Hockey: Leyland & Chorley Firsts 1 - 5 Rochdale Firsts

James Shepherd

The last game before the Christmas break and half way point in the season saw Rochdale come away with a win from Leyland & Chorley.

In recent weeks Rochdale have been short on first team players and this week was no different, hence Barry Gumbley and Bjorne Brauns were called up from the second team. Several of the Rochdale players moved into new positions to cover for absent team mates.

Leyland had the early possession, but Rochdale had the better chances, only to find their efforts directed straight at the Leyland keeper, or just wide.

As Rochdale began to claw back the possession, Leyland left gaps at the back as they chased down the ball, resulting in several chances for forwards David Gowers and Gumbley.

Scott Hempsall-Jones came close when he deflected an effort just wide of the stranded keeper and the goal.

Just before the break Bjorne Brauns broke the deadlock when he picked up a rebound shot at the top of the D before placing a pushed shot in to the bottom corner.

The injured Michale Waddicor came on only briefly in the second half to give the also injured Gowers a rest. This opened up the Leyland defence even more as he won several penalty corners with his pace. Two of these Gumbley dispacthed in similar style; side-stepping the on rushing defender, he picked out the bottom corners and hammered his shots home.

Rochdale’s reshuffled side saw Johnny Herreran in midfield and he stepped up to the mark scoring his second goal of the season. A pass from Gumbley bounced up and Herreran was there to react first a rifle a shot past the keeper and just missing a Rochdale player's head.

There was still time for an unlikely scorer in defender Tim Liptrot. As Leyland became pinned in their own area it allowed Liptrot to push up more. Herreran saw Liptrot at top D, and he then calmly lifted the ball past the keeper's left side and into the net.

Leyland did get a few chances in the game, all resulting in James Deacy saves, except for a converted a penalty corner.

The game got heated at several points as Leyland struggled to deal with the skill and determination of Gumbley and James Shepherd. This resulted in a Leyland player being sent off with two minutes to play.

Captain Michael Waddicor said: "I had a word at half time and told the lads the goals would come, and thankfully they did.

"This puts us back on top spot over the Christmas break.

"I would have to give the Oulderhill Leisure Complex man-of-the-match to James Shepherd for his hard work throughout the game.

"I would also like to make note of the constant running and hard work of Rob Lees this week, Barry Gumbley for his goals and Bjorne Brauns for stepping up to the first team without issue.”