Hockey: Rochdale Ladies 1 - 5 City of Manchester Ladies 2nds

Photo: Rachel Jackson

Dionne Collinson was named player of the match

This weekend Rochdale were playing at home against City of Manchester 2nds. They were in high spirits despite playing the team currently top of the league and were hoping to improve upon their away loss to them earlier in the season.

It quickly became clear that Manchester meant business, but Rochdale rose to the challenge, equally determined to prove that they were a better team than many of their scores suggested.

Rochdale were not only able to defend well, including multiple short corners, but work their way through the opposition and into a goal scoring position several times. Though it wasn't always enough and Manchester were able to pull ahead.

A short corner for Rochdale saw Burrell injecting the ball up to Pickering at the top of the D. Pickering darted into the D and passed it back off to Burrell who had run post and was able to deflect it into the goal.

With Rochdale gathering momentum Palmer was able to block a Manchester runner with a reverse stick, before quickly jabbing the ball away to claim it, dragging it to where she could more easily sweep it up to Hockaday. Hockaday took it and ran towards the D, backed up by the rest of Rochdale's midfield and attackers. Unfortunately Manchester bogged Rochdale down just outside the D and eventually cleared the ball out of play.

After a quick interception, Collinson took the ball and sprinted into the D, dropping to reverse hit it at the goal. Manchester's defence deflected it wide. Parton was running towards left post and was able to get a tap on it, but not enough to win Rochdale a second goal.

Rochdale were able to hold Manchester to 1-2 at half time, and they were optimistic that they could level the difference if they could just convert the opportunities they kept making into goals.

A Rochdale free hit from Owen in Rochdale's half hurtled up to the free space at the top of right wing that Collinson was running into. Unfortunately she didn't have enough speed to reach it, but it was a good example of the mentality that was getting Rochdale within reach of goals. Even though Manchester were able to intercept the ball and outmanoeuvre Rochdale to increase their lead, Rochdale made them work for it.

They opened up the play by passing around the back and using their defence to switch the play between wings, along with making quick and precise passes to get from their own D into Manchester's in three or four passes. Hoyle and Partington in particular showed their talents each time Manchester broke from a Rochdale attacking push. With two fast strikers looming on them each time, Hoyle kept her nerve and closed them down, often holding them off long enough for the rest of defence to come and back her up to quickly neutralise the threat that Manchester posed.

Unfortunately it didn't always work, and that speed and experience from City of Manchester enabled them to score on enough occasions to prevent Rochdale from catching up. The final score was 1-5, with Katie Burrell as Rochdale's only goal scorer.

Player of the match was Dionne Collinson.

Captain Collinson said: "Last time we played CoM we lost 7-0 so this weeks 5-1 defeat is much better. We will continue to work hard on training to come back next time and challenge the score line further.”

Rochdale's team:
Keeper; Sam Partington.
Defence; Claire Hoyle, Kieran Leech, Gill Owen & Hannah Palmer.
Midfield; Lily Black, Claire Hockaday, Gemma Hodcroft & Roisin Pickering.
Forwards; Katie Burrell & Becky Knowles.
Substitutes: Dionne Collinson & Daisy Parton.