After almost three months without a fixture, Lincoln travel to Wilmslow, Manchester with a depleted 10 men. Lincoln are without many key players including joint-leading goalscorer Sam Cave, and most of their defence including Sam Deakin, Toby James and Will Monnery. They start with just two poles, Anthony Burnell and vice-captain Sam Smith, and Lincoln University fresher Ollie Smith makes his first appearance in NEMLA, starting on the attack line. Lincoln need to dictate the tempo and control possession to compete in a fixture that has been dominated by Liverpool in the last two years.

Michael Barker wins the first draw, but in their attempt to slow the game down, Lincoln get caught in possession and quickly turn the ball over. Despite having not picked up a goalie stick for weeks, tender Jon Stamper makes some strong early saves, but Liverpool go on a 4-goal run in the first quarter. Lincoln draw a flag but remain scoreless.

The second quarter tells a different story, and Jake Stenhouse offers the spark that Lincoln missed in the first. In his signature no-nonesense style, he capitalises on poor goaltending and unsettled opportunities, quickly scoring two well-placed mid-range shots. At the other end of the field, a combination of patient defence and wayward shooting denies Liverpool from answering back. Takeaways by Sam Smith and Anthony Burnell keep the ball in Lincoln's sticks, and good communication from the ten men allow them to share the load in transition. The half comes to a close with Dan Jones drawing a slide from behind the cage and finding the hot stick of Jake Stenhouse, who completes his hat-trick in one quarter. 4-3 to Liverpool.

In the second half Lincoln's tired legs and waning concentration begin to show. Liverpool start to address their shooting form, and a number of times red jerseys are left wide open 10 yards from the cage in unsettled situations. Lincoln claw one back with Dan Jones finding Aiden Jakubik at a tight angle across the crease, but Lincoln find themselves 8-4 down with little left in the tank for the final quarter.

Liverpool begin to shoot with confidence in the fourth and the floodgates begin to open - they double their goal tally in the final quarter. Lincoln have no more answers in the 6v6, but try to push the ball in transition, where Ollie Smith becomes a threat in his first appearance. Showing awareness and exchanging passes with captain Dan Jones in the fast break, he hits the pipe and makes an assist, drawing a flag in the process. Nevertheless, the game finishes with perhaps a flattering score to Liverpool given Lincoln's fight in the meat of the game.

Undisputed man of the match: Jake Stenhouse, finishing with 4 goals