AFTER an unlucky loss the previous week, Ben Rhydding women were eager to take the positives forward into the game against Olton & West Warwicks at the weekend.

Olton, who were playing host to Ben Rhydding this time around, had the brighter start with the visitors unable to set the tempo in the early stages of the game.

However, the defence held strong and dealt with the pressure accordingly.

It was an end-to-end game for the remainder of the first half, and it would be Rhydding who finally broke the deadlock on the 30th minute, with a straight strike from Rebecca Birch in one of many short corners.

The rest of the half was uneventful, but Poppy Lawson and Rachelle Le Bourdon defended strongly keep Olton at bay.

The second half began with Rhydding piling on the pressure and winning the ball high in the press. Olton had their chances but failed to convert them. It took until the 64th minute for Rhydding to double their lead with Lawson getting a well deserved goal to go alongside her woman of the match performance.

Rhydding held on to seal a 2-0 victory on the road to take the team into another long away fixture at Stourport next weekend.

Ben Rhydding men enter the last six games of the season recognising that all six opponents require points to either fight relegation or push themselves towards the league title.

Knowing the context of the league, Rhydding were expecting a tough game against a stubborn Beeston side at the weekend. The game started at a fiery pace with Beeston having the better of the chances. Thankfully some well organised defensive work lead by Ed Snelling meant Beeston were kept at bay.

Rhydding adapted their tactics and soon found their own, dominating in possession and moving the ball around nicely, resulting in some good circle entries.

Shortly after the half-time break Rhydding executed a fantastic passage of play from a 16 yard hit out leading to some nice link up play between Will Musgrave and Jesmeet Notay, who found Callum Franks in the circle who slotted home with a first touch shot.

As the game went on, the pressure started to build. Rhydding held their nerve through some excellent ball retention from Ross McMillan (player of the match) and saw Rhydding home to a third away win of the season and now they sit comfortably in 4th place, five points clear of 5th place.

Rhydding now divert their attention to playing top of the league side Lindum, who have just faced their first defeat of the season and given the history between Ben Rhydding and Lindum, at Lindum, it is set to be a fantastic affair.