Ben Rhydding 7 Stockton 3

Will Musgrave hit another home hat-trick as Ben Rhydding scored a magnificent seven to confirm their place at the top of the North Men's Division One as they go into a well-deserved Christmas break.

Despite being at the opposite end of the table, Stockton did not seem unduly worried about facing the leaders and certainly made a game of it.

An unfortunate start for them was an own goal, deflected off a defender who attempted to intercept a rocket shot from big Aussie Tynan Cassidy.

Young talent, Harry Sherlock, popped the second in to put them 2-0 up after great work from Danny Foster in the D.

Stockton had a flurry of possession and caught Rhydding off guard as a player popped up free at the top of the D and delivered an impressive flick into the top corner.

Stand-in keeper, Sam Robbins would have had to have pulled out a super-human save to have kept it out.

Unperturbed, Musgrave began his goal collection with a beautiful drag flick from a corner. Dave Exley was clinical and brave for number four, again from a slick corner routine and Neil Sugden made it 5-1 with a superb deflection.

It was a strange second half in places as Rhydding’s decision making suffered due to having too much time and space.

Stockton scored against the run of play when a forward found a gap on the far post.

Rhydding struggled to find their rhythm and tried to force the game.

As Stockton tired, Rhydding had even more room and it was difficult to up the pace with such a lack of pressure.

This led to poor decision making in their pass selection and frustration at the lack of flow.

Musgrave injected some sparkle by scoring two further goals.

One came from a lethal penalty and another with his trusty reverse flick.

Stockton kept battling away and claimed a consolation goal after unconvincing marking allowed a player to slot the ball between the keeper’s legs.