Ben Rhydding 1 Durham University 2nd 1

This was a very frustrating game for Ben Rhydding who played some passages of outstanding hockey but could not really put the North Men's Premier League game to bed when they had the chance.

The students kept fighting to the bitter end and fully deserved a late equaliser.

Rhydding had the upper hand for the first part of the game and their rivals could not get in the circle thanks to solid defensive work from David Exley and Connor Dowley and touch-tight marking from Ali Jordan and Andy Clemer- son.

It took only ten minutes for Rhydding to take the lead with an absolute screamer of a goal from Will Musgrave.

Thereafter they battled to build on this lead and frustration set in. Poor decisions led to key errors and David Carter was forced to make the first of many stunning saves. Durham came out hard after the break. Carter made a couple of fine saves and Connor Dowley took one off the line.

Superb corner defence also denied any chance via this route for the students.

Rhydding rode this spell out and began to piece together some flashes of magic. Tom Zillessen was so unlucky not to score when he slid in at the far post and touched it just wide from a Musgrave cross. However, Durham bit back and put the pressure on.

A poor pass into Neil Sugden forced a turnover and the Uni versity took the chance to equalise.

Rhydding showed some superb movement in reply but the final connections were not quite made.

The last five minutes belonged to Durham as they bombarded the home defence.