Hockey: Rochdale Men's 1sts 2 - 3 Lymm Men's 1sts

Photo: Rachel Jackson

Goal scorer Barry Gumbley

After a disappointing start to the league season, picking up only a single point, Dale were looking for all three points in a winnable home game against Lymm on Saturday 21 October.

The game started off cagy with both teams wary of making any early mistakes. Rochdale began to get on top with better passing and work rate and squandered the better chances early on but it was Lymm who took the lead on the break, a number of players asleep as the Lymm midfielder was found free in the middle of the D to slot home past Dale keeper Jimmy Deacy.

Rochdale kept playing though and created more chances to score. They eventually drew level with a fierce strike from a penalty corner from striker Barry Gumbley. Halftime 1-1.

Into the second half and the game was there for the taking. The half time team talk was to keep things much the same as the first half and concentration levels high. This wasn't the case with Dale once again their own worst enemy. Switching off twice, leaving players unmarked cost them dearly, conceding two quick goals leaving a mountain to climb.

Dale kept playing and created chances, but while pushing for goals were lucky that wasteful finishing from the opposition didn't make the score line any worse. Dale pulled a goal back with the final touch of the game with another thunderbolt from striker Gumbley to make it 3-2.

A free weekend coming up might just be the break that Dale need to get things together. Confidence is low, but a win feels like it may be around the corner.

Report by Stewart Dearden