Beeston 3 Ben Rhydding 3

BEN Rhydding Ladies first league match of the new Investec Conference North season saw them travel to Nottingham to face a Beeston side who came down from the Premier League.

Rhydding’s confidence was high following the summer signings of Amy Cordukes, Beth Cordukes and Sarah Whitehead to strengthen an already talented squad.

The game was played at a fast pace and Beeston took the lead, only for Rhydding to keep pressing Beeston’s weak defence to see Rachel Doherty open her account for the season. Chances came and went in the first half.

Beeston started the strongest and went 2-1 up early in the second half. But Rhydding were confident and kept winning the ball off the Beeston defence which led to four consecutive penalty corners.

Jo Ellis’s strike was bundled over the line by Doherty to claim her second of the match.

Some fantastic play down the left saw Ellis taken down by the Beeston keeper. Ellis slotted the ball home to Rhydding to have a 3-2 lead with ten minutes left.

Beeston pushed hard in the dying minutes and drew level at 3-3.