The  Mushies constructed a brilliant 6-2 win to hand the club its fourth PL premiership in its 30 years of existence.

The Mushies  worked hard, ran hard and landed some great strikes to net the  Premier League’s  premiership.

Striker Luke Purcell was the star, scoring three goals and having a hand in the other three.

His first goal was from a chipped Brendan Fergie free kick after 15 minutes, Purcell getting a touch to nudge the ball from goalkeeper Richard Morris’s path and into the net.

15 minutes later and Purcell made it two when he chested down a Matt Dunn high ball, rounded the defence and slammed the ball past goalkeeper Richard Morris.

Behind 2-nil at halftime, Souths roared back in the second half for lanky striker Jamie Wright to score and make it 2-1 but Purcell took a hand again and a quick throw put Ryan Searl into space and he converted to regain the two goal advantage but, just a few minutes later, Wright provided Sterling Wylie with a golden chance and he slotted it past OVA keeper Sam Coates to make it a one goal game again.

Re-enter Purcell.

He broke down the eastern touchline, beating Ruwan Cooper’s tackle and then another before passing inside to Tom Hungerford and the replacement midfielder also made no mistake.

At 4-2, Ben Genardini smothered a clearing kick, regained and squared the ball for  a perfectly-placed Purcell to head home.

And then to cap it off ,Purcell ran onto an Aiden Flynn pass after the replacement player had won a contest. 

Purcell’s shot was parried by Morris but fell perfectly for Flynn to follow through and tuck it home.

OVA coach Tim Coates was a delighted man after the four-goal win.

“We played as a team,” he said.“We played the ball around well today with quick movement. 

“It all came together well.

“We were a bit shaky there for 10 minutes or so in the second half when they came at us. We knew they would.”

South Armidale coach Michael Lord said his side had started slowly before making its  premiership bid in the second half.

“We started poorly,”  Lord said.

“We let ourselves down a bit. They (OVA) came out more enthusiastic than us. 

“In the second half we were better and worked real hard. 

“We got one back and that got us back into it but made a little mistake and they made us pay.

“But we worked hard again and got back to 3-2 but they capitalised on a few opportunities as we pushed men forward trying to find another goal.”

South had done that in a brilliant comeback to beat Tamworth FC in a penalty shootout.

Three times they had had come from a  one-goal deficit to win that match but there was no repeat on Saturday.

“They (OVA) played too well,” Lord said.

“It’s been a great run for us though.

“I’m proud of the boys and where they got to. 

“Halfway through the season it never looked like we’d make a grand final. 

“But the boys are all great mates and they worked hard all year.”

Goalkeeper Richard Morris was one of his side’s best and made some brilliant saves including one superb effort to deny the Mushies in the first few minutes.

OVA 6 (Luke Purcell 3, Ryan Searl, Tom Hungerford, Aiden Flynn gls) d SOUTH ARMIDALE 2 (Jamie Wright, Sterling Wylie gls).