Keswick Mens Hockey Thirds 1 - 4 Rochdale Mens Hockey Seconds

Rochdale Men's Hockey Club Seconds

Long trips away from home like Keswick can sometimes take their toll and trip teams up but Rochdale kept their focus straight from the whistle and reaped the rewards with a hard fought win.

Within three minutes Scott Hempsall-Jones netted the opening goal with the first real Rochdale attack.

However, it didn't go all Rochdale's way and whilst Rochdle scored a second, Keswick pulled one back before half time.

Half time: Keswick Mens Hockey Thirds 1 - 2 Rochdale Mens Hockey Seconds

Rochdale had worked hard for the lead despite not playing well, but put in a much better performance in the second half.

With 18 minutes remaining on the clock Hempsall-Jones scored his second, and Rochdale's third, and the momentum of the game swung in Rochdale's favour.

With the pressure off Rochdale began to dominate and four minutes from the end Hempsall-Jones rounded of a great day for him by completing his hat-trick and in doing so winning the Quat-Chem man-of-the-match award.

Captain Karl Wynn said: "It was a game of two halves, a poor first and better second.

"We now have two free Saturdays to work on some extra training before we play second place Springfields. The basic fact is, a win and we have won the division."