The Magpies led 2-0 after Rhiley Carr smashed home a penalty corner in the 19th minute and Hugh Wickert finished from the top of the circle in the 30th.

The game changed in the first minute of the third quarter when Gosford keeper Nick Holman was given a yellow card for contact with the ball outside his area.

Gosford played on without a keeper and conceded twice. Ky Willott bagged both goals from penalty corners, the first from Holman's infringement and the second three minutes later.

Gosford, though, rallied to catch Norths on the counter in the 58^th minute. Brett Giffen set up Jake Wigham for the winner and the Magpies controlled the final 10 minutes. Gosford's Liam Alexander was man of the match.

Magpies coach Mark Drennan said "I was kicking myself" for not having a back-up keeper but he was proud of this side's composure to overcome the setback.

"The biggest thing was keeping our heads," Drennan said. "It was 2-all, we weren't losing, so we just needed to reset and play the fourth quarter like we did.

"We came here with the attitude just to outwork them and we did that in the first half, but the card got them back into the game. But the boys showed good character and composure."

Norths' Matt Wark was named player of the year.

Norths coach Dave Willott said his side paid for defensive lapses, turnovers and missed chances.

"We made at times some crucial turnovers that led to goals and they capitalised on their chances and we probably didn't on a few opportunities we had," Willott said.

"We knew we had to take our chances and be defensive tight, and we let in a pretty soft deflection for that third goal.

"They deserve it, but there's been nothing between the sides all year, and a little bit of luck the other way and we could have got the bounce of the ball.

"You've just got to put opportunities away, and defensively we were lax a couple of times."