Hockey: Rochdale Ladies 1 - 1 Bolton Ladies

This Saturday 4 March, Rochdale hosted Bolton 2nds, the team they broke their losing streak against with a full-time short corner in the first half of the season.

Given how quickly both teams got stuck in, it was clear that both were hoping to ensure this time their team came out with a win.

Rochdale's defence had their work cut out for them as Bolton kept pressing high and bouncing the ball between their players to hold onto it until they were ready to break through, but Leech was doing an excellent job closing down the left wing and with both Hoyle and Owen guarding the D with their strong blocks and tackles they were able to hold back the worst of it.

Eventually Bolton's ability to engineer short corner situations paid off, and they were able to get a goal from a post deflection as they finally found a way past Rochdale's defence.

After Parton received a pass from Leech, she and Black dashed down the left wing with a cunning overlap as Parton passed off the ball to Black before overtaking her to receive it back.

Unfortunately, Bolton headed them off before they were able to get into the D.

A short corner in Rochdale's favour found Pickering at the top of the D, she quickly took a shot, but it was blocked by a Bolton defender.

Knowles dived in and passed it off to Burrell who struck the ball into the back of the net, bringing Rochdale level again.

In the midfield Hodcroft and Pickering were putting a shift in as they attempted to run around the players in their way.

Pickering playing it smart as she worked her way up the right wing, forcing Bolton players to make mistakes, and Hodcroft weaving her way in-between the multiple opposition players who were determined to rob the ball from her.

Combined with Knowles running counter to provide critical passes and pivots, these tactics allowed Rochdale to work their way deep into Bolton's defence multiple times.

Unfortunately they were unable to convert any of these opportunities into goals, though not for lack of trying.

A penalty flick gave Rochdale a chance to pull ahead. Burrell stepped up to take it, and lifted it up to the left side of the goal, but Bolton's keeper saved it. It didn't hamper Rochdale's spirit though, as they kept trying to find another goal.

A hit from Burrell shot diagonally up towards the top right wing and into the wide open space that Hockaday was running into, unfortunately the pass was just a bit too far ahead to be picked up, but it was close to giving Rochdale another route into Bolton's D.

Both teams played their hearts out to try and find a way to come out the victor, until the final whistle gave them a breather as the match ended a draw.

Final score was 1-1, with Katie Burrell as Rochdale's only goal scorer.

Roisin Pickering and Kieran Leech were named joint player of the match.

Captain Dionne Collinson said: "I think the opposition thought they were going to run away with the win today. Our ladies stepped up and made it one hell of a task. Well in all, you were brilliant.”

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