The Anzac Day clash was one for the ages with guts and determination, skill and high drama and result determined by an act of sheer desperation with seconds to go.
Some 859 supporters saw a gripping contest between Port Augusta's oldest protagonists.
South kicked with a stiffish breeze and the first quarter a frenetic start.
The Bloods started well with much of the ball for the first five minutes only for the Bulldogs to dominate the next five minute period with six shots at goal and led by 21 points with goals to Reid, Amos and Johnson.
The Bloods first score was a kick-off the ground goal to Crabbe and a second was added when Dodd streamed down the wing moved the ball to Curnow and off to Callary who added six points.
Already the Andrew Williams versus Ian Brown match-up was absorbing as was the second year player Nathan Thiele's effort on Daniel "Double-D" Dohnt and Khan on Johnson.
From the Riverland Ben Yeomans was lightening in foot and hand speed and decision making in and around the clinches, just as Wilson with "little-gives".
Reinstated to the league side after relegation to the reserves and starring Ashley Fullerton blanketed the Bulldog's marquee recruit Michael Kellett proving a little too canny with a strong spoil and then mark above the former Broadview player.
Up front Crabbe (three goals for the game) led out strongly and straight from the goal square and Tansell offering much up front.
But it was Dohnt (who goaled four minutes from the siren) Adam and Matt Grantham and Reid that provided the drive to South who perhaps could have made Centrals pay a little more on the scoreboard with 11 shots to six by quarter time to lead by ten points.
It seemed for the Bloods to be in a competitive position they would have to take full-toll of the wind coming from Highway One and kick five or six goals in the second quarter.
As it was both sides forwarded their scores on by 2.3.
In ruck for the Bloods Mark Fuller was nigh-on unbeatable despite his opposite number Brock Laube making it difficult.
Fuller to Callary to Tansell goal and Centrals were only four points adrift.
With Curley following Shannon Wilson around it brought him to the ball and he made his more heralded opponent pay goaling to push the red and white to an eight point lead.
This quarter gave a platform for Callary and Dodd to shine and Brett McKerlie to show his chinking and extreme pace as Wilson saw more of the ball and Lachlan Archibald's football grew in stature to match his height.
The second half was all South as they added 5.4 to Centrals' 2.1 in an excellent quarter of football.
After struggling to shake off Stef Strangways, Bradley Amos was shuffled to half back to add stability and flair to the defensive half along with Reid.
By now the lights had been turned on and the visibility increased.
Forward Ian Brown finally found space and the ball and slotted two majors as Johnson was a ball magnet in front of the sticks.
In a simply amazing quarter of football the Bloods piled on seven goals to one and with only seconds to play led by four points.
Despite Centrals adding 1.1 in the first two minutes it was the Bullies that looked fresher and more composed early.
South's hit back with seven points of their own and the feeling was that the Bulldogs had crushed the Centrals rebellion and that two points were heading to Conroy Street.
However, even with the skill levels dropping and Centrals decision-making looking tired they plugged away, made contests and pushed the ball forward.
By now Dodd and McKerlie were proving just too elusive even for the South mosquito fleet.
Indeed fellow speedster Luke Donald slotted his first and it looked then that they were on a roll but still three goals in arrears.
Goals from Yeomans, Dodd's bomb from 50, Donald's second and then Curnow's strong mark in the goal square and six more points were added to have Centrals four points behind.
As if to underscore that this new look Bloods outfit had finally found some foot speed to match the height, McKerlie goaled after yet more brilliant work from winger Donald.
Two more points were added, one by McKerlie who could have iced the game but his on the run kick across the front of goal missed and then a rushed behind meant South were one straight kick away from winning.
With only a couple of minutes to play, the normally accurate Darren Shillabeer, looking for goal number four, had the game at his mercy grandstand side flank running through centre-half forward his kick drifted across and out of bounds.
The first throw-in drew another and Ian Brown was quick to pounce on the ball bobbling on the ground, sunk his boot in to score the goal that would win the game only for his nemesis Andrew Williams to smother and the Bloods had won by four points in an absolute thriller.
For Ashley Fullerton in his two hundred and fiftieth game for Central Augusta, for Mark Fuller in his first game as league captain, for Ray Hayes his first win as coach of the Bloods and for all the committee, sponsors and supporters this Anzac Day come from behind win against its arch-rival was just reward.
For South Augusta they deserved to win a number of times but failed to close the door.
They were a little rusty but have much to look forward to once they hit their stride.
The captaincy sat well for new South skipper Adam Grantham and he was in the top three performers for his team.
Better players for Centrals were Fullerton, Fuller, Dodd, Callary, Thiele, Archibald amd Williams.
For South Matt and Adam Grantham, Curley, Dohnt and Shillabeer.
Final score: Central Augusta 14.10.94 defeated West Augusta 12.18.90.
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