Chester 0 Ben Rhydding 3

Ben Rhydding ensured they were still in the running to win the Northern Premier Women’s League title with a comfortable win.

Chester were anticipating a tough game and from the start, they adopted a half-court press and put all 11 players behind the ball.

However this played right into Rhydding’s hands and they piled the pressure on and pushed Chester further back into their own half.

Kate Hesketh’s silky skills had the home side’s defence struggling to regain possession.

The visitors took the lead after just ten minutes when Emma Thornbury found it far too easy to lose her marker in the D and put her shot away from a Hesketh cut back from the back line.

Vicky Winters nearly doubled the lead minutes later but the Chester keeper got a foot to the ball to tip it wide of the post.

Rhydding had countless chances but failed to convert them until five minutes before half-time when young star Fiona Jordan rounded her defender and cleverly slipped the ball past the out coming keeper to Rachel Doherty who tapped the ball into an open net.

Ben Rhydding were awarded a penalty flick on the stroke of half -time, when Hesketh was chopped down in front of goal. But the Chester goalkeeper made a good save and kept the score at 2-0.

Despite Chester starting the second half more positively, Ben Rhydding’s defence stood firm.

The visitors missed some good chances before making it 3-0.

Jodie bridger made a strong run into the D before scoring with a shot which went through the goalkeeper’s legs.

Ben Rhydding have a another double header this weekend taking on Sheffield at home on Saturday 1.30pm and visiting third placed Whitley Bay on Sunday.