NO one was more relieved than Lake Albert goalkeeper Hayden Callander when teammate Kane Baumer's composed penalty late in extra time won Sunday's qualifying final against Henwood Park.
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The 40-year-old had already pulled off his fair share of heroics, let alone having to do so again in a tense penalty shootout.
With his team up 1-0 late in the first half after Baumer scored his first in the 27th minute, Callander pulled off an extraordinary save off a Matt Menser penalty strike late in the first half to maintain his side's lead.
Callander flew to his right and denied Menser by knocking the ball onto the post.
Menser would eventually find the back of the net 12 minutes into the second half, but after Jamie Rankin was fouled in the box by Hawks defender Kwasi Agyei with two minutes left in extra time, Baumer buried his penalty into the bottom left corner.
"I haven't missed one (penalty) my whole life, there was a bit of pressure but I did the job," Baumer said.
"I hit it with some power and hoped for the best, I'm just glad it went in."
It was the first finals meeting between the two teams since the epic 2017 grand final, where the Hawks won on penalties after it finished 4-all at extra time.
It seemed a shootout was imminent again but Callander was relieved to avoid the stress.
"One (penalty save) during the game is enough for me thanks," he said.
"I have done one (save) better than that, no way. There was one against Tolland a couple of weeks ago which felt good but that in a final against arguably the competition's best player, I won't forget that one."
The Sharks will now play Hanwood next week in the major semi final, with the winner to advance straight to the decider.
Both their clashes this season have finished 2-all. The first clash was arguably the best game of the season with both teams playing quality attacking soccer, and Callander expects similar.
"I think it will be that game with interest. It was the first time we've met (after Hanwood joined the Pascoe Cup this year) but they'll be primed to go after a week off, don't worry about that."
Callander echoed Menser's sentiments earlier this week that it would be nice to keep the trophy in Wagga, with the Hawks and Sharks the city's last two teams standing.
"I hadn't put two and two together that we're the only Wagga teams in it," he said.
"You'd always love to keep it in Wagga. We want to win it again but if we can't we'd be happy for Henwood to do it, as long as it's not against us."
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