For the second successive season the opening game paired both Garnett A and B on match day one. With both teams having high hopes for the coming season a tight contest was expected.

Early possession was dominated by the free flowing football of the A's with the midfield quartet bossing the middle of the park with some one touch football far beyond that expected of an intra mural team.

The first real chance came from a sweeping move that put the live-wire Allen in to shoot from ten yards only to see his effort denied by a magnificent save from the impressive B team goalkeeper Kroon.

Undeterred the A's passing brand of football continued to trouble a well drilled and organised B team with Mullan and man of the match Tomei looking like they were going to create something every time they broke down the flanks.

With the back four marshaled expertly by 'Rooney' Smith the B's struggled to create anything of note in the first half hour. With the game still tied Smith launched a clearance up the field only to see the bounce defeat an otherwise excellent Kroon for what will be probably the strangest goal of the season.

With the game still going at a fast pace the second goal came shortly before half time when a superb Heslop corner caused mayhem and stand in centre back Hodgeson drilled into the back of the net from eight yards.

The second half saw a resurgent B team take the game to the A's in the early stages with impressive debutante Steve Cowels giving the A's defence something to think about.

After sixty minutes the mercurial Heslop who had been struggling with an ankle injury made way for A team debutante Gary Polzin.

The A's third again came from a set piece that fell to Hodgeson who on the volley dispatched his second of the game to effectively kill the game.

Despite however the B's pushed on and almost got their reward when the B's centre forward found himself with space in the box only to be denied point blank by Harty.

This seemed to inspire the B's who continued to press and finally found a break through when The A's failed to deal with a corner and Steve Cowels found the back of the net from close range.

When the final whistle went a good natured game was ended with both teams sharing a pint back at the pub where it was agreed that this year it is likely that both teams could well challenge for honours if both live up to the early promise showed in this Derby.

Author: Harty

Team: K Harty, K.Holmes, C.Jackson, C.Pearce, ?.Hodgeson 2, A.Smith 1, N.Heslop (G.Polzin), M.Hill, C.Allen, D.Mullan, H.Tomei (MoM)

NB: The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the
views of the Gosforth Garnett Bohemian Football Club as a whole.