Daniel Stern scored both goals for club in their clash at Bathurst's Proctor Park.

There were plenty of tense moments in the match. Both teams sat at 1-all in the dying stages when Lithgow was awarded a penalty kick.

Abercrombie goalkeeper Nathan Maxwell was ruled to have contacted an opposing striker with his hands while trying to punch the ball away from his box, which allowed Daniel Stern to complete his brace and send Lithgow into the grand final.

The penalty was one of many fouls committed during a contest which was very physical from the opening minutes.

It was an unfortunate end to the match for Maxwell who up until that point had enjoyed a memorable game - saving a first half spot kick and pulling off another great save while on his back midway through the second term.

Stern had capitalised on a defensive error to score just six minutes into the game but Abercrombie were quick to hit back when Jack Press slotted home a shot to the bottom right corner.

The match then somehow went 70 minutes without a goal as both sides created their share of chances, with the 87th minute spot kick finally breaking the deadlock.

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Workmen's were indeed fired up, with Stern stealing possession and scoring early into the opening half.

Abercrombie came close to replying on several occasions and narrowly missed from a corner just two minutes after the Lithgow goal.

Press found the reply when he cut inside his defender and hit a pin point shot.

Maxwell made a strong save off a Lithgow penalty four minutes before the break to give the Bathurst men a big boost.

Jordan Fordham and Ben Sheehan each missed scoring chances close to the Abercrombie goal early in the new half and Maxwell had to pull off an amazing save to deny them the go ahead goal in the 68th minute.

Just when Abercrombie were making late inroads Stern broke their hearts.

Workmen's coach Jock Hunter said the match was a hard fought win.

"Abercrombie stepped it up from the week before when we beat them 9-3.

"We played in windy conditions which reflected on the game but all players dug deep for the win and we came through injury free which is always a relief leading into a grand final," he said.

Hunter said club would need to bring their A game for the grand final and having the week off would give them plenty of time to reflect over the year and their opponents.

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