The inaugural Barnstoneworth of Origin lived up to expectations on Saturday as a fierce contest turning friends into foes.

Stadium Barnstoneworth proved to be the perfect venue and yet again every ticket was sold. It can only be said that soccer is alive and well in the Central West.

The game started with tackles being intense and surgical. Neither side could break the discipline of the defensive lines and the attacking flair was an extravagance that could not be afforded.

Half-time was reached with bruises being the only gain for all players. The crowd welcomed the relief of the interval and a chance to restore fraying nerves for the next onslaught.

The match erupted 14 minutes into the second half as a young pup from 1935 Barnstoneworth was over zealous even by the standard of the match. It might have finished there but for the retaliation of the old bull recipient for 1922 Barnstoneworth. A melee ensued which saw the referee's efficiency with the red card reducing 1935 to 8 men and 1922 to 9 men.

The war continued and so did the referee. 15 more red cards in the next 12 minutes saw the sides reduced to one apiece. This meant a slower game but no less in the intensity.

0-0 at full time and a golden goal extra time followed as a winner had to be found. The extra time went on for some time as it was agreed that a penalty shootout was not an option.

And so it was that the vast crowd stayed on as the floodlights lit the magnificent arena. The player from each side having started with caution but the abandon steadily increased as more risks were taken.

Finally it was after 192 minutes of play when Chris Jacobs managed to get a chip over Kyle Gardiner who was by now to tired to chase the ball quickly enough. The ball rolled to the goal mouth and the linesman signalled the goal. Numerous video replays on the huge screen were needed to confirm that the goal was legitimate.

A fitting match for the inaugural BOO and surely this fixture will continue for many years to come.