Six months after arriving in Gosford - a town he admits he did not know existed - Englishman Ryan Edmondson has become a grand final hero for the Central Coast Mariners.
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Edmondson claimed the Joe Marston Medal as player of the match in the Mariners' 3-1 win after extra-time.
A Jason Geria screamer in the 50th minute silenced the Mariners faithful but it was Edmondson who brought the sound back in the dying minutes on Saturday against Melbourne Victory.
Trailing 1-0 in added time at Industree Group Stadium, the forward flicked the ball towards Ronald Barcellos before finding the ball again via Josh Nisbet and launching it home past goalkeeper Paul Izzo to send the match into extra time.
Teenager Miguel Di Pizio scored the match-winner before Edmondson added more salt to Victory's wound with his second of the evening.
"I think I started crying when the full-time whistle went," Edmondson said.
"It's definitely one that's going to stick with me for the rest of my life.
"Coming over for such a short amount of time and doing what we've done is pretty incredible."
The 23-year-old was drawn to Australia to reunite with former Leeds United youth coach Mark Jackson after several loan spells across England.
Edmondson, signed from third-tier Carlisle, was an unknown quantity when he arrived in Australia,
But his efforts for the Mariners on Saturday will ensure his name is long remembered on the Central Coast.
"It's the biggest surprise that I've had in a long time in football," Edmondson said.
"If we took our team to League One or even the Championship in England we'd give it a good go, I'd tell you that.
"I think this league gets looked over and people bypass it as farmers' football. It's far from it.
"If you asked me who my mates were, I'd say this team, I've not met anyone outside of this club... it's like walking into a brotherhood and what we've got in that changing room is so special."
Australian Associated Press
