The boys in the sky blue change strip came into the round 13 clash in fine fettle, having put together a club-record 10-game unbeaten run to turn up the heat on current premiership frontrunner Malvern City.
The hosts at Wembley Park were occupying a top six position on the league ladder – but had something of a point to prove after falling to defeat on the road last time out against Nunawading City.
Having earned a place in the seventh round of the Australia Cup in midweek, the Suns would have been forgiven for looking jaded coming into what was a third game in the space of eight days.
However, it was clear from the outset that the visitors from Shepparton were in no mood to rest on their laurels as they looked to keep their determined championship charge alive.
Five minutes into the action, the Suns struck via dangerman Mangara Munguakonkhwa, with the No.16 latching on to a loose ball in the six-yard box after a long-throw was spilled by Pythagoras goalkeeper James Siekris.
Executing a poacher’s finish as he tumbled to the deck, the free-scoring forward demonstrated his clinical instinct to swivel and divert the ball home into an open net from close range.
“The boys were brilliant from start to finish, we always knew it was going to be a tough game,” Suns coach Craig Carley said of the strike.
“They’re very well set up defensively and we had to find the answers to that and break them down.
“The (Managara) goal was from a set-piece and credit to the boys, they created numerous chances, and had a few cleared off the line.
“We know Curtis (Hughes) with his long throws is dangerous and he puts it into the right areas, we talk about how important it is to manage moments and win the battle in both boxes.”
From there, his side showed its experience as it kept it tight in the backline to get to the half-time interval with the one-goal advantage.
Box Hill boss Orlando Morales made four changes after the break in a bid to restore parity and he was eventually rewarded for his brinkmanship as substitute Nicholas Kanelopoulos levelled the scoring in the 90th minute.
His injury-time strike appeared to have consigned the Suns to a share of the points in the Melbourne suburbs, seemingly guaranteeing a subdued 200km journey back to Shepparton for the visitors.
In a season that has been littered with twists and turns, the boys from the Goulburn Valley were not going to give up that easily.
With the clash heading towards a stalemate, English wing-wizard Edwards produced a moment of magic, heading home from a corner kick flick-on to snatch the three points right at the death.
Rising high to meet the cross 60 seconds on from the wounding Box Hill equaliser, the winner sparked rapturous celebrations on the field and touchline as the Suns reinforced their title credentials in dramatic style.
“It looked like we were coming home with a point, but that never-say-die attitude and belief in the group is phenomenal,” Carley said of Edwards’ goal.
“To pop up in added time with the winner made it a very pleasing trip home.
“Danny’s (Edwards) prodded it home on the line following a run to the front post after the flick-on – all we ever ask of the boys is to have an impact.
“Even the boys who didn’t get on the pitch, the camaraderie in the group and the belief is second to none – that’s why it’s such a nice place to be around at the moment.”
Following another night that will live long in the memory, the win meant Carley’s charges remain eight points off Malvern City at the summit in the VPL 2 with a round 14 away clash with Whittlesea United to come on May 23.
