Bridger and company left to rue missed opportunities (From Ilkley Gazette)

Jodie Bridger and company left to rue Ben Rhydding's missed opportunities

1:50pm Thursday 27th September 2012 in Sport By Sportsdesk

Ben Rhydding 1, Doncaster 4

This was a bitter pill to swallow last Saturday as Ben Rhydding lost their second Women's Conference North game in succession, having dominated play and possession.

With first-choice keeper Holly Crank absent, Rhydding’s aim was to defend well and attack with pace and confidence.

For the first 20 minutes, the home side achieved this, preventing Doncaster from making any meaningful attacks while creating several impressive goal-scoring opportunities themselves.

Against the run of play, Doncaster took the lead after making the most of a defensive error in the Rhydding D and firing a shot into the far corner of the goal.

The hosts were not deterred however, and, confident in their dominance, they pressed forward.

Jess Purvis and Sarah Bell, showing skill and pace down the right, won two penalty corners which Rhydding failed to convert.

Shortly before half-time, another defensive lapse was punished by the experienced Doncaster forwards, Rhydding watching in disbelief as the ball crossed the line to put the visitors 2-0 ahead.

Rhydding got off to the worst possible start to the second half, conceding an early goal.

Although disappointed, the home side kept fighting and immediately replied by winning a penalty corner from a Kate Hesketh run into the D.

Captain Jodie Bridger slipped the ball past the Doncaster keeper, bringing the score back to 3-1 but with five minutes left, after more Rhydding pressure, Doncaster converted a dubious penalty flick.

On Saturday, Ben Rhydding are at Wakefield (1.30).