Hockey: Rochdale Men's 2nds 2 - 5 Buxton Men's 2nds

Last Saturday saw Rochdale Men’s 2nd team back for their first competitive action in three weeks following the winter break and the first time picking up their sticks in 2022 for some, as the Tuesday training session was cancelled due to a frozen pitch.

Similar fears about the weather lingered as the morning temperature was barely above freezing, but it cleared in plenty of time for the game to go ahead safely. Hopes were high going into the game because when Rochdale last played Buxton they felt they were unlucky not to get anything with several key players missing and no subsitutes, but in the end it would not be Rochdale’s day despite a bright start.

With plenty of enthusiasm Rochdale applied their new style of play from the off, with the defence pushing as high up as possible and not leaving a sweeper free at the back as had been the tactic in the last few games before Christmas. The more aggressive style worked well in the opening exchanges with the home side enjoying more possession deeper in the opposition's half which put the away side under early pressure, which would lead to the first goal of the game.

Fresh legs came on in Rochdale’s midfield around 15 minutes in to the half and with the away team pushed back in their own half with a 16 yard hit out, Rochdale turned possession over near the half way line and worked it down the left channel. A swift give and go at the top of the circle allowed the fresh centre midfielder to dribble the ball swiftly in and commit the keeper to his near post while taking a shot for the far one. The keeper blocked with his pads but it spilled across goal to the continually improving Dean Close, who kept calm, remembered what his own keeper had told him and sent a flick flying over the diving goalkeeper into the roof of the net to give Rochdale the lead.

It was well earned but it would not be long before some warning signs started to show as the opposition began to find ways round Rochdale and break through the high line. Probably the closest they came without scoring was when their forward managed to gain a yard on Rochdale’s centre back and control the ball near the penalty spot facing goal. He was to be denied not once but twice with two ridiculous saves from man of the match keeper Dean Colusardo, not even conceding a long corner.

Rochdale kept attacking and came just as close at the other end as the half wore on, with their lethal weapon Bjorne Brauns back in the side. Facing a packed defence coming up to the circle, he used his experience to try to score a clever goal that has worked in the past. He drove to the left of the defender before spinning back to his strong side and unleashing a first-time push for the bottom corner. With the ball coming through a crowd of bodies the keeper didn’t even see it till hit the post, giving him a fortunate escape and Rochdale were unlucky not to be two up.

The home side's fortune was to get even worse however as they failed to react to the danger posed by the oppositions changed style of press. With only a few minutes left in the first half and with their own 16 yard hit out, Rochdale carried on with what had been standard practice throughout the half and just played a simple push to the open left back. This time however it was just what the away team wanted and they applied a press to swiftly limit his options. The best ball was a pass inside to the centre but it was tight and unfortunately Rochdale couldn’t retain possession. The opposition now broke in at pace with the defence unprepared and ruthlessly worked it in at an unforgiving pace for a tap in, meaning the teams would go in to half time level at 1-1.

Tempers flared in the Rochdale camp, as emotions ran high because goals have been hard to come by this season and everyone was gutted to concede so easily and be coming in level at the halfway mark. Some wise words from old heads helped smooth things over and get Rochdale ready for the second half, however a lot of the players had got cold standing still for five minutes on a near freezing January day.

This combined with a hyped-up opposition following their goal would spell disaster for the home team and they went on to concede four goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. The first would come as Buxton again broke through the high line on Rochdale’s left, getting in behind and pulling it back to a midfielder who had been able to get in front of his man for another tap in. The squabbling would again rear its ugly head as emotions got the better of people once more.

With the home side's heads dropped again it was not long before Buxton added a third. This time the tracking back was better and it required good play from an experienced and capable forward to again steal a yard on his marker and push the ball wide of the back post for another tap in. The response from Rochdale was better this time and it would take the opposition a little longer to find a way through for their next goal.

Another goal did come, as the home side began to tire slightly and Buxton again found a way through. The fourth goal required some quick passing and a clever dribble but they would again find men over. With a choice of two players at the back post it was always going in for another tap in with a frustrated home goalkeeper left with no chance of stopping it.

Rochdale were gradually getting better though as the players remembered they actually like playing hockey with each other and managed to have a few goes at goal themselves, allowing the home supporters to hope for a few moments that Rochdale might find a way back in to the game. It was not to be however, as the opposition turned over another 16 yeard hit out in the second phase by cutting off the right back’s options. They again drove at the centre of Rochdale’s defence and with them again having to hastily set up, the forward managed to receive the ball a couple of yards inside the circle and hit a vicious undercut into net before the keeper could even see it, to give Buxton a 5-1 lead.

Even for the most optimistic the game was now beyond the home side, but it was not quite over. A consolation goal would come from the returning Brauns. With some clever link up play and good passing allowed a ball to be played back out to Close on the right wing for a first time cross which Brauns deflected round the goalkeeper for Rochdale’s second and the last goal of the game.

It was a frustrating day for Rochdale who had for a lot of the match played the better hockey, but in the end were just left to wonder what might have been if Braun’s first half push had found the backboard instead of the post. There were many positives to take from the game, as this was some of the best attacking Rochdale have managed for a while and on another day could have gained some much needed points.

The opposition captain did say afterwards that after the first half he was surprised by how the game finished and didn’t think the score line reflected the quality and effort Rochdale had shown. It was also noted by the home side that this was a much stronger performance by Buxton than the previous game this season and there’s no shame in losing to good opposition.

Next up for Rochdale men’s seconds is Sale away on Saturday 22 January where hopefully the team can get some points towards the target of nine by the end of the season.

Player of the match was Dean Colusardo.