OHLC
Sponsored RochdaleLadies Hockey Update!
Rochdale Ladies 0 - 1 Glossop Ladies
Never has a defeat felt more like a win than it did for Rochdale Ladies when they took the field against second-placed Glossop on Saturday. The away fixture had seen Rochdale crushed 5-0 just before Christmas in a game that had more of an effect on their morale than it did their league position; but with a decent performance against Moss Park last week, Rochdale just looked much more 'up for it', right from the off.
Glossop's team line-up left Rochdale with bags of space in midfield, which Mel Ross and Paula McDonald exploited to the full, Ross picking up the ball as early as the third minute to make a surging run towards the left side of the area. Characteristic of play on the hard pitch, her cross to the far post was just a little overhit, the ball skipping away from the stretching Roisin Pickering.
At the other end, some strong and confident defending by Alex Bedford denied Glossop's Edna Davies a shot at the right upright after some good work by Jo Farah, with Claire Hoyle in the Rochdale net saving well from Farah just two minutes later, allowing the outstanding Gill Knowles to sweep the ball to safety.
Rochdale moved the ball incredibly well, and a Claire Butler reverse stick on the left fed the breaking Gemma Hodcroft who surged towards the near post only to see her cross saved and then cleared by Bev Weir.
Both sides felt a little hard-done-by shortly before the break. Mel Ross threaded a neat ball through to Rochdale's Gemma Hodcroft, who received and then side-stepped the keeper, who bundled into her, fairly, according to the umpire. Glossop's Bev Weir felt she deserved a penalty flick as she picked up in the D and then turned into her marker Gill Knowles, coming off the worse from the collision; play-on waved the umpire.
Another excellent save, late in the half, by Claire Hoyle saw the teams change ends with the score still 0-0, but with Rochdale's confidence growing by the minute.
Right at the restart Rochdale found themselves in a strong position as Gemma Hodcroft and the influential Paula McDonald linked up well on the edge of the area. The through ball was just too strong for Roisin Pickering on the hard pitch, and slid wide of the post.
Pickering shot well but just wide a few minutes later as a pass from Mel Ross found her in space in the area, and Claire Hoyle was called on to make another fine save at the feet of Jo Farrah in an increasingly open and entertaining match.
Glossop finally got themselves on the scoresheet eight minutes into the second half with their second short corner in quick succession. It was a text-book finish with Roseanne Worthington injecting to Jo Farrah who shot hard and low into the bottom corner.
Rochdale upped the pressure as the half wore on, and a short spell saw Jenny Banks, Gemma Hodcroft, Jo McManus and Roisin Pickerin all pepper the Glossop goal, but to no avail. Banks probably came nearest as she skipped past Sue Hammond before side-stepping the keeper. Having done all the hard work she frustratingly sliced the shot, which skidded harmlessly wide.
As the umpire blew for full-time, Rochdale found themselves putting Glossop on the rack with a short-corner, and then another, and another; the third seeing Banks' powerful shot shepherded to safety, much to the relief of the Glossop keeper.
All in all this was a thrilling match, with Rochdale commanding midfield and thoroughly deserving at least something from the game. In the end it proved a huge confidence boost against second-placed Glossop, even though the score went against the home team.
Rochdale: Claire Hoyle, Ashleigh Hoyle, Gill Knowles, Kieren Leech, Alex Bedford, Katie Brammer, Paula McDonald, Gemma Hodcroft, Mel Ross, Susan Halpin, Claire Butler, Johanna McManus, Roisin Pickering, Jenny Banks
.
www.rochdaleladies.org
