Pendle Forest Hockey Club’s first team battled hard at Durham University firsts last weekend but succumbed to a 5-2 defeat against the current Women’s Division One North leaders.

Forest felt the brunt of the Durham confidence as they surged forward from the whistle gaining a penalty corner after just two minutes.

The shot hit the back board after being deflected inside the left post giving the hosts an early lead.

There was solid tackling by Deb Bythell as Forest tried to find routes out of defence during the early minutes, only to be met with Durham hunting and tackling in packs making it difficult for the visitors to find a flow.

Just before quarter time, Durham struck again and managed to score down the left once more with a clinical, well-drilled penalty corner strike.

Forest ploughed on and an intercepted ball inside the 23 allowed them their first attempt on goal. It was Freya Bythell who made the shot but it narrowly missed at the left post.

Durham kept trying to stretch the play but Forest were reading it well and closing the gaps better as the game went on.

Their main purpose seemed to be just gaining the penalty corner advantage, and the hosts struck once more for a 3-0 lead, again from a penalty corner.

They played with a constant stream of roll on/roll off subs and further extended their lead to 4-0 by half time when the ball shot up, off a defender’s foot in the D, and found the roof of the net.

The second half was a different game, midfielders Liv and Freya Bythell finding gaps, winning the ball and at times split Durham apart.

Hannah Metcalf and Amelia Hatton also worked tirelessly down the wings troubling the Durham defence.

Forest were the next to score with a move starting from Izzy Tuck in defence. She played the ball out to star player Hatton on the wing, who worked the ball into the D with Steph Bedford, both taking out defenders along the way, culminating in Bedford striking hard at goal and putting Forest on the scoresheet.

Frustrated at conceding, Durham lost composure for a while and received two green cards, one for stick tackling and the other for body contact.

Forest went close again when Liv Bythell dribbled the ball through the midfield and along the back line, firing in her cross, and Bedford had to work hard but could not quite connect for the conversion.

Despite all the substitutes and fresh legs, Durham were not nearly as threatening in the second half.

Strong tackles from Ali Gee, Sam Parker and Mawgan Naylor in defence allowed Tuck to make ball carries out from the back.

And another card for Durham, this time a yellow, for unnecessary body contact, was given.

With the opposition down to 10, Forest had the opportunity of a penalty flick. Captain Liv Bythell stepped up and converted easily as the goalkeeper dived to her right.

Naylor was in action again blocking the path down the left, when it looked like Durham could break through again soon after, and with a solid tackle she stopped them in their tracks.

Although Forest had got themselves back in the game, it had come too late.

And the final goal came from Durham, in open play flying through a narrow gap and giving them a 5-2 victory, consolidating their top of the league position.

Forest remain sixth in the table and this weekend play at Pendle Vale against Olton and West Warwickshire (11.30am).

The seconds face Longridge seconds away and won 4-0, thanks to goals from Cathy Kilgallon (two), Lucy Daye and Autumn Crewe.

This weekend they host Windermere firsts at Pendle Vale (1.15pm).

A hat-trick from 13-year-old Freya Sugden - in her first season - secured a 3-3 draw for the thirds against Southport seconds.