IT was a youthful Ruthin Hockey Club side that played out a 2-2 draw at Eirias Seconds.

Ten of the 13 Ruthin players who made the trip were under the age of 18.

Eirias started strongly and put a lot of pressure on Ruthin’s young squad.

Ruthin’s players tended to be on the back foot and seemed to stand back from tackles, with Eirias then winning the ball.

Once Ruthin got possession, they panicked and hit the ball to anywhere instead of looking for their players.

Eirias managed to win a short corner with a straight strike into the goal to take the lead and this was the wake-up call Ruthin needed.

Ruthin didn’t allow their heads to drop after that goal and they started to settle towards the end of the first half, with some good passing.

Llio Thomas managed to run down the right wing, tactically moving the ball through the Eirias players.

Her straight strike on goal came off the Eirias goalkeeper and Llio managed to get the rebound into the goal to make it 1-1 at half time.

The interval team talk from Linda Harrison and Gwyneth Day emphasised the need to keep playing simple hockey and not to panic and overcomplicate things.

Llio Bryn Jones had a superb game in the left back position, managing to intercept a pass between Eirias players and make an incredible run up the left wing.

She fed the ball into the D where Llio Thomas was waiting and her incredible finish went into the back of the goal.

Ruthin’s confidence grew in the second half, with much more possession and more accurate passing to find space in the Eirias defensive line.

The visitors were unlucky not to get another goal after winning a short corner, however the Eirias defence was strong.

When Eirias managed to win a short corner in the last 10 minutes, Ruthin’s defence was very unlucky.

A straight strike clipped a Ruthin player’s stick and deflected into the top corner of the goal.

Ruthin's players' player of the match went to Llio Bryn Jones.

The last game of the season is at home on Saturday against Dysynni 2nds.