Hockey - GMWHL AD Plate: Rochdale Ladies 0 - 3 Bolton Ladies Seconds

Kie Leech, Rochdale Ladies Hockey

Bad weather conditions made Rochdale’s AD Plate Cup game against Bolton a scrappy affair, which Bolton coped with better to secure the win.

As soon as the whistle sounded Bolton pressed high up the pitch pressuring Rochdale.

Rochdale’s resilient defence, made up of Dionne Collinson, Nikki Mongan, Beckie Moon and Gill Owen, worked well as a unit to contain the Bolton attack.

With Bolton maintaining a high press and increasing the intensity, Rochdale started to tire.

Bolton were awarded a long corner, making short sharp passes around the defence, they found a gap and slotted the ball just past the Rochdale keeper Sam Partington.

The second half saw much of the same with Rochdale making unsuccesful attempts to penetrate the Bolton D and level the score line. Gemma Hodcroft worked hard in the middle but Rochdale was missing Paula MacDonald – and her pace.

Bolton's second goal came from a short corner, with a powerful hit from top D, searing into the Rochdale goal.

Rochdale did have a few opportunities to score, one saw Becky Knowles drive up the left wing before passing to Hodcroft in the middle. Roisin Pickering took the ball down the right wing before crossing the ball into Katie Burrell, who shot first time, only for the keeper to save the shot.

The last goal came just before the final whistle was blown; the ball slotted into the lower left-hand corner of the goa,l despite Partington’s efforts the shot proved to be too powerful as she was left doing the splits.

Rochdale had one last attempt to  score when Molly Barker passed to Burrell down the left wing who drove a lovely ball to Pickering. Pickering tried to round the keeper one on one, but the keeper managed to clear the ball wide.

Captain Kie Leech said: “A well battled game where the 0-1 score at half time should have been the final score for how much effort the team put in.

"A big thank you and well done to our three junior players who stepped up to play in the cup match today.”

Player-of-the-match was Kie Leech.