Rochdale are champions: Rochdale Seconds 5 - 2 Springfields Seconds

Rochdale are champions: Rochdale Seconds 5 v 2 Springfields Seconds

Saturday saw the much anticipated showdown between Rochdale and Springfields and the Rochdale victory  saw them crowned champions.

Both teams had a huge amount to play for, Springfield needed a win to have any realistic chance of the title and anything less could derail their own promotion hopes.

Whilst Rochdale knew that a draw was good enough for them to be crowned champions, but a win would keep them on track for a potential record breaking season.

They remain unbeaten and on course for 100 goals scored and are not far off +100 in goal difference.

Spurred on by Rochdale Ladies comprehensive 6-0 victory over Stockport Bramhall Ladies earlier in the morning, Rochdale took to the field ready to go.

The game started evenly with early opportunities for both sides but within seven minutes Josh Robinson opened the scoring for Rochdale, with a back post tap in after a great build up down the right hand side.

This seemed to settle Rochdales nerves and in the 18th minute they struck again with Scott Hempsall-Jones making it 2-0.

With nothing to lose now Springfields came at Rochdale with everything. A series of short corners led up to the half time break and by no means was this game over.

The second half started much the way the first had finished with Springfields pushing up and dominating. But this only allowed Rochdale to counter swiftly and on 42mins score the third.

Now gaining more and more success and possession on the right flank, Scott Hempsall-Jones cut in, across the top of the D and drove a lovely reverse shot over the keepers blocker and in to the roof of the net, 4-0 Rochdale and a hat-trick for Hempsall-Jones.

Rather than this put the tie to bed, Rochdale took their foot of the gas and allowed Springfield to pull one back and by the 65th minute they had scored again to make it 4-2.

The fans could sense the tension on the field by now, and with only five minutes left, experience paved the way. Running deep from midfield, Ansari drove direct at the D and slotted Rochdales fifth in to the bottom corner.

That was it, all over, Rochdale were Champions.

On any other day the game could have easily ended five or six each, if it were not for an outstanding performance from Jimmy Decay in the Rochdale goal. One outstanding dive to his right, pushing the goal bound ball on to the post and his total domination of his area during the short corners, justified him as the Quat-Chem man of the match.

Captain Karl Wynn: “I’m extremely proud of this set of players and what they have achieved this season.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the coaches and everyone at the club for their support of the second team and all its players. All the hard work has paid off.

“We do still have two important games to go if we are to achieve the goals we have set ourselves. Then we can turn our sights to next season."