BROADMEADOW Magic might have lost many of their stars, but they are not about to give up their Northern NSW State League crown without a fight, twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Edgeworth at Jack McLaughlan Oval yesterday.
After trailing 1-0 and 2-1, lanky striker Ben Martin converted from the spot in the 88th minute for the Magic to grab a deserved point.
Edgeworth defender Paul Wheeler was shown a straight red card after he brought down Martin in the box.
"I thought we deserved to get something out of the game," Magic coach Peter McGuinness said.
"They are a quality side with plenty of experience.
"But there were good signs from us to come from behind twice and get a point out of it.
"It shows we have a bit of heart and can play a bit.
"I was happy with that."
Martin's was one of three penalties awarded by referee Rod Allen.
Wheeler had earlier converted one and also had one saved by Magic keeper Scott Carter.
"If you don't finish off teams, you pay the price," Eagles co-coach Gary Wilson said.
"We had the better of the second half, but they clawed themselves back into it.
"They are a championship-winning side. They are not going to give up."
One of the premiership favourites, Edgeworth went ahead after 25 minutes through Sean Babic, who tapped home after good lead-up by Mark Wilson.
Magic created a lot of chances in the first half, particularly from wide areas, but did not have anyone on the end of them.
After going to the break 1-0 up, the home side should have extended the lead in the 50th minute when Carter dived at the feet of Babic and brought him down.
But the stocky keeper made amends, diving to his right to deny Wheeler from the spot.
The save lifted the visitors.
They levelled five minutes later through Jets youth striker Adrian Karakolevski, who got in front of his defender to head a cross from Scott Pettit into the top right-hand corner.
Just as the momentum looked to have swung, Edgeworth were awarded another penalty after Josh Piddington took the legs out from Babic. Wheeler stepped up again and drove the spot kick high and to the right of Carter.
Asked to fill the enormous shoes of last year's golden boot winner, Peter Haynes, Martin had a frustrating afternoon until winning the crucial penalty.
"The young boys up front showed a little bit of naivety at times," McGuinness said. "If Haynesy played today, he probably would have scored three or four goals, simply through his awareness of where to be and ability to pick up scraps.
"But they have their chance now, and it is about learning and maturing as footballers."
In the other game yesterday, Valentine-Phoenix scored four second-half goals to beat South Cardiff 4-2.
On Saturday, Hamilton Olympic opened their account with a 4-1 win over Toronto-Awaba and West Wallsend upset Weston 3-1.
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