Ops knew they were in for a tough battle against Dartford, and the opposition didn't disappoint, putting the Ops defence to work right from the start. Facing an aggressive opponent and some tough umpiring calls, Ops had to stay composed and find a way to play around the heavy pressure.

As the game progressed, Ops found their rhythm and started launching counterattacks of their own, matching Dartford stride for stride. Dartford eventually broke the deadlock with a breakthrough opening goal, but Ops refused to back down. Charman put on a masterclass in goal with some spectacular saves, and Player of the Match, Hegarty, dominated the field with brilliant, possession-winning tackles.

The turning point came midway through the second half. Following a lengthy deliberation between the umpires over a contested foot foul, Dartford’s second goal was controversially awarded. Though it was a tough emotional blow, Ops continued to work hard tirelessly and until the very end.

A final result of a 2-0 loss did not fully reflect the general balance of the game, however as the Ops had shown great strides of improvement over the start of the season and, on this occasion, a strong performance against a tough opponent, they came away with heads held high.