Hockey: Rochdale Firsts 10 - 1 Leyland Chorley Firsts

Kieran King celebrates hi shat-trick

Rochdale Mens Firsts beat Leyland and Chorley Firsts comfortably on Saturday.

With only one win out of their last four games the title and promotion were beginning to slide away from Rochdale and the rot needed to be stopped.

Rochdale started the game at a blistering place and soon found themselves with a 2-0 lead with goals from Keiran King and Rob Lees.

Michael Waddicor was next on the score sheet as defender Mark Eden made a strong tackle and found Waddicor just over the half way line. Waddicor ran the ball through several Leyland midfield and defenders before slotting the ball past the oncoming keeper.

King's second came from a long pass from Waddicor that found him on the left of the D; King ran around the top of the D to the right hand side before releasing a powerful shot into the back of the net.

The floodgates opened and King's hat-trick was completed when Waddicor, holding the ball on the right of the 25-yard line, timed a ass into the run of King for him to deflect the ball past the stranded keeper.

The second half was more of the same for Rochdale.

Lees scored his second of the game after finding himself on the back post for a well worked tap in.

King added a fourth to his tally.

James Shepherd was next to score, beating two defenders as he ran across the top of the D and fired in a tight angled shot into the far side of the goal.

Although Leyland scored a consolation goal, Rochdale marched on in style with a solo goal from Richard Borritt. Borritt let the oncoming keeper rush out towards him, before calmly lobbing the helpless keeper as he peddled back towards goal.

Michael Waddicor, Rochdale captain, said: "Today is obviously a fantastic result. Beating any team in this league 10-1 is an achievement in itself, but the lads really came together today, which showed the hard work this season has paid off.”

The Oulder Hill Leisure Centre man-of-the-match went to Michael Waddicor.