With John returning from his recent cataract operation and organisation of a local ABBA event, it was time to implement his new formation. Employing the use of two central defensive midfielders in the form of Mark and Alex, they would provide added defensive support for the back three of Kyle, Richard, and Chris. Who in turn needed to protect Jamie in goal. Welcoming back Stephen into midfield with Dan and Donald, the Hoppers front line was completed by David and Michael. With Rufus to provide much needed back up from the bench.

Sittingbourne showed they meant business by going through a series of warm up drills and having tactics and instructions barked at them by their very enthusiastic manager/coach. They started quickly and used the youth in the team to quickly assert a 1-0 lead. With Alex and Mark still finding their positional balance with the new formation. The Hoppers managed to conduct some brief attacks on the Sittingbourne goal. Dan finding David with an assertive smash, who then laid up Michael's shot on goal, only for it to be cleared by the visiting defenders. A lapse in marking on a Sittingbourne sixteen found their main striker a clear run on Jamie, two down became three after a dubious short corner. was ruled in their favour. Rufus' introduction to the left side of the midfield proved to be a big gain for the Hoppers in attack and defence giving Dan a quick choice for attack. Rufus also made a vital interception towards the end of the half. The defensive group had started to grow into the game, but a mis-clearance was exploited for Sittingbourne's forth. The half ended with a mixture of disappointment and pride. The second half saw the central midfield unit battle hard for supremacy of the middle of park. Dan once again managed a pass to David. Mark and Alex managed alternating attacks to pull the Sittingbourne midfielders back toward their own defensive line providing a couple of the passes into the opposition D. Clearly frustrated by the lack of attacking opportunities, Sittingbourne increased the aggression. This aggression was met back with Mark taking a green card and soon after Dan picked one up too for being too eager to win back the ball. Down to nine men the Hoppers were facing a short corner. Kyle 'skilfully' delayed the routine by having problems with his mask giving the defenders a chance to catch their breath! Sittingbourne tried a low drag flick to Jamie's left, but it was deflected by Chris' cover drive. Soon after Jamie pulled off an incredible save tipping a forceful shot past the post with his catlike reflexes. Mark picked another green earning him the title of 'Attack Vicar'. While he sat out on the bench Don tried to force his way through the right side of the pitch passing three players in the process, his shot bouncing off the post. As another short corner was thwarted, the Hoppers were back up to full strength and trying to snatch a goal from a long corner to no avail. The half came to an end with a very respectable 0-0 a big achievement. The beer back at the club house went down very well!