Ben Rhydding 2 Durham University 4

Despite producing a much-improved performance and taking the lead twice, Ben Rhydding could not manage to hold on to gain their first Investec Ladies Conference North win of the season.

Rhydding have discovered that there is little to distinguish the teams in this league and whoever turns on that little something extra on the day will emerge the victor, but a little luck sometimes plays its part too.

After only four minutes Rhydding took the lead from a penalty corner which was skill- fully deflected over the Durham keeper by striker Rachel Doherty.

The home side continued with their relentless pressure. Hard running in the midfield by Jess Purvis and Sarah Bell ensured the students were closed down quickly and did not have any time on the ball.

Durham had a short spell of opportunities which were confidently quashed by the tackling of defender Fran Holmes-Brown and lightning-quick reactions from keeper Charlotte Smith.

Durham found some space down the right, the ball was somehow deflected into the path of their centre forward. She pulled the trigger quickly and to the dismay of the Rhydding players the ball found the back of the net.

Rhydding were not disheart- ened as they knew they could rely on their improved fitness and persistent pressure.

Everyone pushed forward led by Jo Taylor on the right flank. Tanisha Jansen slotted through a perfect pass for Doherty on the edge of the D.

She dodged her defender and slipped the ball to Eleanor Trafford who cleverly angled her reverse stick to dink the ball over the approaching keeper.

Rhydding were in the lead once again, but this did not last long. Durham pulled one straight back from another quick break. In the second half the Ilkley side patiently continued to play the ball round the back.

Rachelle Le Bourdon’s accurate distribution initiated much excitement up front.

Jodie Bridger enjoyed lots of possession in the middle and linked up well with Jen Wilson to put the Durham defence under some uncomfortable pressure.

But once again Rhydding let their concentration slip and conceded a string of penalty corners. A bit of bad luck in the defensive D, combined with some curious umpiring decisions meant Rhydding found it very difficult to clear the ball out of danger.

Two well-taken penalty corner strikes from Durham in the space of five minutes made it 4-2 in the visitors’ favour.

Kate Hesketh and Laura Smith showed their Yorkshire tenacity and forced a couple more penalty corners for the Ilkley side before the end, but Rhydding’s chances had run out and the final whistle blew.

Rhydding are travelling south on Saturday to tackle league new-comers Stourport hoping for that first victory.