty was named the National Premier League’s top player, winning the award on 38 votes. He finished seven votes clear of Avondale FC’s Massimo Murdocca, who finished on 31 votes.

Hegarty’s medal victory follows his 2012 win when the competition was known as the Victorian Premier League.

Hegarty’s Hume City teammate, Chris Oldfield, was named goalkeeper of the year.