Thompson, who came on in the 57^th minute at Cooks Square Park on Sunday, ran onto a volleyed ball across goals from Sean Pratt to score inside the left post from close range in the 92^nd minute.

Magic had gone ahead in the semi-final tie, which was 2-2 after the first leg, in the 85^th minute via substitute John Majurovski - the grand final man of the match in their victory last year.

Majurovski couldn't control the ball when it fell to him close to goal but he made no mistake just after the ensuing corner. James Virgili jumped on the scraps down the right side and found Majurovski at the near post for the crucial touch.

Thompson's leveller then made it 3-3 across the tie and Maitland went through courtesy of their extra away goal from last week. The result sets up a grand final with Edgeworth at Magic Park next Sunday.

The Magpies have made a habit of scoring late in big matches this season and coach Mick Bolch said "they've been a resilient group all year".

"We've been in and won games we shouldn't have, but they've just popped up with goals," Bolch said.

"We scored in the last minute against Valentine and against the Jets, and the same again today.

"We were under the pump the first 20 minutes but towards the end of the first half, we had a couple of decent chances.

"The second half was just a grind. We started to sit a bit deeper because they had to come at us to win the game.

"Full credit to the boys. When Magic scored, you would think the game is nearly over, but we threw four up front and Thommo got in the right area at the end of the game.

"Last week I didn't feel we got a great deal off our bench, but the subs were the difference at the end of the day and they've been brilliant all year."

Maitland were under siege for the opening half an hour on Sunday but Magic, with the breeze at their backs, could not beat Magpies keeper Matt Trott.

The former Mariners shot-stopper was at full stretch to save a deflected strike in the eighth minute, then blocked a Virgili attempt in the 19^th and dived low to his right to knock clear a Mitch Oxborrow free kick in the 24^th.

Maitland eventually created chances but Magic keeper Paul Bitz was up to the task, blocking a shot from James Thompson in the 36^th minute. The Magpies had their best opportunity to go ahead in the 52^nd minute but Mat Swan could not finish one on one with Bitz.

It was the fourth draw between the sides this year and a frustrating end for retiring Broadmeadow captain Josh Piddington.

"We were probably the better team for 80, 90 minutes, and one little slip at the back stick and a guy who's been around for a long time puts it in," Piddington said.

"But they are the premier side for a reason and are undefeated up here, so you've got to expect them to battle for 90 minutes as well.

"It makes it a little harder to swallow that your season and career ends on two draws and you don't go through, but that's the rules and you've got to move on."

Also on Sunday, Belmont Swansea beat Cooks Hill 3-2 in the second-division decider at Jack McLaughlan Oval with two goals from Ty Goldsmith.

Charlestown announced on Friday night that Cooks Hill coach Graham Law would lead them in the 2020 NPL. David Tanchevski resigned as Blues coach last Tuesday.

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