30th Mar 2019 Mens 1st v Neston(Home) 2 - 1 win

Ben Rhydding, who knew from the start that only a win would do to gain promotion, were up against a strong Neston side that had secured promotion the previous Saturday. From the outset Ben Rhydding dominated and the large crowd gave plenty of support but the tension showed and the smooth play that we are used to was hard to find. Rhydding won the occasional short corner but were unable to find a way through the Neston defence and went into half time goalless. With regular coach, Demy Dowley, having to watch a live stream of the game from her temporary base in New Zealand it was up to assistant coach Warwick Smither to lead the half time talk and instil more confidence in the team. 10 minutes into the second half swa a change in tactics at the short corner and a well drilled conversion by Myles Locke to give Rhydding the lead. Rhydding kept competing and looking for the second goal but it was Neston who found the net from their first short corner to take it to 1-1 with 10 minutes to go.

Rhydding sacrificed their goalkeeper in search of the winner and had to rely on a great defensive tackle from Matt Birch to save them from conceding a second goal to Neston.

Then, with just a minute left on the clock a pass into the D from Lewis Wild was deflected goalwards into the air by Charlie Smith before Man of the Match, Dave McCollum smashed it into the back of the net to give Rhydding the winner and seal 3rd place in the league. Next season they will play in the North Premier League.