Hockey: Timperley Men's 4ths 13 - 0 Rochdale Men's 2nds

Photo: Rachel Jackson

Lee Robinson

Saturday 4 November saw Rochdale Men’s 2nds travel to Cheshire to face Timperley's 4th team. The weather was cool and overcast, but the rain largely held off, with just a few decent showers. Timperley were second in the league at the start of the match and with Rochdale fielding a bare eleven, it was going to be a tough test.

​Timperley started at a blistering pace, quickly winning a first penalty corner. The first one was successfully defended, but the resulting long corner ended in another penalty corner. An initial save from Dean Close resulted in a Timperley forward receiving the ball D top, driving in past three tackles and slotting it into the corner for the opening goal. There were some protests from the home side about the ball not leaving the circle, but it was waved away by the umpires.

A second goal followed not long after. One of Timperley’s wingers worked the ball down the left wing, passed it onto the forward on the baseline, who worked the cross in for an easy goal at the back post. Timperley got a third minutes later in a similar fashion from a counter down the right. This time an earlier cross struck Graham Broadley on the ball of the ankle inside the circle. The umpire played advantage and another Timperley forward was on hand to put the rebound in.

​Rochdale kept going to try and find a way back in, but were just totally outplayed. When Rochdale sat deep, Timperley worked it in and won penalty corners. When Rochdale got high (they did create a few chances and won two penalty corners) they broke down or went off for a 16, which resulted in them getting caught on the counter.

​Timperley added another couple of goals with two well taken strikes from the top of the circle, both of them on the reverse, being powerfully hit into the sideboard. With the score at 5-0 to Timperley, centre back Broadley had to go upfront and limp about with what later diagnosed as a muscle contusion. 

​Timperley added another three goals in this half. The highlight being a drag flick from the top of the circle, which went in the top corner at around 70mph. Halftime score was 8-0 Timperley. There wasn’t much to say at halftime, but to keep going and try and get a goal back or concede a little less.

​The second half was much the same as the first but not quite as bad from a Rochdale perspective. Niall Baker kept making some great runs down the right, James Trainor created a bit up front nearly scoring twice. Kane Morgan and Adam Massey threaded through some great passes. Lee Robinson kept finding space on the left wing and Broadley almost scored as well.

​Unfortunately Rochdale lost another player to injury and Timperley added another five this half, to make the final score 13-0. It was a tough day for Rochdale with a heavy defeat and a few injuries added to an already growing list.

Man of the match was Nial Baker.

Next week Rochdale are at home against Manchester, which is going to be challenging to say the least. It is also the club’s family fun day, with both men’s teams and the ladies team playing at home. There will be food and drink, kids’ activities and should be a fun day out. Come along to Oulder Hill anytime between 10.30am - 4.30pm to have fun, food and maybe see some hockey.

Report by Graham Broadley