Delighted Tom Boulton-Lear is pictured just seconds after scoring the winning goal for the Down’ards during Ashbourne’s Shrovetide Football game.
Tom, who runs TBL Fitness gym in the town, was surrounded by fellow players and the crowd after scoring just before 9pm as the game came to a dramatic end.
For just under two hours the ball was said to have ‘been missing’ but it surfaced at around 8.45pm with the Down’ards surging towards their goal at Clifton.
And out of the darkness Tom was hailed a hero, as he put the Down’ards ahead in the two-day game.
This photograph, taken by by University of Derby journalism student Courtney Groom, captured Tom’s moment of glory.
Tom said: “I’m so happy, I can’t believe it!”
Here’s the moment captured on video by University of Derby student Courtney Groom of Tom Boulton-Lear scoring the goal for the Down’ards.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the news of the goal.
Yes, Down'ards have goaled! The day ends 1-0! #Shrovetide
— John Hobson (@realjhob) 13 February 2018
Down'Ards draw first blood on day 1 of Royal Ashbourne Shrovetide. Will the Up'Ards fight back tomorrow? #Shrovetidelive
— Shrovetide Live (@ShrovetideLive) 13 February 2018
BALL IS GOALED AT CLIFTON! Down’ard’s are ahead as the game ends for today in Ashbourne #StoryHubDerby #Shrovetide
— StoryHub (@StoryHubDerby) 13 February 2018
This brings day 1 of Shrovetide to a close.
Downards 1-0 Up'ards!
See you all tomorrow for day 2— Ashbourne Shrovetide (@5hrovetide) 13 February 2018
Earlier social media went into meltdown over rumours that the Shrovetide football had gone missing.
There were a variety of sightings across the town as it went missing for almost two hours.
According to the rules of the game, the ball can only disappear from sight for a maximum of two hours if it was being hidden by one of the teams.
And it was in just under two hours that the ball appeared and Tom scored.
Here’s what people said while the ball was missing.
Half an hour to go until what we assume is a 9pm "lost ball" deadline #Shrovetide
— News Telegraph (@AshbourneNews) February 13, 2018
Ball rumoured to be at top of Derby Hill! #shrovetide #shrovetide2018 #bbcderby
— Ashbourne Shrovetide (@5hrovetide) February 13, 2018
Ball rumoured to be at top of Derby Hill! #shrovetide #shrovetide2018 #bbcderby
— Ashbourne Shrovetide (@5hrovetide) February 13, 2018
Sudden flurry of activity. Ball rumoured to be top of Derby Hill. #Shrovetide
— NigelDavisSolicitors (@agriculturallaw) February 13, 2018
Lots of people arriving at the Clifton goal. No sign still of the ball. #Shrovetide #Shrovetidelive pic.twitter.com/sD3P1R7RJC
— Shrovetide Live (@ShrovetideLive) February 13, 2018