Ben Rhydding 5 Sheffield Hallam 2nds 1

This was table-topping Rhydding’s best performance to date. They ruthlessly unpicked their oppos- ition as they produced 70 minutes of beautiful hockey.

It took less than five minutes for Ben Rhydding to open the scoring with a boom of a drag flick from Connor Dowley.

The home side settled into their rhythm and began stroking passes around the pitch, working relentlessly off the ball to make connections slick and easy.

George Sweeting made it 2-0 with a strong scramble in front of goal.

Sheffield got one back against the run of play after a bizarre aerial ball was allowed to fall into a crowd of players in the D but went unblown and was half volleyed into the net.

Rhydding did not allow this to unsettle them and Josh Sykes soon edged them further ahead with an impressive shot smashed in from the top of the D.

Tynan Cassidy had a good day and found his spot many times, connecting from the left hand side with his forwards.

The telepathy between full backs, Connor Dowley and David Exley saw a secure and mobile defensive unit ebb and flow with the game and Harry Bush was given freedom at right half to enter midfield regularly.

David Carter was pro-active in goal and joined his defence in creating play from the back.

His overhead kick to clear to the halfway line demonstrated his pedigree and drew applause from the crowd.

Neil Sugden cruised around the midfield and showed his usual art at centre half while Kieran Borrett once again was dominant throughout the game.

It was a just reward for skipper Exley to get on the scoresheet after a brave connection on the post at a corner to stretch his team’s lead to 4-1.

The last word inevitably had to go to Will Musgrave, the life blood of the team, scored with a reverse slot against his old club.

Despite winning seven out of seven, Rhydding will not get complacent because they are determined to raise their standards consistently.