Hockey: Rochdale Men's 2nds 1 - 2 Didsbury Northern Men's 6ths

Rochdale took on Didsbury on Saturday 5 March as they looked for those three points that could take them out of the relegation zone (if other results went their way). The match largely started well, with Rochdale able to maintain a high line and take the game to Didsbury. There were a few half-chances created early on and the odd penalty corner but it would be Didsbury who opened the scoring.

Catching Rochdale on the break near the halfway line, their winger was able to slip the ball through to the forward as centre back Graham Broadley missed the interception. Unfortunately for Rochdale the forward knew his job well and carried the ball quickly into the D, down near to the baseline before squaring it to his fellow forward, who slotted in to the open goal with nothing Dean Colasardo could do about it.

The home side's heads didn’t drop and they maintained steady pressure on Didsbury’s defence, keeping them penned in for large spells. Sadly, the team in orange were unable to capitalise on this pressure. It would also be Didsbury who came closest to scoring again in the first half. With another break at pace catching Rochdale high, they drove powerfully towards the home team’s D, but showing strong fighting spirit the Rochdale keeper flung himself at the ball and managed to make contact with the Didsbury forward’s stick. It was enough to put him off and buy enough time for the rock that is Richard Saggerson to put a challenge in, the attack only resulting in a long corner from what looked like a certain goal.

Although Rochdale kept up the pressure, the scoreline would remain unchanged by halftime with it remaining 1-0 to Didsbury. Rochdale came in looking the fitter side and it was noted that Didsbury’s lack of substitutes was taking its toll on them. So long as Rochdale supported one another and played with their normal love of the game it was felt they should get a result.

The second half began in much the same vein as the first, with Rochdale maintaining a high line and good pressure, but with Didsbury creating the better scoring opportunities by and large. Not so with the first goal of the half when Rochdale equalised. After some clever play down the right, captain Adam Massey managed to get to the baseline and slid on the AstroTurf to fire the ball across to the back post, finding Dean Close who had gambled on the ball getting there and he slotted it home with ease to bring Rochdale back level.

It was still a largely even game at this stage and although the home team were largely able to keep a high line, Didsbury were always looking threatening when breaking at pace. This was largely contained by the back three but the away team started to win a few penalty corners. One of these resulted in a game-changing event, as a Didsbury forward received a horrifically powerful ball to the face. It came from a routine penalty corner. A powerful strike from the top of the D was blocked by the home sides keeper, who was trying to play the ball into space but ended up lifting it to head height. The Didsbury forward was doing his job and heading towards the back post to follow up any rebounds. Unfortunately, the rebound off the keeper came at about 60mph and hit him square in the face. To his credit, his instincts were to try and play on, but the nearby Rochdale defender saw it clearly and immediately signalled and shouted to the umpires to stop play.

Naturally, this led to a lengthy break in play while the Didsbury forward received treatment. Fortunately, he was largely ok and was last heard to be doing well in A&E, just being kept under observation in case of a delayed concussion. There was a bit of discussion at how best to proceed, but it was decided that the remainder of the match should go ahead, with Didsbury regretting not having a substitute or asking one of the home spectators to take him to hospital, which meant the away team were now down to nine players.

The match was restarted with a penalty corner which is what the rules of hockey say, due to an unintentional dangerous clearance by the goalkeeper. This first one was successfully defended by the home side, but knowing they were unlikely to get a better chance, the away team committed to this attack, forcing another few penalty corners. The last of which they managed to convert. The first strike at goal was a flick that was blocked, but it spilled to Didsbury’s left switch. He took full advantage of there being no restriction on the height of subsequent strikes on goal (provided a defender is not within 5 metres and actively trying to play the ball) and drilled a ferocious strike between the heads of Richard Saggerson and keeper Dean Colusardo. It also resulted in a head injury for the Rochdale defender, who took a thump from his own goalkeeper's stick as he attempted to save. Consequently, Rochdale brought on Mike Bohanna and switched to a back a four.

Formation soon became irrelevant however, as Rochdale now had two men over and threw the kitchen sink at Didsbury looking for an equaliser. It would ultimately prove unfruitful, as to their credit, Didsbury packed the defence and fought hard for their win. However, the statistics provided by Andy Boodeea (which we are very grateful for) show just how one-sided it was and unfortunate the home side were not to get an equaliser.

In the last 15 minutes of the match, Rochdale were in possession for almost 11 minutes in total. From this the home side managed; to get inside Didsbury’s 23metre line 13 times, inside Didsbury’s D 16 times, win 7 penalty corners and have 7 shots at goal.

With hindsight it was not for lack of effort that the boys in orange didn’t get the equaliser, rather too much desire and insufficient calmness and clinical attacking to create a good goalscoring opportunity. The times when Rochdale created the best chances (according to the stats) is when they had longer spells with the ball at their sticks. It is easy to say looking back on it, but they needed to try and take the emotion out of it and knock the ball around with confidence to create a better opening. It also does show that they need to work on penalty corners, as even at this level they should be able to score one out seven.

That said, Didsbury did defend well and made life difficult for the home side, managing to keep the ball under control away from goal on occasion.

Rochdale has a good standard of players and on paper, they are more than capable of getting three points from one of their remaining four games to give them a chance of avoiding the drop.

Man of the match was close, but Graham Broadley won it in the end.