Hockey: Rochdale Ladies 3 - 0 Didsbury Northern Ladies 6s

Jenny Banks scores her 22nd of the season

Rochdale Ladies took on Didsbury Northern 6s on Saturday at Oulder Hill and consolidated their top of the division status and continued their 100% league record.

From start to finish Rochdale dominated and Didsbury were constantly on the back foot.

Rochdale’s opener came from Becky Knowles, picking the ball up she to attacked the D, as soon as she had cleared the line, there was only one thing on her mind and the shot nestled neatly in the bottom corner.

Setting the tone and tempo, the Rochdale midfield were magnificent with Paula McDonald and Gemma Hodcroft-Dore not allowing Didsbury to settle.

Jenny Banks picked up on a loose ball, shooting from the right hand side across the keeper and in to the left corner.  That was 2-0 to Rochdale and Banks’s 22nd goal in six games this season.

The pressure continued, with very little in reply from Didsbury and the match was sealed when Roisin Pickering scored a sublime reverse stick from the top D.

The win put Rochdale five points clear at the top of the table with daylight between them and second place University of Manchester Thirds.

The player-of-the-match went to Roisin Pickering for her tireless display in midfield.

Captain Kie Leech said: “I’m delighted with the way we are playing at the moment, our mid-field is so strong and dominant.

"Next Sunday we are away to local rivals Oldham, so that will be a tough test for us.

"There’s a long way to go yet in this campaign, but I can’t ask for anymore effort on or off the pitch than I’m currently getting.”