Kendal 3 Ben Rhydding 3

Ben Rhydding managed to snatch a draw from the jaws of victory in their Investec Women's National League Conference North clash.

They were 2-0 up after just seven minutes but the Ilkley side took their foot off the pedal and let their opponents back into the game.

Rhydding got their tactics spot on in the opening stages.

Knowing that Kendal liked to push players forward in large numbers, Rhydding left two of their strikers high up the pitch.

A quick ball out of their defending D from Fran Holmes-Brown up to Sarah Bell created a counter attack.

After one more pass from Jen Wilson to fellow striker Rachel Doherty and the ball was in the net.

Five minutes later a similar move saw Doherty score again. This time it was Jodie Bridger and Laura Smith who sent to the ball forward at pace.

The pressure continued with Jess Purvis and Beth Pawson taking advantage of the space up front and creating a string of penalty corners.

But as Rhydding’s chances went begging the home team began to grow in confidence and momentum started to swing in their favour.

After a sustained spell of pressure Kendal converted a penalty corner.

Rachelle Le Bourdon at full back and goalkeeper Charlotte Smith did a great job of fighting off Kendal’s forwards as the home side attacked early in the second half.

Kendal’s tactic clearly was to press Rhydding down into their right defensive corner and to force them to switch the ball over to the left and this caused them some problems.

Kendal’s persistence paid and they scored an equaliser.

The visitors’ heads did not go down, forwards Kate Hesketh and Laura Smith linked up well attacking high up the pitch.

This created space in the middle of the D for Jen Wilson to deftly lift the ball over the approaching goalkeeper to put Rhydding 3-2 up.

With five minutes left Rhydding's concentration slipped and allowed Kendal to equalise.

Rhydding are at home on Saturday against Loughborough (1.30pm) and face their former coach James Ross.