Hockey: Rochdale Men’s Seconds 4 - 4 Bury Men’s Seconds

Rochdale Men’s Seconds v Bury Men’s Seconds

Rochdale didn’t want to lose against local rivals Bury and would have preferred a win but had to settle for a draw.

Rochdale started positively with a high press; Bury were compact team with quick counter attacks.

As the half went on Rochdale broke on their own counter and were 1-0 up with a wonderfully worked tap in at the far post from Andy Meanock.

This helped to settle Rochdale and within 10 minutes, with a strike from Scott Hempsall-Jones at the top of the D, Rochdale were 2-0 up.

Bury scored from a short corner to peg one back before half time.

Straight from the sceond half push back, Hempsall-Jones put daylight between the sides giving Rochdale a two goal advantage.

With momentum on their side Rochdale should have gone on to win the game, but a lack of fitness proved to be their downfall and Bury took advantage scoring two goals to draw level.

Rochdale threw everything they possibly could at the Bury and it paid off when Hempsall-Jones completed his hat-trick and put Rochdale head again with only minutes left on the clock.

However, Bury continued pressing the Rochdale defence and broke through and scored to earn a draw.

Karl Wynn, Rochdale captain, said: “Once again the last 15 minutes of the game has been our downfall, we have to get sharper and learn how to kill games off once we are ahead.

“We need to work on making it difficult for teams to score against us once we are in front.

"I thought despite Scott's hat-trick, Luke Rosebury was outstanding today and more than deserved the Atticus man-of-the-match award.”