Ben Rhydding 2 Durham University 2nds 3

BEN Rhydding played some stunning hockey away at Durham but still ended up on the wrong end of the result.

The new-look side is beginning to gel at last and it was a terrible blow to let this game slip through their fingers.

Stunning midfield work from Rob Ramsden and excellent impact play from Kieran Borrett gave the students all kinds of problems.

Good composure from Andy Harkins and intelligent passing from Joe Drakard meant that Rhydding had the upper hand.

However, against the run of play, Durham earned a corner and an unlucky deflection off big defender, Callum Connor saw the ball spin up into the goal over the keeper who had already gone to ground.

This was most unfortunate and hard to bear. However it was quickly followed by a second for Durham as keeper Cam Herbert saw a shot drop into the goal despite him getting a glove to it.

Rhydding got back in the game with a move that began and ended with Ramsden, dropping the ball out of congestion and re-appearing in the circle for Max Helme to skillfully turn the ball out of a tight defence for Ramsden to fire home.

Rhydding came out hard in the second half and levelled the scores early on. Callum Connor, Helme and Will Musgrave created the chance for Ethan Hodson to equalise. Circle entries were even in the second half but the students converted another corner after a slip to an outside player gave him all the time in the world to pick his spot.

At 3-2 down, the game was slipping away from Ben Rhydding. With five minutes to go, coaches Demy Dowley and Jono McMillan made the brave decision to take the keeper off and this very nearly paid off as with extra men Rhydding went on the counter and almost scored.

However, with two key players then being sent off, this plan could not succeed.