North Men's Premier League: Ben Rhydding 3 Alderley Edge 6

BEN Rhydding began their last-gasp scrap quite well and had flurries of promise in the first ten minutes against a very strong Alderley Edge side.

George Gamble and Matty Bairstow posed a real threat going forward, and Robert Ramsden won his battle in midfield.

However, the visitors were clinical in punishing errors and seized upon a turnover to score the first goal in a flash of quick connections from short range.

Rhydding spent ten minutes defending valiantly but a corner was mopped up after the first save, and a goalmouth scramble ended favourably for Alderley, giving them a 2-0 lead.

Just before half-time, Alderley’s star player danced around the Rhydding defence but had to beat Chris McSherry in goal twice to be rewarded.

A penalty stroke made it 4-0 and they got their fifth from a stunning corner routine.

Rhydding then showed great character in coming back into the game.

Sam Stewart, with admirable tenacity, scored from a difficult angle to give his team some hope, and Bairstow showed his class with a quality finish on his reverse to claw the score back to 5-2.

Alderley were quick to reply with a goal on the break, however, to make it 6-2.

Bairstow was not ready to lie down though and scored another to draw the gap closer but it was too little too late for Rhydding, who now have to wait for the results in the league above to decide their fate.