The five-a-side game kicked off on Tuesday afternoon in the Stormont estate, demonstrating how far some young people have developed as a result of cross-community groups promoting good relations.

DUP, Sinn Féin, Ulster Unionist, SDLP and Alliance MLAs took part in the match organised by the Alliance Party's Chris Lyttle, alongside teenagers from the Doyle Youth Group and the Ballymacarret Friendship Group based in the interface area.

It is a far cry from the scenes from the Short Strand/lower Newtownards Road last June when over 500 people were involved in two days of serious violence.

Petrol bombs, bricks, bottles and other missiles were thrown during the unrest which also resulted in the PSNI coming under attack.

Water cannons were deployed and baton rounds fired as attempts were made to bring the rioting under control.

Among the injured was a press photographer who was shot in the leg.

Two other men also sustained gunshot wounds and one man suffered a fractured skull when he was hit by a concrete block. He required brain surgery as a result of the injury.

Sinn Féin councillor Niall Ó'Donnghaile, who is from the Short Strand, said at the time that the violence was deliberately organised by loyalists. However, UUP MLA for the area Michael Copeland blamed republicans for causing earlier clashes.

One year on, after intensive cross community work in the east of the city, the same youths who threw missiles at each other have united to take part in a soccer match organised by the local Alliance MLA.

Curtis Wynne, of the Ballymacarrett Friendship Group, and Aaron Fitzsimmons, of the Doyle Youth Group, both told UTV they were involved in stone throwing during last summer's disturbances.

However, they say there have now been big changes in the area.

Curtis said: "I've realised there's no need for it [the rioting]."

He said it was important for both sides to talk to each other.

Aaron added: "Things had to change - you can't just live in the past.

"Everybody can get along with everybody - religion doesn't make a difference."

Youth worker Paul McCrory told UTV that it was amazing to see the young people playing together and working as a team.

"Nobody could tell who was who out there. They really loved the opportunity to play with the MLAs.

"Where else would you get it?," he added.

Along with Alfie McCrory, from the Ballymacarrett Friendship Group, Paul led the team to defeat at Stormont - but the game led to a victory of a different kind for community relations.

Alfie told UTV the match was historic in more ways than one - not only had they got the young people together but also the politicians.

While he described the violence from this time last year as "disappointing," he declared Tuesday 19 June, 2012 as "historic."

The MLAs on the pitch were all too aware of the significance of the sporting clash.

Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy said he hoped it gave the young people a boost.

"There are very real issues in interface areas, there's a lot of tension in those areas, particularly during the summer time and there are very difficult issues that community workers and good people on both sides are struggling with it all of the time."

The UUP's John McCallister said that sport is a great way of building relationships.

"We're all in this to build a better and shared future for people and this is a great example of it."