Leaders Ben Rhydding dropped their first points of he season and surrendered their unbeaten record as they started the new year in disappointing style.

A harsh double header that saw them visit Preston and Gateshead left them with plenty to think about.

A 1-1 draw at Preston – the first time they had failed to win a league game – was followed by a 3-2 defeat away to second-placed Gateshead in their 13th game of the campaign.

It means that they have had their lead cut to three points and Gateshead have a game in hand.

Preston looked significantly stronger than in their first meeting. It was end to end stuff and a total of 17 corners forced by the two teams failed to produce a single goal.

Rhydding’s defence was outstanding throughout the weekend and David Exley and Connor Dowley worked together in both winning the ball and setting up attacks.

David Carter was pure quality in goal and had an answer to everything that was thrown at him.

The Preston keeper also had a good day and survived an absolute peppering from Rhydding.

Rhydding had a penalty corner disallowed for a suspected foot on the way in and this was a harrowing moment just when they had taken the upper hand.

Rhydding certainly looked the better side as they came out in the second half and built several good passages of play.

Kieran Borrett was dominant in midfield and put in a stunning performance.

Tynan Cassidy was influential in creating good attacks and Josh Sykes bravely connected with a great ball in to score a superb deflection to put his side ahead.

With just minutes on the clock, confusion over an umpiring decision gave Preston an opportunity to equalise.

Sunday’s match at Gateshead was the best of the season so far.

Rhydding were sparkling for the first ten minutes and Gateshead were left reeling under the pressure.

George Sweeting ran their defence ragged and made many good quality connections to set up dangerous circle entries.

This was rewarded with Danny Foster’s trademark goal scoring technique – a brave sliding deflection onto a big ball in from Cassidy to put his side 1-0 up.

Gateshead retaliated hard and fast so Carter in goal had to show his prowess.

He pulled out four astonishing saves against four drag flicks from corners.

It was an open play goal that brought Gateshead the equaliser after a period of relentless pressure.

The power then shifted back to Rhydding who did the same to Gateshead.

Connor Dowley sent some superb aerials and long balls through to set the forwards off and Neil Sugden was unstoppable in the middle.

A bullet of a ball could not be controlled by a Gateshead defender and an own goal meant Rhydding went 2-1 ahead as they went into the break.

In the second half, both teams were weary but battled on, in a compelling contest.

Exley led his troops by example and carefully controlled the back of the pitch strongly and reliably.

The defence stayed disciplined and made some unbelievable tackles. Callum Hodson was hard to beat on the right.

Sugden, Kieran Borrett, Alex White and Tom Zillessen all worked hard as Rhydding built immaculately from the back through to the attacking circle.They just could not find a finish while Gateshead took their limited opportunities clinically.

An impressive deflection into the roof of the net put them level and shortly after a very quick delivery of a shot despite being tackled gave them the winner.

A corner on the final whistle gave Rhydding a glimmer of hope but it was not to be and they were beaten for the first time.