Hockey: Urmston Men’s Seconds 4 - 5 Rochdale Men’s Seconds

Josh Robinson, Rochdale Men’s Hockey Seconds

Rochdale Men’s Seconds edged a tough game against an Urmston team that sat just above them in third place in the league.

Rochdale opened the scoring when a long ball from their own 16 yard line from Imran Ansari was collected by Josh Robinson in the right hand corner of the Urmston half. The speed and accuracy of the pass caught the Urmston team out and Robinson fired past the only Urmston defender in the D, to find the oncoming Bjorne Brauns, who slotted it past the keeper.

Urmston piled on the pressure and Rochdale caught them on the counter; a turn of pace from Peter Ransome down the right wing, with the Rochdale strikers quickest to react and press into the Urmston D. This time it was Robinson who got the shot off only to be saved by the keeper but was cleaned up by Andy Meanock and put in the back of the net.

Urmston pushed on early in the second half and were awarded a short corner. With a quick well drilled routine they struck the ball into the back of the net.

Rochdale found themselves being hard pressed into their own half and with a running dribble from the half way line, Urmston unlocked the Rochdale defence and drove around the back drawing out Rochdale keeper, Brian Robinson, from his line, and with a simple pass Urmston scored their second goal with a tap in.

Ansari was unlocking the Urmston midfield and defence at will, and when the ball was dribbled into the corner and pushed into the D, Josh Robinson, despite being under pressure, dinked out to Dean Close who struck the ball first time from the penalty spot and fired it into the back of the net.

A well played long ball and good work by the two forwards ended with Rochdale's Brauns on the score sheet with a slap hit to place the ball inside of the post.

As time passed, mistakes started to creep into the Rochdale game and Urmston scored again froma short corner to bring the score back to to within a single goal.

Rochdal restored their two goal advantage with well worked passes into the Urmston half for two forwards to pull away ending with a reverse stick goal from Robinson.

Another short corner for Urmston had the same outcome, a goal, and once again they got within a single goal of Rochdale.

As the half drew tempers starting to flare and Meanock was yellow carded and had to sit out for five minutes leaving Rochdale with 10 men.

Rochdale soaked up a lot of pressure and kept Urmston out until a foul was committed just outside the D and Urmston took a shot and scored. However, the goal was overturned and Rochdale saw the game out to win a very hard fought game.

Captain Karl Wynn said: "This was a really hard fought game against a strong side.

"The three points lift us up in the table and pushes us into a strong position.

"I want to thank all the lads, but a particular mention must go to Peter Ransome and Sam Wilkinson, who have both stepped up from our under 15s team this year and have played with great maturity and skill each and every time selected.

"Josh Robinson was also superb and got himself onto the score sheet, but the Atticus Trophies man-of-the-match must go to Imran Ansari who gave another of his master classes."