A LATE winning goal by Ben Rhydding was disallowed as visitors Durham University 2nds came away with a 3-3 draw in a spectacular game of quality hockey.

The home side went ahead quickly as they realised the students were buckling under the early pressure. Matty Birch opened the scoring from a well-won corner.

They scored a second shortly thereafter, coming from the solid possession of Neil Sugden, finished off neatly at the post by Matty Bairstow.

Rhydding did not expect to find themselves 2-0 up so easily, but knew that Durham would be right back at them and the first corner they got they buried to close the gap to 2-1.

Rhydding had more chances than Durham and could have put the game to bed had they made more clinical decisions in the circle.

David Birch’s quick thinking won them a corner and Will Musgrave made no mistake to take it to 3-1.

However, the students were full of fight and a goal from a corner put them back in the game.

In the last 10 minutes, Durham put Rhydding under the pump and converted a simple goal to equalise.

The high-energy levels continued and Rhydding could only weep when they scored the winner courtesy of David Birch, only for it to be disallowed.