Hockey: Brooklands Men's 3rds 3 - 2 Rochdale Men's 2nds

Photo: Rachel Jackson

Kane Morgan (left) was named man of the match

Saturday 29 October saw Rochdale playing away at Brooklands, who have top level facilities with a very good water-based pitch. The weather conditions were dry and pleasantly warm with a bit of cloud cover. 

The match started in earnest, with the away team trying to play as high as possible from the off. It largely worked, getting the better of the opening exchanges but Brooklands did start to find ways through Rochdale’s press to create some good chances themselves. One of the early attacks from Rochdale could have been a flick as it hit a Brooklands players body near the goal line, but the umpire missed it. Fortunately for the away team, the Brooklands player owned up to it and a penalty corner was awarded, as the goalkeeper was close enough to it to put enough doubt that it was not a clear goal scoring opportunity.

​It would not be from that penalty corner but a different one that the first goal came from. The ball was injected to the top of the circle and slipped wide to Bjorn Brauns, who played it back across, through a couple of Dale players to find Kane Morgan at the back post who converted it to give Rochdale an early lead.

​The lead would not last however, as Brooklands started getting possession higher up the pitch by overloading the right wing to double team the full back. This allowed them to start playing the ball inside from the wing, but these were largely dealt with by Rochdale’s back line. However, an early pull back to the centre allowed a cross from around the centre of Dale’s 23m line to be deflected by Brooklands high forward into the back board for an equaliser.

The scores were now level, as was the play in the main, although slightly in Brooklands favour for the remainder of the first half. It would be the home team who scored next as well before the break. They opened up the gap between midfield and defence, which they managed to exploit from a long corner. Their skilful play maker received a pass just wide of the top of the circle and a few yards out, before dancing past a couple of challenges, then cut in across the top of the circle before placing an accurate reverse stick hit into a difficult spot to save through a crowd of bodies. It was a good piece of individual skill, but the defence probably felt he should have been tackled or the shot closed down before he got it off.

With the score 2-1 to Brooklands at half time, words needed to be said. Much of Rochdale’s attack had been too much down one channel with the ball rarely transferred from one wing to the other. When it had been attempted, temptation to go through the centre had got the better of them and was just getting picked off leading to counters. The team were fired up for a better performance second half.

Rochdale once again took the game to Brooklands and did well, with Morgan doing a great job of breaking down any counter attacks early doors. There were good attempts on goal, that were it not for some excellent goalkeeping, would have resulted in an equaliser for the away team. It would be Brooklands who scored next though, against the run of play.

​They succeeded in getting up the pitch by playing back and across, rather than just a straight counter. With some skill, their midfielder opened up space and played the ball in behind Rochdale’s midfield to the striker at the top of the circle. He struck it first time and the ball deflected off a defender's stick. It was going at chest height and wide, but Brookland’s winger had snuck in at the back post and smacked it in with youthful enthusiasm to give the home side a two-goal advantage.

Rochdale dominated most of the rest of the game, but were only able to get one goal back. It came from a great cross from James Trainor to Dean Close to deflect past the goalkeeper, who had his line of sight blocked by Rochdale captain Adam Massey to get Dale a goal back. It was only a consolation goal however, as the away team were reduced to ten men for a yellow card near the end after a badly timed challenge.

Captain Adam Massey said: “It wasn’t our best performance today and Brooklands were a good, well drilled side with a couple of skilful players as well as a good goalkeeper. The second half was better from our point of view, but we needed to be more clinical. We did manage to draw the second half 1-1, but as far as the result goes it shows how far we’ve come so far, to be disappointed to lose 3-2 to a team that beat us around 6-0 last season. We still have plenty of work to do on the training ground and also improve our mental discipline, to make sure we make the right decisions more often. A well-deserved man of the match went to Kane Morgan for a tireless work rate and a great goal.”

Rochdale's next game is at home to Bolton Men’s 2nds at Oulder Hill Leisure Centre on Saturday 5 November, 2pm push back, supporters welcome.