Hockey: Rochdale Seconds 3 - 5 Preston Fifths

Rochdale Men's Hockey Seconds

Rochdale played host on Saturday to Preston Fifths the team who had been promoted with Rochdale last year. Both teams had found their feet in the division and are in strong mid table positions with good chances of a top fourth or fifth finish, but it was Preston who took the points from this game.

Rochdale started the stronger of the two teams, dominating possession and having several good chances early on, but it was evident that Preston were not going to roll over and with their first attack of the game found the back of the net with a top D strike that Rochdale keeper Brian Robinson could do nothing about.

Rochdale had been in control for the first 20 minutes other than a single lapse in defence and knew if they continued their time would come. They stayed focused and kept Preston under constant pressure in the last third.

The new striking partnership of Graham Broadley and Andy Meanock again paid dividends with Meanock finding Rochdale’s equaliser.

Rochdale were in the ascendancy and when Captain Karl Wynn fired in a hard-low drive, Dean Close got the faintest of touches o claim the goal.

Rochdale went in to the break with a 2-1 advantage.

The second half resumed with Rochdale taking the game by the scruff of the neck and pushing forward at every opportunity. Imran Ansari taking his familiar role in central midfield and conducting the play around him.

With less than 10 minutes gone Ansari found Meanock free in the Preston D and Meanock scored his second of the afternoon.

Rochdale should have gone on to see the game out, but Preston kept on pushing.

Preston’s two strikers were quick and had been causing the Rochdale defence problems. It had been picked up on in Rochdale’s half time team talk, but Rochdale failed to act upon it.

Sure enough Preston worked a clever move ending in a penalty flick awarded to them. Robinson got close, but couldn’t keep it out.

Preston started to use the ball well and were making Rochdale pay, a loose challenge just outside the Rochdale D led to Dave Greenwood getting a green card, but with his back chat this was escalated to a yellow. Preston seized the moment and drew level.

The momentum was with Preston, Rochdale has stopped defending from the front and started to ball watch. Preston tails were up and they were slicing through the Rochdale defence at will and went on to score another two goals.

Captain Karl Wynn said: “The lads are very disappointed with the result, especially being 3-1 up. When we are playing teams like Preston who are very capable we have to learn to shut games down and to stop keep pushing for more goals.”

The Quat Chem Man-of-the-match was Andy Meanock.