Ben Rhydding 4 Leeds Gryphons 5

Ben Rhydding were made to pay for an insipid first-half performance as they suffered an agonising Men's North Premier League defeat.

They lacked any spark and were guilty of naivety as they were torn apart by their opponents.

Brave defending by Neil Sugden steered Rhydding away from early embarrassment but it was inevitable that Leeds’ star player was going to score if he was not marked.

He put Leeds ahead effort- lessly after just five minutes and Rhydding began to tighten up.

Good press formation denied Leeds further chances and Kieran Borrett bundled home an equaliser after George Sweeting carried strongly.

Rhydding crumbled again and messy defending drew a corner and Carl Smith from Gryphons calmly picked his spot for a quality drag flick to make it 2-1.

Minutes later, he seized on a careless ball and sent an easy pass to an unmarked player on the post to pop in number three.

The fourth goal came from another great pass from Leeds’ Smith who was under no pressure as he slotted a lethal ball into the circle through an unset defence to a choice of two unmarked players.

It was as though a different team took the field after half-time. Borrett subdued Leeds’ star player from the start. Within minutes Elliot Dowley sent a perfect ball to Borrett at the top of the circle and he slid it home.

Ben Rhydding were more urgent in their challenges and they were winning more ball.

Ali Jordan made a superb tackle and then broke away on the counter attack, eliminating several pockets of players before floating the ball to the deadly Will Musgrave.

He delivered one his signature passes into the circle for George Sweeting to make a beautiful connection and put the home side back in the game at 4-3.

Cranking up the pressure and defending bravely, Rhydding were to be rewarded with the equaliser when Sweeting was on hand to mop up the dregs of a corner.

It was a well-earned comeback and the crowd were certainly getting good value in this roller-coaster game but in a cruel twist of fate, Leeds managed to take advantage of a strange break in play as big Callum Connor had to be carried from the pitch with a nasty leg injury.

Rhydding were unsettled and a third party obstruction was allowed to go unchecked as Leeds took the ball and drove towards the circle.

Slotting the winner in the nick of time was a sickener for Rhydding and even Leeds knew how lucky they were to snatch the victory.