It was a big night for local soccer in Fort Worth at Farrington Field for Leg two of the Chisholm Trail Clásico. Fort Worth Vaqueros and Denton Diablos went head to head with the CTC Belt on the line.

With storms pushing through the area, kickoff was delayed 55 minutes. The new rivals went at each other with a light drizzle falling throughout the game. There were three more stoppages of play for lightning. Including the pre-game delay, it added up to 176 minutes of rain delay on the night.

With a stiff wind blowing, the two teams took turns counter-attacking each other early. Both teams playing a vertical style game but weren't creating any real opportunities. Vaqueros opted for more of a low block look rather than their normal more possession type game to counter the Diablos speed.

In the first half, Diablos did put the ball in the net on a free kick, but the play was called back for a foul on the initial header. The Vaqueros best chance came from Darren Mitchell in the 26th minute on a quality turn in the box that gave him a shooting window, only to have the shot blocked by a desperate defensive effort.

In the 33rd minute, nearby lightning strikes caused a 56-minute delay in action. After play resumed, little had changed with the two evenly matched teams.

Just over ten minutes into the 2nd half, at the 56th minute to be specific, additional lightning strikes caused another stoppage. This one lasting 35 minutes.

When play resumed again, Denton started to express themselves and got a well-earned penalty kick about 4 minutes after the restart. Nick Taylor burned the spot-kick in the left corner for the 1-0 Diablos lead. Daniel Evens continued to push high and was giving the Vaqueros troubles when the lightning came again one minute later.

Several Vaqueros players were quite upset at another stoppage, particularly a stop coming so quickly after going down a goal. Jamie Lovegrove, in particular, gesticulating his discontent and needing to be held back by his coach.

But after this final 30-minute delay of the night, the shoe was on the other foot. Fort Worth started pushing the game. The addition of a 2nd striker in the form of Dallas Sidekicks goal poacher VcMor Eligwe making some quality opportunities as the game wore on.

The first Vaqueros tally came on a hopeful ball over the top. Diablos keeper Taylor Lampe misjudging the ball and allowing it to go over him. Fort Worth substitute Miles Byass rounded the keeper and lobed the closing Diablos defender for the goal in the 64th minute.

Shortly thereafter Vaqueros extended their lead with Declan O'Shea ripping one of the prettiest goals you'll see from about 30+ yards out. The 70th-minute bomb of a shot put the Cowtown side up 2-1 and they controlled the game from there.

In the 85th minute, Vaqueros made it 3-1 with another breakaway goal putting the game out of reach. This time Eligwe fed Lovegrove on the wing who swung it to the back side with a lovely finish.

Jamie Lovegrove of the Fort Worth Vaqueros shows off the Chisholm Trail Clásico Belt after the club's 3-1 win. (6-1-19) (Fort Worth Vaqueros / Tobias Lopez)

"Our boys showed their maturity on Saturday amid what were taxing delays on both sides," Vaqueros general manager Tobias Xavier Lopez said. "Falling behind and then scrapping back for the victory proved the boys possess the character necessary to win tough, tough matches such as this. Full credit to Denton, they had their fair share of the play, their fans stuck it out through the delays and their boys again pushed us to the brink."

Vaqueros move to 3-0-0 on the season and remain in first place in the Lone Star Conference. They play again next Saturday, June 8th, at 7 pm at Farrington Field against local rival Dallas City FC.

Diablos fall to 3-2-0 on the season, both losses coming to Fort Worth, and sit 4th in the conference. Diablos travel to McKinney on Friday, June 7th, to face the very same Dallas City FC side at 7:30 pm at the DCFC McKinney Soccer Complex.

That's a tough back to back for Dallas City FC who now face local rivals on two straight nights next weekend.