Timperley 3 Ben Rhydding Men’s 1sts 4

Ben Rhydding won an ugly and at times vicious match which saw their opponents have three players sent off.

The result means that Ben Rhydding are joint top of the North Premier League.

They recovered from conceding an early goal from a penalty corner to establish a 4-1 lead before the game turned nasty.

The impressive Connor Dowley combined with winger Alex White and Josh Sykes to set up an equaliser.

Dowley also provided the pass that enabled Luke Lambert to score the second goal with an impressive reverse sweep into the top corner.

Ben Rhydding were playing fluently and they emphasised their growing dominance with two goals by Sam French.

He produced a pair of dazzling drag flicks from penalty corners.

The first rocketed into the bottom corner and the second flew into the top of the net.

Going into the break 4-1 up, Rhydding could have been forgiven for thinking they might trounce Timperley.

No one could have foreseen how the second half was to unfold.

Timperley came out hard and changed from half court to an aggressive full court press. Temp-eratures rose and skipper Dave Exley did well to keep a tight rein on his players as they mopped up a phase of unpleasant hockey.

First to see red was the Timperley goalkeeper who came hurtling out and scythed him down Lambert outside the circle.

He was duly sent off and Timperley had to face a penalty corner without him.

They put a player on the line in a helmet and set up to face Rhydding knowing French was preparing to drag flick at them.

As French began to unleash his signature move, a Timperley player ran into him and delivered a forearm to his face. Meanwhile, the player on the goal line volleyed the ball like a baseball shot, hitting Joe Dowley on the shoulder.

With the two youngsters lying face down on the pitch, the game threatened to dissolve completely. The umpire chose only to dismiss the player who struck French.

French was taken from the field, and given treatment as the Ben Rhydding lads pulled together to fight on.

Timperley scored twice in this half but had a further player sent off for extreme dissent.

This Saturday Ben Rhydding face a testing home game against Bowdon (1.30pm).