Slazengers Ladies first team travelled to Ben Rhydding expecting a hard match but hoping to consolidate the top slot in the Yorkshire Premier league they regained last weekend. In their previous meeting in November the 3-3 draw was one of only 2 matches the firsts have not won this season.
The first half was dominated by Ben Rhydding however. They passed and moved better than Slaz and brought some desperate saves from goalie Eleanor Townend. Slaz had one or two attacks though and Jessica Rudge was denied by a smothering tackle when one on one with the goalie. With a few minutes to go in the first half Slaz took the lead with a well taken short corner which Mandy Smith lobbed over the defence and keeper and dropped just under the crossbar.
The second half performance was much better with several attacks by Clare Mills and player of the match Katie Firth but the final shot always eluded them. Slaz also had several short corners which came to nothing. Despite all this Slaz pressure Ben Rhydding equalised with a short corner of their own making the last 15 minutes tense. Slaz defender Kerry Rollin-Inman made a clearance off the line before keeper Eleanor had everyone’s heart’s in their mouths as she left a harmless looking through ball which was pounced on by a Ben Rhydding forward who missed an open goal. There was a sense of both relief and disappointment when the final whistle went at 1-1.
From match played at Ben Rhydding hockey club in 5th March 2011
