The Magpies lost 4-3 on aggregate but lost no fans against a team, which only took out the NPL premiership but has advanced into the round of 16 in the FFA Cup.

Magpies assistant coach Reece Thompson said it was a disappointing result but he could not be prouder of the team and their effort.

Thompson said with the score at 1-all the Magpies had to push for a win as a draw would have seen Edgeworth advance on away goals.

“We had a couple of great chances, but just couldn’t get it into the back of the net,” he said.

“Edgeworth were able to get us on the counter but we never stopped trying.

“We pushed them all the way, but at 1-all it was up to us to go for a goal.

“We only conceded the last goal because we were pushing up to get a winner ourselves.

“We had some chances, Matt Comerford come on from the bench and he a shot on target which was only kept out by a great save.

“We had another two or three good chances late, but we just couldn’t score and they got one on the counter.

“We could have won it, it was 1-all with 10 minutes to go and we had to push.

“On another day those chances go in and we go into the final.

“They scored a goal through a great free kick but it was only a fraction in it from being saved.

“I said last week whoever put the shirt on would go the full 90 minutes and they certainly did.”

Thompson said it was a great result for the club to reach the finals in only its second year, but their focus now was to build a team full of Maitland players. 

“We’ve been in the comp for two years now and what we really want to focus from now is bringing our youth through.

“We want Maitland players to play for Maitland.

“We want to get to the point that the first 11 players in first grade are all Maitland players. That’s something that we will working on over the next few years.

“We are putting a shout out to all the young blokes who may have moved on elsewhere that we want you back at Maitland.”