past the phony posers with their worn out lines, the tired new money dressed to the nines, the low life dealers with their bad designs, and the dilettantes with their open minds. And so they went to Hartlepool for a thoroughly good game of hockey, with both teams showing grit and skill in equal measure.

Hartlepool opened the scoring, but shortly afterwards Morpeth were awarded a penalty stroke, expertly put away by Ian Foster. It remained one each at half-time despite multiple chances at both ends. In the second half Morpeth increased their pressure on the Hartlepool goal, but missed a series of good opportunities. In the end they were lucky to seal their victory with the last hit of the game, a fiercely struck penalty corner by Ian Foster.