Hockey: Rochdale Ladies 0 - 0 Moss Park Ladies

Ladies captain Dionne Collinson

Rochdale were finishing the season with a home match against Moss Park 2nds. Their previous meeting had been just after the Christmas/New Year break when a number of key players had been missing from Rochdale's squad. Given how quickly Moss Park became frustrated with Rochdale this time, it was clear that their opponents thought this match would be another walkover and Rochdale were refusing to let that happen.

A charge from Moss Park for the Rochdale goal was broken down efficiently by Hoyle and Leech, leaving Leech with the ball able to fire it up to Yates who was in space on the left wing. Yates turned and ran down her wing, tapping the ball over an opponent's stick to continue uninterrupted, before repeating the trick a bit further on when a second tried to impede her. Unfortunately her run was brought to an end when Moss Park's defence channelled her out and cut off any passes.

Generally Rochdale were creating chances for themselves and playing smartly in the midfield, where Hodcroft and Pickering were able to work the ball down to towards Moss Park's D and fire it in for their strikers or trying to cut in along the baseline. Their efforts were often thwarted by their opponent's defence. Likewise in the short corners they were awarded - from straight strikes from the top of the D, off-footing Moss Park by injecting to the far side of the D or passing the ball off from the top to the right where a player had run into space - Rochdale were mixing their tactics and coming close to a goal several times, but it was never quite enough.

That didn't mean their defence didn't have their work cut out for them. Moss Park were a strong team offensively. Partington was on fine form in the goal, making a number of brilliant key saves look easy and she was in command of her D as she organised Rochdale's defence. In fact the only shot she didn't have closed down was a deflection from Hoyle that soared just outside the right post, a scary moment for Rochdale from an otherwise good block from Hoyle.

That aside, Hoyle was having an excellent game, blocking multiple hits near the top of the D and moving the ball back out of the D before clearing it; a calm and highly effective sweeper. Leech was a rocket at left back, channelling Moss Park out if they tried to break down the left, and blasting up the pitch with Yates when Rochdale had the ball. With such a strong defence surrounding her, Collinson was free to control the centre ground above the D, leaving her able to swoop in and intercept a ball that she smacked all the way across the pitch to Knowles in the far midfield, who was able to control it but unfortunately Moss Park were too well organised for her to find a gap to cross the ball or run in for her own attempt at a goal.

As the clock ticked down it became apparent that both teams desperately wanted a goal. Rochdale had their sticks down to get every rebound they could in Moss Park's D, whilst neither team heard the stop whistle on a Moss Park short corner because they were so stuck into the game. Everyone kept that fight going strong until the final whistle confirming the draw, with a clean sheet for both teams.

Final score was 0-0, with no Rochdale goal scorers.

Player of the match was Claire Hoyle.

Captain Collinson said: "We played Moss Park in January and lost 8-0. Todays 0-0 draw just shows how much we’ve improved as the season has progressed. It’s a testament to the ladies hard work. Well in! Todays game was the last of the 2022 - 2023 season and whilst it’s not the season we imagined, we have managed to keep ourselves out of the relegation zone. It’s been a battle but we’ve made it.”

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