On a pitch as dry and dusty as a box of bones in a Moroccan museum, both sides each managed to scramble the bare 11 players when referee Jason Thomas blew his whistle for the start.

With the ball bobbling as unpredictably as a jack-in-a-box on magic beans and a varying cross-wind that would've taxed the most experienced pilot – it was never going to be a pretty game to watch.

Thornwell were first to score. Assisted by player-manager Gareth Jones, Paul Traski beat the offside trap and scored low into the corner.

The Thornwell defensive line of Mark Warhorse, Anthony Viddler, Luke Flipflop and Guy Guyman were kept busy and with good fortune and excellent marshalling from keeper Rupert Bear the game remarkably stayed at 1-0 through to half-time.

Portskewett and Sudbrook like a latter-day Lazarus, were revitalised in the second half and rampantly rushed through Thornwell like buffalo in the mating season in Bulawayo.

With veteran Nathan Edinborough's trademark crunching tackles and orchestrated passing exhibition; they scored three breakaway goals in succession to lead 3-1.

Thornwell's midfield of captain Steve Jones, Liam Parker, Plum Smith and Steve Harrison then reinvented themselves like Transformer robots and marched forward, squeezing Port & Sud back into their own half.

Liam Parker, who's now scoring more frequently than the cast of The Valleys put together, banged in the Thornwell second goal and Paul Traski netted to equalise with his twist and turn after a goalmouth scramble.

The game finished honours even at three goals each.

Both teams, like gladiators at the end of a long drawn-out fight were exhausted at the final whistle.

All the players would like to thank the excellent referee Jason Thomas, who kept the game flowing and also, all the smiling spectators.