Men’s 1sts off to dream start

Halifax 1st 8 – Ben Rydding 3rds 0

Jones 3, Graham 2, Love, Bairstow, Bamforth

Halifax opened their Yorkshire league campaign with an emphatic win. Matthew Graham’s new look side contained 2 youngsters making their 1st team debut’s; Mathew Bairstrow and Kristian Mayland stepping up from the successful 3rd team last year and a number of other changes in personnel.

Halifax started strongly and had early chances to take the lead, but were kept in the game by man of the match Mathew Metcalfe in goal who made 3 excellent saves in quick succession after sweeper Leigh Walker was given a collection of hospital passes which let the Rydding forwards in on goal.

Halifax pressure finally told after Tom Love was put through on goal and scored with a neat reverse stick shot which left the Rhydding keeper stranded. Michael Jones then converted from a slick short corner with a drag flick which the keeper could only deflect goal wards. Matthew Graham piled on the pressure with shot from a tight angle finding the bottom corner of the goal having been fed by Josh Foreman.

The first 10 minutes of the 2nd half were where the game was won as Rydding pushed for a goal but were shut out by Walker, Jon Sutcliffe and Sam Spencer at the back. Matt Bairstow put the icing on a great debut when he got on the end of a flowing move down the right following good work from the ever green Richard Marshall back in the 1st team after a couple of years in Wales.

A moment of petulance nearly saw Josh Sutcliffe sin binned which took the shine off an otherwise solid display and led to his immediate substitution.

Michael Jones then scored the goal of the game from the top of D with screamer to the top corner. He converted his 3rd for a hat trick with a simple tap in.

Jake Bamforth and Capt Graham completed the rout as Rydding heads well and truly went down