Hockey: Rochdale Men’s Seconds 1 - 1 Golborne Men’s Seconds

Manny Ahmed, Rochdale Men’s Hockey Seconds

Saturday 16 November saw Rochdale Men’s Seconds take on a Golborne Men’s Seconds side who had pretty much identical results to Rochdale and sat one place above in the league on goal difference, as the season nears halfway.

Golborne looked for a quick start and won a penalty corner almost straight from the off as the ball hit a Rochdale foot in the D from a cross. Golborne did get the ball in the back of the net but it was struck with a hit above the height of the backboard so didn't count.

Rochdale soon got going and started to create the better of the chances with some strong play from the midfield and forward lines. Rochdale won a penalty corner of their own and after the initial rebound from the first shot it was sharply converted by man of the match Ellis Barnes, to score on his debut and give Rochdale a slim lead.

Golborne started to get a few breakthroughs with a fresh right winger, who created some threatening play, but it was dealt with by the Rochdale defence to keep it 1-0 at half time.

Rochdale played for penalty corners in the second half and forced many with a largely dominant display, with most of the team camped in Golborne half for long periods of the second half.

Unfortunately, these chances were not taken to put the game to bed.

Golborne went up a gear in the last ten minutes to try and get something from the game and some threatening counter attacks and breakthroughs saw a few early warning signs of a goal coming as Rochdale keeper Jimmy Deacy was forced to make some great saves.

Rochdale started to play more for time by trying to keep the ball high in the Golborne half, but with nothing to lose, Golborne kept coming. Rochdale’s discipline started to wobble and the team was twice reduced to 10 men.

In the last minute Golborne broke through and forced keeper Deacy to kick a clearance through traffic, that was deemed to be dangerous and a penalty corner was awarded.

The full-time whistle went, to show this would be the final play of the game, with everyone up for Golborne, a strong hit flashed through the D and was deflected first time into the back board to rob Rochdale of the win as the score finished 1-1.

Captain Tim Liptrot: "On balance it was probably a fair reflection considering the number of chances Golborne created, however, to lose two points with the last touch of the game was a bitter pill for us to swallow.

“We have a tough game away at Didsbury next week where hopefully we can cause an upset.

“Today was a great effort from everyone, especially The Flying Horse man of the match Ellis Barnes on his debut."