Nelson Pendle Forest 2 Ben Rhydding Ladies 7

BEN Rhydding maintained their lead in the North League with an impressive victory over rivals who have yet to gain a point.

Ben Rhydding were feeling confident of securing a win, however nothing could be taken for granted as Pendle Forest had proven to be tough opposition for them in both the home and away fixtures last season.

Rhydding started very strong and within 15 minutes they were 3-0 up thanks to an excellent penalty corner strike from the Irish midfielder Rebecca Dallas with the second and third goals following from Jess Purvis and veteran striker Rachel Doherty.

Just before half time Doherty added another to make it 4-0.

Pendle Forest did not capitulate, and as Rhydding took their foot off the pedal they pulled a goal back five minutes into the second half.

The feisty Lancastrians scored from a penalty corner.

Buoyed by their first goal, Pendle Forest started the fightback and shortly after scored another from a loose ball that Rhydding had failed to clear.

Some great defensive work by Rhydding’s back three of Holmes-Brown, Fox and Fisher held Pendle Forest off for another ten minutes, and then a trademark mazy run through midfield into the D from Rhydding’s Sarah Bell produced a penalty corner which was deftly converted by Doherty for her hat-trick. From then on it was all Rhydding.

Some impressive dribbling and tricky skills from Amy Wilson and forward Kate Hesketh won Rhydding another penalty corner which Dallas coolly converted by flicking the ball into the top corner of the goal giving the keeping no chance to save.

Eleanor Trafford finished the game off by skillfully sweeping the ball into the back of the net to make the final score a convincing 7-2 to Ben Rhydding.

With three points in the bag and still top of the North League, Rhydding travelled back over the border into Yorkshire happy.