Brooklands Poynton 2 Ben Rhydding 1

Ben Rhydding rounded off their first season back in the Investec Women's Conference North with a narrow defeat at Brooklands Poynton in the only game to beat the weather.

They started the match with a lot to play for as a win or a draw would confirm survival in the league, and give them a respectable seventh-place finish.

Ben Rhydding knew they were in for a tough test as this was the third time that the sides had met this season.

The girls stuck to their game plan and started strongly, with some great possession hockey.

Rachelle Le Bourdon and Rebecca Fox transferred the ball with pin-point accuracy across the pitch, to release Fran Holmes and Jo Taylor on the wings.

Rhydding gradually built pressure on the home side and created a number of chances.

Abbie Brant and Kate Hesketh both had shots that were saved by the opposition goalkeeper.

As Rhydding built more pressure, Brooklands caught them on the break and created a penalty corner against the run of play which they converted to take a 1-0 half-time lead.

Rhydding were determined to stick to their game plan after the break and it paid off.

Midfielders Jen Wilson, Jess Purvis and Eleanor Trafford worked tirelessly putting Brooklands under pressure.

Purvis stripped the Brooklands defender of the ball and fed Brant in the D.

Brant dodged one defender before slipping it past the goalkeeper and into the path of Hesketh who slotted the ball home.

Brooklands then responded with a number of chances, forcing goal- keeper Jo Carpay into a number of quality saves.

The pressure on the defensive unit was too much though, and the Rhydding resilience finally broke. Brooklands scored with five minutes left to play.

Officially Ben Rhydding have not secured survival. They remain three points ahead and have a goal difference of 15 over Liverpool Sefton who have one game left to play against Wakefield & Bradford.