With a suspected broken toe sidelining regular keeper Gavin Rimmer, Michael Nodding stepped in to help the Hoppers. Ahead of Nodding a defence of Chris Stebbing, Kanwal Singh, and Kyle Merrick. Richard Williamson operating at the base of midfield behind Donald Gillespie. Alex Templer on the right and Ollie White on the Left of midfield. The attack formed of Mark Barker, Michael Hughes, and Logan Gordon. Alec Pelmore and John Burton providing substitutions.
Storm Bert provided the playing conditions, strong gusts and driving rain. Marden started the match fast, driving through the middle in large numbers to overwhelm the defence. Kanwal managed a minute or so on the pith before injuring himself at a goal hit. John stepped in to replace him. Marden did not give John a chance to settle before they went one goal up with a series of fast one touch passes. Marden kept up the possession dominance, not giving the Hoppers a chance to counter. A Marden Striker found himself in front of goal and clipped his shot over Alex's head into the goal.
The weather started to deteriorate at this point. Alex swapped with Alec in midfield and shortly after replace Chris in defence. The Hoppers managed to win a couple of short corners, but all came to nothing. Logan's shots deflected by the Marden defence. Don continued to hunt down the ball carriers in the centre of pitch and Richard mopped up loose balls and bolstered the defence when needed. Mark provided a tenacious attack on the right, and on occasion found Michael in the D. His shots steered away by the Marden keeper. Logan proved to be a handful with is close quarter skills, but the Marden Defenders had too many to beat. Out on the left side Ollie provide an essential outlet for the defence and midfield, linking up with Don and Logan. Marden's earlier dominance was reduced and the match evened out. In defence John skilfully won the ball off a Marden Striker setting up a counterattack but goals where still alluding the Hoppers leading into the half time break.
The second half started with the rain getting heavier, the Hoppers managed to get some early attempts on goal. Marden had a few attempts thwarted by a vigilant Nodding. Kyle was having a personal battle protecting the right side of defence. Whenever he won the ball Alec was in position to receive his pass. A Marden penalty corner turned into a frantic clearance with Don returning from the halfway line to provide a helping sweep. Logan attempted a few one on ones nearly setting up Michael in the D. Mark managed to burst into the D from right only to find a Marden foot. The following penalty corner was injected by Alex to Logan, who slipped the ball to Don, but the shot went wide. Back in defence John was floored by a strong challenge. Chris returned to replace him. Not long after the Hoppers won another penalty corner.
Alex injected to Logan. The ball was struck, but was deflected by a Marden defender, Michael won it back and passed back to Logan and then the number of passes and blocks became lost in the sheer numbers until the ball rolled down toward the wide left side of the goal. Alex had moved inward toward the goal from his injection position, hit the ball toward the goal at a narrow angle, the ball lifting as it crashed against the goal netting in a shower of water droplets.

Was it a Goal!?

It wasn't until Alex returned to central defence before the decision was returned.

No, the ball did not leave the D after the injection.......

Spurred on the Hoppers redoubled their attack keen to get at least a goal back. With seconds left a final penalty corner was won. The entire team surrounded Marden and laid siege only for a foul in the D ending the attack and the match.