Hockey: Rochdale Ladies 2 - 6 Buxton Ladies

Photo: Rachel Jackson

Kie Leech was named player of the match

It's been a hard two weeks for Rochdale Ladies with four matches in total, but this Sunday (4 February) saw them fully caught up on their fixtures, and right off the back of their first win of the season the previous day.

Unfortunately it was Buxton who scored first, and they had pulled ahead by a couple of goals before Rochdale were able to make their own mark on the scoreline. Pickering took a sideline free hit on the right wing and passed it off to Hodcroft, who ran it down the wing and crossed it into the D for Black to get a touch and deflect it into the goal.

Even though they were behind, Rochdale never gave up fighting as Buxton kept attacking, switching the play around the top of the D to try and find a way through. They closed down the play as best they could, getting their opponents dug into corners and reducing their options and interrupting or deflecting their shots. One such moment was when Buxton fired it in from the left and Palmer was able to throw her reverse stick out to deflect the ball out of reach of the Buxton player hanging far post.

By half time the score was 5 - 1 to Buxton, but Rochdale refused to be cowed as both teams got stuck into the second half. Collinson took possession of the ball in the centre ground, and found an angle to absolutely smash it up to the D where Rochdale had two strikers well placed. Unfortunately due to the strength and speed of the pass, neither was able to get a touch to the ball to either get it under control or deflect it into the net.

Down at the other end of the pitch, it might have been a while since Hoyle donned the keeper pads, but she was fully confident in her role and abilities. To the point where she coolly watched a ball sail past her and over the back line because she fully knew she was in the way for it to be anything other than wide of post. Even if her defenders were rather more concerned at the time.

Another free hit on the right wing saw Pickering run the ball down her wing before crossing it into the D, where Burrell was able to get the ball under control and fired it at the goal, right between the keeper's feet to reduce Buxton's lead.

There had been several short corners given throughout the game for both teams, so another deep into the second half wasn't going to phase the Rochdale defence. Leech bolted out of the goal as the ball was injected, and when Buxton took their shot to evade her, Collinson stuck her stick out to save the ball mid air, sending it safely over the top of the crossbar. Such amazing defending gave Rochdale a boost, but unfortunately it wasn't enough to turn the tide of the match.

The final score was 2 - 6, with Lily Black (1) and Katie Burrell (1) as Rochdale's goal scorers.

Player of the match was Kie Leech.

Captain Collinson said: "It was a hard weekend but we’re starting to get goals and close the score line against teams. Buxton are currently 2nd in the league so whilst it was a hard game, we held our own. Very proud of each and every player this weekend. Well done!”

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