Hockey: Rochdale Men's 2nds 1 - 3 Didsbury Men's 6ths

Andy Meanock was named player of the match

Saturday 8 January saw Rochdale Men’s 2’s play a rearranged fixture that was originally scheduled for just before the winter break, but couldn't be played due to a covering of snow and ice on the pitch.

Rochdale had had no opportunity to play hockey for four weeks and Didsbury had played another game the day before, beating Bowden Men’s 8ths. With a cool temperature and a strong possibility of rain, it was going to be a tough test for the home side against Didsbury, who were second in the league at the start of play.

The match started well, with Rochdale’s half court press slowing Didsbury’s attacks down. An early counter for Rochdale came when Steve Hirst intercepted a pass wide on the left and sprinted towards the circle. He was brought down with an old school body block, after he had got the ball round the defender. It was inside the 23m line and a penalty corner was awarded to set the tone and ensure it stayed a clean game, which it proved to have been at the final whistle with no cards required.

Rochdale went with the familiar routines and had got a strike from the top of the circle, which unfortunately didn’t quite find the net. Didsbury started to find some probing attacks in return, as the home side pushed higher up the pitch, but it was largely contained with good defensive play. As the half wore on Rochdale were looking the stronger side, but it would be Didsbury who got the opening goal.

Breaking quickly with a counter down Rochdale’s right, they managed to find their rapid right winger free on Rochdale’s left wing. He cut across the circle and slotted it in at the near post with a tidy finish. The home side were a little deflated but it was not long before they were back on top. Rochdale nearly equalised from a penalty corner, there were some appeals for a flick, it wasn’t given but Rochdale nearly scored by recycling the ball into a shooting position. Unfortunately the shot was a couple of inches wide and the attacker following couldn’t quite get a stick on it to deflect it into the net.

Rochdale finished the stronger team, but they were never the less one nil down. Some coaching points were made during the break. It was noted that Rochdale’s attacks down the right had been more successful, so this was to be targeted during the second half.

Rochdale had the push back and straight away started an attack down their right wing, with James Trainor finding a way through and linking up well the midfield and forwards. The home side again had Didsbury penned back for a large spell and came close to equalising, but again it would be Didsbury who scored next. Getting in behind Rochdale’s left, they managed to switch the ball across the circle to a forward, who controlled it and managed to force it past his man into the net with dogged determination to double Didsbury’s advantage.

It was unfortunate, but the home side were soon back at it and managed to get a goal from their efforts, from a penalty corner won by their efforts down the right wing. A D top injection allowed for a clever passing move, which allowed captain Adam Massey to slot it towards the bottom corner with Hirst making sure it went over the line to pull one back for Rochdale.

The team in orange kept at it and were dominating most of the game, with Didsbury only managing a few counter attacks, which were largely dealt. Unfortunately a mix up with Rochdale’s keeper resulted in a risky pass being picked off by Didsbury’s star forward, who forced the last defender back, pulled it back to create room for the shot and struck it into the bottom corner.

There were still ten minutes left, but it proved too much to ask with the game finishing 3-1 to Didsbury. It was a good game for the neutrals and a good result for Didsbury. However, for Rochdale it was disappointing to not get more from the game as it was a good performance, especially considering it was the first time back after four weeks of no hockey.

Next week Rochdale Men's 2nds are at home to Buxton.

Player of the match was Andy Meanock.