Hockey: Urmston Ladies 2 - 3 Rochdale Ladies

Becky Knowles and Roisin Pickering - Rochdale Ladies Hockey

Rochdale Ladies edged a tense game in a top of the table clash against Urmston.

Rochdale’s top goal scorer Jenny Banks didn’t travel so the job of scoring was in the hands of Becky Knowles and Ashley Hoyle who didn't disappoint.

The game started with both teams quick on the attack.

Urmston took an early lead, which rocked Rochdale and took the wind out of their sails.

Rochdale are unbeaten so far this season and within 10 minutes they had got a goal back. A short corner injection from Paula McDonald to the top of the D found Hoyle who smashed into the top right corner.

This was the turning point and from here on in Rochdale were on top and it didn’t take long before they had taken the lead. Kie Leech ran from the back, dribbling past several Urmston players, played a pin point ball down the touch line to Hoyle who then passed to Becky Knowles who cheekily nut-megged the oncoming goal keeper.

Knowles got her second of the afternoon when Roisin Pickering played in Hoyle, who then drove a shot in to the D. Knowles reacted first anticipating the shot and smashed it in the corner for a 3-1 Rochdale lead at half time.

Urmston pulled a goal back early in the second half.

Rochdale’s reply was to step up a gear and the back four became a solid wall defending their lead.

As the game went in to the last 15 minutes it became to end-to-end stuff but Rochdale stood strong and took all three points.

Captain Kie Leech said: “This was a big game for us, we needed to win to keep ourselves on track for the title. We knew it would be tough without Jenny Banks, but Becky Knowles and Ashleigh Hoyle were fantastic up front.”

The player-of-the-match was awarded to Ashleigh Hoyle.