Hockey Rochdale Mens 2 - 3 Didsbury Mens Thirds

Defender Mark Eden created Rochdale’s equaliser

Saturday’s top of the table clash between Rochdale Mens Firsts and Didsbury Mens Thirds at Oulder Hill had a lot at stake for both teams who have been leap frogging each other all season at the top of the division but it was Didsbury who came away with the spolis.

The first half started tentatively and nervousl.

Rochdale had the early chances with Stuart Dearden hitting the post and the rebound just missing the incoming David Gowers.

Sean Carney hit the Didsbury crossbar from a quick Rochdale attack.

Against the run of play, Didsbury struck and took the lead.

The game began to get heated and Rochdale went a man down when James Shepherd got carded for disputing an umpire's decision.

Rochdale began to dominate and a mesmerising run, riding several challenges, from defender Mark Eden ended with him lifting the ball over the oncoming keeper for Keiran King to tap in Rochdale's equaliser. T

The second half continued as the first had finished with Rochdale pushing for a second goal.

Michael Waddicor made a run from his own half through the midfield and gave Sean Carney a one-on-one opportunity, but the Didsbury keeper closed him down quickly before he got a shot off.

Waddicor was in full flow and making real inroads in to the Didsbury defence. He made another run, again from the half way, and put the ball on the back post, but it took the slightest of deflections, just enough to prevent Carney getting any contact with the ball.

Although Rochdale dominated possesion they were not getting the rub of the green in front of goal.

Didsbury were taking their chances and in a quick 10 minute spell took a 3-1 lead.

Rochdale’s luck was not getting any better as striker Gowers had to go off half way through the second half injured.

Another run from Waddicor ended with him being fouled and winning a short corner. The Didsbury defenders lined up to one side of the net, in an attempt to block off the one-two routine Rochdale had been using, Waddicor saw this and smashed a shot in the opposite corner to make it 3-2.

A draw would have been enough for Rochdale, where as Didsbury needed the win, but Rochdale had given everything and couldn’t pull another goal out of the bag.

The Didsbury win sees them top of the division and Rochdale looking for teams to take points off them.

Rochdale Captain and Oulder Hill Leisure Complex man-of-the-match, Michael Waddicor: said: "A disappointing result. We had the better chances by far, but were unlucky not to convert them Several shots hitting the woodwork, and we failed to follow up on the rebounds. We failed to use the pace we have in abundance on the wings. We have only ourselves to blame. They weren't a better team than us, it just wasn't our day.”