Ben Rhydding 4 Durham University 2nds 1

BEN Rhydding boosted their chances of avoiding relegation from the North Premier League with a well-deserved victory.

They executed their game plan clinically and also showed mental strength.

Danny Foster scored early with a brilliant sliding deflection from a well-timed ball from Myles Locke.

Beautiful midfield work from Neil Sugden and Robert Ramsden was a class above anything that Durham could provide in what was an end-to-end game for most of the first half.

Rhydding stretched their lead with a reverse shot from Connor Dowley into the roof of the net, and the home side began to look happy and confident.

Elliot Dowley made a high-impact comeback after nearly a year out following knee surgery.

From the start of the second half, Dowley began a series of short connections involving Franks, Ramsden and Tim Zillessen.

Dowley sucked the defence in before slipping the ball to Danny Foster, who scored his second goal.

Goalkeeper Will Rutter pulled off some astonishing saves as Rhydding went through an extremely wobbly spell.

They had to battle to keep their shape and they needed Locke to show his excellence time and again as one of the best full backs in the league.

A freak moment led to a reply from Durham. The ball popped up into the sky from a clash of sticks, and fell into the circle in front of a Durham forward.

This setback spurred Rhydding into finding a second wind as they cranked up the pace again.

Good work from Andrew Clemerson on the flank gave Callum Franks the chance to pick his moment to find Zillessen.

He showed chilling composure to tease the keeper out before slotting the ball through his legs to seal a sweet victory.

Rhydding will need to maintain this resurgence against Oxton at home on Saturday (3pm) if they are to claw further away from relegation.