The Broker Investment Group–sponsored Ops 2s welcomed Herne Bay 1s to Three Hills, both sides coming off opening wins.

Ops lined up in a 3-2-3-2, looking to dominate midfield and press high. The plan worked early as Furneaux, Rumsey, Coombs, Gurubantham, Ward and Little controlled play and created chances, Hopkin, Doyle and King looked fluid up top while Wishart, Shaw and Stone looked solid at the back, with Brenchley sharp from penalty corners.

After two short corners were controversially overturned, a third was finally given. Wishart went close, before Little showed his quality with a crisp backhand finish to put Ops 1–0 up. Herne Bay threatened on the counter but Brenchley stood firm to preserve the lead at half-time.

Switching to a 4-3-3, Ops maintained control after the restart. Newcomers Ward and Stone impressed, and when another short corner crashed off the bar, Hopkin reacted brilliantly to volley home for 2–0.

Herne Bay rallied, pulling one back before equalising quickly on the break to level at 2–2. Ops looked rattled, but their resilience and determination shone through as always. Coombs, Kyle G, Furness and Little regained control in midfield, and with ten minutes to play, Hopkin drove into the D and coolly slipped the ball through the keeper’s legs for 3–2.

In stoppage time, Wishart sealed the win in style, firing a rocket into the top corner from a penalty corner — his first league goal at this level.
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