Hockey: Rochdale Ladies 2 - 2 Timperley Ladies

Photo: Rachel Jackson

Kie Leech was named player of the match

With their frustrations at their loss last weekend behind them, Rochdale were hosting Timperley 4s on a dry, cold but sunny Saturday (3 December) morning.

Despite Timperley being able to push deep into Rochdale's defence and make several attempts on goal - with a couple of short corners - Rochdale kept their heads and denied them. Leech was in particular command of her left wing, and able to find a route out of the Timperley attack lines to pass the ball off to Hodcroft. Hodcroft took it and veered around opposition players before handing off the ball into the D. Black was able to run onto it, but her shot was blocked by Timperley.

Timperley were able to break the Rochdale defence to earn themselves a goal, pulling Rochdale's defence out to the hitter at the top of the D only to go around via a player running post. Moon tackled Timperley for the ball and once she won it she fired it up to Pickering. Picking passed it off to Hodcroft to start a one-two down the pitch between the two of them to work their way into the D. Hodcroft tried to take a shot but it was deflected by a defender. Collinson was able to run onto it and used a quick push pass from the p-spot before anyone could scramble to block her and brought Rochdale level again.

Pickering received the ball near Rochdale's defence, and ran down the right wing before passing the ball up to Hockaday who had run up with her. Hockaday barely grazed the ball to allow it to continue to Collinson who was running up past her towards the top corner of the pitch. Collinson turned to smack the ball square into the D. Knowles and Hodcroft were ready to take the ball for a shot on goal, but Timperley bogged them all down and finally the Timperley keeper saw the ball off the backline away from her goal.

With Rochdale pushing high, Timperley were able to break through with a pair of runners leaving Rochdale scrambling to recover. Hoyle and Partington were back to try and prevent the attack, but Timperley were able to weave around them to get a goal to put themselves ahead again. Pickering took a sideline free hit and ran along her wing again, all the way to the baseline before turning towards the D and passing it off to Hockaday just inside. Hockaday slammed it towards the goal, but the keeper got a glove to it, causing the ball to arc up and out of play to deny Rochdale a goal.

Yates caused Timperley consternation by repeatedly forcing them off the sideline, before finally she was able to win the ball back and run the ball back up the wing and tapping it off to Hockaday. Who then passed the ball into a relatively empty D where Collinson was free. Collinson got the ball, and after a brief battle for control of it with the keeper she was able to sneak it into the goal to bring Rochdale back level again.

Rochdale got some flashbacks to their first draw of the season when the full time whistle went shortly after Timperley being awarded a short corner. Only this time they were defending. With Timperley pushing up to take full advantage Rochdale's defence refused to be cowed, darting out as soon as the ball was played and blocking any good angles toward the goal until the ball hit a Timperley foot and thus ending both the short corner and the game. Though Rochdale had swept the ball away for good measure.

Final score was 2-2, with Dionne Collinson scoring both Rochdale goals.

Player of the match was Kie Leech. Captain Collinson said: “Well done girls. A great battle.”

Rochdale's team:
Keeper; Sam Partington.
Defence; Claire Hoyle, Kieran Leech, Gill Owen & Hannah Palmer.
Midfield; Gemma Hodcroft, Claire Hockaday, Daisy Parton & Roisin Pickering.
Forwards; Lily Black & Becky Knowles.
Substitutes: Dionne Collinson, Paula McDonald, Becki Moon, Rachael Richardson & Arabella Yates.