Hockey: Horwich Men's Firsts 3 - 1 Rochdale Men’s Seconds

Rochdale goal scorer Graham Broadley

Rochdale Men’s Seconds were defeated at top of the league Horwich on Saturday.

Rochdale put some early pressure on Horwich, who had not conceded a goal all season but Horwich were first to get on the score sheet with a goal on the counter attack.

Rochdale continued to put some great runs into the Horwich D but struggled to find the right pass at the right time.

Horwich, with another counter attack, scored again.

Rochdale's heads did not drop and before half time a counter by Andy Meanock, Aaron Hunter and Graham Broadley, saw Rochdale become the first team this season to score past the Horwich goalkeeper with a well worked tap in by Broadley.

Horwich scored a third before hlaf time.

As the game progressed in the second hlaf, Rochdale started to retreat into their own half and allowed Horwich to play the ball around them and maintain the pressure.

With about 10 minutes to go the poor pitch played its part as Rochdale's Niam Willis slipped and hit his head. Willis tried to play on but conceded he could not. 

Shortly after the game had finished Willis took a turn for the worse. He went to Salford Royal where he was treated for concussion and was kept in overnight for observations.

He was released on Sunday but advised not to play for the next two weeks.

Rochdale captain Karl Wynn said: "It was a difficult game and the pitch played a big part.

“Thankfully Niam is ok now and we all look forward to his speedy return, he earned the Atticus man-of-the-match award."