Preston Sixths 1 - 3 Rochdale Hockey Seconds

Rochdale Hockey Seconds

Rochdale Hockey Seconds beat Preston Sixths despite Saturday's earlier push back not suiting them.

Right from the off Rochdale were lethargic and somewhat lacklustre. After last week's drubbing of Blackpool, this was a different proposition altogether.

Mid first half it was Preston who took a well deserved lead.

This gave Rochdale the kick start they needed and by half time they led 2-1, with both goals coming from short corners. The first was a well worked drill ending in Scott Hempsall-Jones converting and the second was a near repeat move, this time put away by Luke Robinson.

The half time team talk picked Rochdale up and despite Preston’s hard work and belief it was Rochdale who scored a third from the persistent Dean Close.

Preston fought on with a series of short corners, all well defended by Rochdale’s makeshift defence, with a man-of-the-match performance form Luke Rosebury at right back.

Rochdale took the points to finish for Christmas at the top of the division and unbeaten so far this season.

Captain Karl Wynn said: “It was important for us to finish 2015 on a high and we did, it was a tough, hard fought game, but it takes us in to the re-start in January with no complacency and total focus on the job at hand.”