Locked at 0-all at the end of normal-time and with the scores still unaltered at the end of extra-time, the game went to a penalty shoot-out which Bathurst won 4-3. 

Bathurst goalkeeper Andrew Lotherington made two crucial, game-changing saves in the shoot-out.

He said it was the event was an opportunity for older footballers to play other footballers at the same age level across the two-day event.

“It was bloody good,” he said.

“It was a chance for the older blokes to compete at their own level.

“There were players as old as 60. They’re not as fast but they’ve still got a great touch.”

The Bathurst Gold side featured a mix of both local players and Oberon-based players and a mix of both men and women. 

“The whole team was solid and consistent, especially the girls from Oberon,” Lotherington said.

“Across the weekend we played seven games, which were played over 20 minute halves. If games were tied at full-time we went to golden goal. After five minutes we went to penalties.

“Everyone did their job, running all day. The midfield went up and down the field, the defenders were kept busy and the forwards did their job.

“Even the 60-year-old’s kept their own. It was heavily competitive weekend where everyone did their job.”

Lotherington has been playing football for 28 years and currently plays local in the Bathurst District Football for Collegians Soccer Club. 

Teams from all across New South Wales travelled to Cowra’s Sid Kallis Park to play in the tournament, includign teams from Huskisson, Young, Wagga Wagga, Goulburn, Cowra, Mudgee and Tahmoor.  

Teams were split into two pools, with the top four advancing to the quarter-finals.

Bathurst Gold advanced from the group stage and played Bathurst Blue in the quarter-final and won 3-nil.

This was followed by a 1-nil golden goal win over Huskisson in the semi-final, who were two-time defending champions at the Cowra-based tournament.