Hockey: Rochdale Ladies 1 - 5 Manchester Manto

Photo: Rachel Jackson

Kie Leech was named player of the match

Rochdale hosted Manchester Manto 1st team on Saturday 5 November, and the weather was starting to feel a bit more like autumn, but it just about stayed dry.

Neither team had an obvious opening advantage, both of them were able to test the other's defences relatively early. Despite their recent scores Rochdale were maintaining their confidence, allowing them to push up as a unit with Leech and Collinson treading high to provide support when Hodcroft and Pickering were able to work the ball into Manto's defence, in turn freeing up Knowles and Burrell to find new space. They kept their heads and possession for a while, trying to find a way through, but unfortunately it wasn't enough to get them a goal.

A Manto attack was ended by Rochdale in their D when they tapped the ball onto an attacker's foot. In the aftermath it also hit a Rochdale defender's foot which resulted in a short corner in Manto's favour. Even though Manto admitted their initial foul the decision was unchanged, so when they played the short corner Manto instantly hit it off the back line in a much appreciated display of sportsmanship.

Another Manto run managed to entrench themselves deep in Rochdale's defensive area. With Leech and Hoyle closing them down and Partington making some brilliant saves Rochdale were able to hold them back, but not regain possession thus allowing Manto more attempts. Finally Manto were able to break through and earn themselves a goal.

Rochdale couldn't break out of a string of defensive short corners awarded to Manto, but they defended ably until they were able to control the possession and fire the ball back into the midfield. Hodcroft and Knowles bounced the ball between them before passing it off to Pickering who had run down the wing with them, she then turned to get into Manto's D. Manto were initially able to clear the ball, but Pickering retrieved it and her subsequent cross into the D led to Rochdale being awarded a short corner. They kept it simple and tried for a straightforward strike, but the keeper was able to save it.

Manto were able to increase their lead with a second goal in the first half. However, another short corner was later awarded in Rochdale's favour and they had different tactics this time. McDonald injected up to Hodcroft at the top of the D, who passed left to Knowles. Knowles tried to pass forward, only for a Manto defender to get her stick to it. Knowles dived forward and jabbed the ball away from the opposition stick and Burrell was within reach to grab it and dropped to reverse hit it over the keeper's boot and into the back of the goal.

Rochdale were positive going into the second half, with the scoreline 2-1 in Manto's favour they knew that they were more than capable of making up the difference. Their determination in the second half led to Rochdale being able to push higher and more often into Manto's defensive area. Owen was like a one woman wall, holding the line to give the rest of defence time to track back and pelting the ball back up the pitch. McDonald, Hodcroft and Pickering were adeptly using their triangles to avoid the opposition players in their way.

Parton chased down every ball that came down the left wing, and paired well with Hodcroft to off-foot Manto and open up some space. Hockaday opened up additional space with her tireless movement, allowing Collinson, Leech and Palmer to utilise some switches across the pitch. Rochdale also varied their approach each time they were awarded a short corner. All of which brought them close to getting another goal, but never quite managing it. Unfortunately it wasn't all plain sailing, and Manto pushed back just as hard. They managed to score an additional three goals in the second half, with a penalty flick and an impressively fast strike being particularly notable.

Rochdale, however, refused to give up. Using every ounce of energy they had to chase down the ball, mark out Manto and drive up the pitch for another attack. Yates was particularly tenacious on the left wing, working well with Richardson to keep possession of the ball and trying to find a new way into Manto's D. As a team, Rochdale kept challenging right up until the final whistle.

The final score was 1-5, with Katie Burrell as Rochdale's only goal scorer. Player of the match was Kie Leech.

Captain Dionne Collinson said: "That was another great battle against a lovely team and we're looking forward to our second round with Manchester Manto.”

Rochdale's team for this week:
Keeper; Sam Partington.
Defence; Dionne Collinson, Claire Hoyle, Kieran Leech & Hannah Palmer.
Midfield; Gemma Hodcroft, Paula McDonald, Roisin Pickering & Arabella Yates.
Forwards; Katie Burrell & Becky Knowles.
Substitutes: Claire Hockaday, Gill Owen, Daisy Parton & Rachael Richardson