Wallsend coach Chris Gallagher simply says: "I've never been involved in game like that in senior football in my life."
A 12-goal thriller decided in the 93rd minute.
But not just any old fixture either, launching Northern NSW Football's annual promotion-relegation play-off in the most dramatic of fashions.
Wallsend, having equalised 6-all late from a corner, will now tackle fellow first-division club Newcastle Croatia again in the second leg next weekend (August 29) and, somehow, with scores still level.
Gallagher, in charge of men's first-grade squad at the Red Devils, admits the high number of goals "showed clear intent from both sides".
But he also spoke about the never-give-up attitude being built at Wallsend, who are vying for a top-flight NPL return over 25 years in the making.
"To be honest, over the last 12 months we've kind of being building that as a culture," Gallagher said.
"We won late against Westy [West Wallsend] down to 10 men and 12 months ago, in what was essentially a play-off final for relegation against Thornton, we scored in the 90-something minute as well.
"I guess we've started trying to instil that mentality with the boys at the club, just don't give up.
"We do a lot of work at training on making sure we're good to go for 90 minutes ... and. obviously, you've got to have a little bit of luck go your way as well."
It was a pulsating affair that could have gone either way at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on August 22.
While the lead only changed twice throughout, with two the biggest margin at any stage, scores were actually evened up on five occasions.
The opening seven goals found the back of the net inside the opening half hour, featuring a quick-fire exchange of five between the 21st and 28th minutes.
Wallsend went to the break up 4-3 with doubles to opposite numbers Bailey Ryan (Red Devils) and Newcastle Croatia's Yuhei Sato.
The see-sawing nature of the encounter continued in the second stanza, Newcastle Croatia scoring three of the next four goals to put themselves in front by one with 15 minutes left to play.
But enter Wallsend's Halpin brothers from a dead-ball scenario during injury time.
Cody knocks in a corner to Aiden, who flicks the ball on towards the back post before a defender's deflection made it 6-all with barely any time remaining on the clock.
"It just restores parity I guess," Gallagher said.
"If you have the first leg away obviously you don't want to concede any ground, normally it's more like 0-all draw or something boring like that.
"But both teams must have thought we're going to give the crowd something to watch. And some very good goals as well. It was an entertaining fixture to say the least."
Wallsend will next host Newcastle Croatia at The Gardens on August 30.
"Obviously we'll both be sitting back and having a look at our defensive shape and defensive principals, then go again at The Gardens," Gallagher said.
Saturday's other opening clash saw Kahibah, fighting to stay up in NPL, beat promotion contenders New Lambton 2-1.
Winners from the two ties meet in a final play-off at Weston on September 5.
Northern League One minor premiers Lake Macquarie City and NPL wooden spooners Charlestown Azzurri have already traded competition places for 2027.
Sunday's NPL men's semis saw Weston beat Maitland on penalties after a 0-all draw at Cooks Square Park (qualifying) while Edgeworth rallied from two down at half-time to prevail 3-2 over Belmont Swansea at Jack McLaughlin Oval (elimination).
NPL women's last round saw Maitland finish first on the ladder and Broadmeadow sneak into the top four.
