2nd Apr 2022 Mens 1st v Lindum(Away) 2 - 0 win
Ben Rhydding took the long road to Lindum and put on a brave and magnificent display of hockey to beat Lindum in a ‘must win’ game and take their place at the top of the North Premier League. The Lindum supporters in their hundreds were loud and vicious but Rhydding maintained a clinical focus and got on with the job. Some impressive, valiant defending kept Lindum out and Rhydding came close on several occasions but the score at half time was 0-0. Rhydding had the better hockey with Lindum playing a physical game plan and were visibly tiring as they went into the break.
Rhydding took a well deserved lead when Will Musgrave floated the perfect ball down the line for George Gamble to collect and work the baseline committing Lindum’s defence before popping the ball into space for Callum Franks to finish. With 20 minutes still on the clock, Rhydding held onto this precious lead for what seemed like an eternity. With a goal being disallowed along the way, and Callum Franks sustaining a head injury, Rhydding were steely and composed, slowly taking their game up a final notch as Lindum began to finally fade. With two minutes on the clock, an aerial of perfect precision from Matty Birch to Charlie Smith gave Rhydding a text book 2v1 with Mark Portnell sliding in to score the winner.
Rhydding maintained their focus in the midst of many phases of chaos and showed true class to ride out an ugly game to become the valiant and rightful victors.
Next Saturday see the final game of the season against Sheffield Bakers at home, when a win will seal promotion to the National League for this band of true warriors.