Some critics have pronounced that the famous old pot has lost some of its lustre, but try telling that to the 313 fans who witnessed this epic encounter, both sides slugging it out like a pair of punch drunk pugilists in the last round of their last fight.

Carl Macauley's men won this game with a fantastic second half display, rattling in four goals as their Conference North hosts wilted under a sustained barrage of pace and power.

The Mariners had to dig deep in the first half though with the hosts being well on top, gloveman Matt Cooper producing an outstanding demonstration of the goalkeeper's art to keep them in the tie by restricting the score to a single goal deficit.

Marine opened the scoring with 20 minutes gone, Danny Whitehall flicking the ball on for Lewis Codling to race clear and finish expertly, the pint sized poacher dinking over home custodian Billy O'Brien as he came out to block.

Hyde responded well with Cooper pulling off a top class save from Josh Brizell's powerful free kick but they equalised on 26 minutes, the lively Reece Gray springing the offside trap to finish in similar fashion to Codling at the other end.

The Mariners were struggling to maintain any sort of possession against a slick Hyde team, the homesters taking the lead just three minutes later when Connor Hughes lashed a rising drive in to the top corner from the right hand edge of the box.

Karl Clair brought a good stop from O'Brien for the Yellows but Cooper was soon in action again, parrying Louis Almond's shot with Tom Bentham heading the rebound against the crossbar.

Bentham brought further saves from the busy Cooper, strong runs and shots being kept out by the keeper as the break beckoned.

Manager Carl Macauley introduced James Foley in to the fray for the second half with the Mariners immediately going on the offensive, Codling sprinting beyond the defence to be foiled by O'Brien, but Foley was on hand to slide the ball home after 51 minutes.

Five minutes later the visitors were in the lead again, Sean Hessey's cross to the far post being met with a textbook header from Andy Nicholas in to the bottom corner as the Mariners turned the tie completely on its head.

Three swiftly became four as the Mariners added another goal on 65 minutes, Foley playing in Codling who once again saw his shot saved, this time Whitehall being on the spot to rap home the rebound.

Hyde were always a threat coming forward and pulled a goal back in a hectic spell, a cross from the left being side footed home by Bentham on 70 minutes.

The ding dong battle – now reminiscent of a 70's Harlem Globetrotters exhibition – continued with another Marine goal two minutes later, Steve Wainwright's juicy cross from the right finding the head of Tom Owens to score with a lovely diving header.

The impressive Christian Langos threatened to run riot in the closing stages for the Mariners, going clean through from his own half to bring a good save from O'Brien, and then doing likewise to tee up Foley with the gloveman again equal to the challenge.

Hyde ensured a nervy last couple of minutes when they scored a fourth goal, Bentham heading in deep in injury time but Marine saw out time to take their place in Monday's velvet bag.

Hyde: Billy O'Brien, Josh Brizell (Cap), Kyle Brownhill (Regan Walker 83), Alex McQuade, Liam Chilvers, Luke Giverin, Connor Hughes, D'Arcy O'Connor (Steven Tames 64), Tom Bentham, Reece Gray, Louis Almond.

Unused subs: Daniel Mukuna, Rhys Day, George Riley, Will Kinder, David McNiven. Cautions: Gray.

Marine: Matt Cooper, Stephen Wainwright, James Short, Sean Hessey, Andy Nicholas (Cap), Inderjeet Aujla (James Foley 45), Danny Whitehall (Christian Langos 73), Karl Clair, Lewis Codling (John Shaw 90), Dan Fearnehough, Tom Owens.

Unused subs: Jonathan Goulding, James Mitchison (G/K). Cautions: Nicholas, Whitehall, Codling.

Referee: Mr. Richard Wild; Assistants Mr. Leigh Doughty, Mr. Daniel Locker.

Attendance: 313.