ON Saturday 5 March, the Ben Rhydding Hockey Club's Women’s first team hosted Gloucester City.

In the reverse fixture before Christmas, Rhydding were disappointed with a narrow defeat, so set out with a point to prove against the team sitting two points ahead of them in the league table.

The game started with Rhydding on the front foot; pressing Gloucester hard and winning the ball high up the pitch.

There were some early chances in the first quarter for Rebecca Birch and Kellie Baxter, who were both denied by good saves from the Gloucester goalkeeper.

Gloucester gradually came into the game, creating a couple of good chances by catching Ben Rhydding on the break.

Charlotte Smith in goal, Tanisha Janzen and Becca O’Toole worked hard to break down the attack.

Rhydding started the second half in better shape, with Sophie Davies and Jess Purvis dominating midfield.

The deadlock was finally broken by Rachel Doherty after creative play down the right hand side by Flick Woolley.

There were some nervy moments in the final quarter, where Rhydding sustained a number of successive penalty corners. Thanks to brave defending from Kirsty Goodbold, the final whistle blew and Rhydding were able to keep a clean sheet and take all three points and go above Gloucester in the table, 1-0.

Next week Rhydding Women travel away to league leaders University of Nottingham.

At the Coutances Way ground on Saturday the Ben Rhydding Men play Chesterfield at 2.30pm - entry is free. Lindum now sit a point above Ben Rhydding at the top of the Yorkshire & North East Premier Divison - and with each team having five games to play it well well come down to the mgame between the two sides in three weeks time.  REPORT BY: Jodie Bridger