Last Sunday's round seven W-League clash at Edensor Park featured three Blue Mountains-raised players and everything a local derby could promise - fierce defence, spectacular shots on goal, a vocal crowd and no shortage of drama.
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Defying their lowly position on the table, the Western Sydney Wanderers rose to the challenge against second-placed arch-rivals Sydney FC by holding on for a historic 2-1 victory in front of 2500 spectators - their second win of the season and their first triumph ever against the Sky Blues.
In stifling conditions the Wander Women were inspired by Linda O'Neill from Wentworth Falls, who shrugged off a niggling corked thigh and a heavy knock in the first half to dominate the midfield for most of the match.
The Wanderers 2013 Player of the Year was unlucky not to score early in the second half when latching onto a neat through-ball and drilling it into the net, only to be controversially ruled off-side and handed a yellow card for her trouble.
And despite being stretchered off the field 15 minutes from full-time after copping a ball to the head at close range and not taking any further part in the game, O'Neill was back on her feet and in good spirits after the siren sounded.
It was a different story for Sydney FC defender Alesha Clifford, from Winmalee, who after a bright start was forced off with injury in the 26th minute and did not return.
Likewise it was a game to forget for Faulconbridge native Teigen Allen, but only due to terrible luck.
The 20-year-old Australian Matildas defender tracked dangerous Wanderers striker Keelin Winters as she burst onto a pass inside the box in the 14th minute and her challenge - despite making minimal contact - was ruled a foul.
The referee pointed to the spot and Winters calmly slotted the penalty into the back of the net.
Sydney FC drew level in the 55th minute when American forward Jasmyne Spencer unleashed a powerful strike from close range into the bottom corner of goal.
But just seven minutes later the red-and-black's Caitlin Jarvie made a clean break and fired a cutback pass towards Sydney's goal mouth which Allen tried to clear under pressure, only to divert the ball into her own goal.
There were several more shots on goal by both sides in the final half-hour, including a deft chip for the Wanderers by Michelle Carney that hit the bar, but the score remained unchanged.
While disappointed, Allen said the effort by the team was there and the Sky Blues should still be a force at the business end of the season.
"The local derby games are always great to play in because you get a big crowd and a good atmosphere," Allen said.
"It's a loss but we've only lost two games now, so I believe we can definitely come back from this.
"We've developed good combinations and bonded well as a team this season, which has helped."
O'Neill described the Wanderers' victory as very pleasing "because we've been a very up and down team this season, but in this match we were were able to start well and maintain that level of play for 90 minutes".
"We've got a lot of young players that can take a lot and build on this, so it's looking up for us.
"We'll definitely be sticking it to each team we play in the last five rounds, starting from Canberra next week."
O'Neill said it was a buzz to play in a local derby game the day after the squad enjoyed watching the Wanderers' A-League team win the first leg of its Asian Champions League final 1-0 against powerhouse Saudi club Al-Hilal at Parramatta Stadium.
"It's always such a great feeling to play the other Sydney team, up against players you know very well," she said.
"Even though Teigen and Alesha were on the other side today, we all played together once at the Wanderers and I played my first W-League season for Sydney FC.
"We took inspiration into our match from the way the men's team didn't give up on Saturday night.
"It's very special to play for a club like the Wanderers."
