Rochdale 2s 7 - 1 Kirkby Lonsdale 2s

Rochdale Seconds Men's hockey

Rochdale played their final game on Saturday at home to Kirkby Lonsdale and finished the season unbeaten both home and away. A magnificent performance for all the players involved.

The game started very evenly with chances for both teams but as Rochdale began to turn the screw cracks began to show in the Kirkby defence and the goals began to flow.

Despite this, Kirkby’s young attacking line up were not giving up and were making Rochdale work hard for the lead they had.

Rochdale were 5-1 up at hallf time with a hat-trick for Luke Robinson and two from Scot Hempsall-Jones.

The second half was much of the same and saw Scot Hempsall-Jones early on secure his hat-trick.

Then came a moment of wonder - Dave Jackson collected a pass from Hempsall-Jones on his right side, turned inside, then out, in an impossibly narrow channel, and sent the Kirkby defence falling sideways. Out came the goalkeeper, to quash the threat with a giant, raised arm and Jackson slotted it past him in to the bottom corner. As the ball hit the backboard the final Kirkby defender went with it, his body a tangle of thwarted desperation. The crowd had witnessed something special.

That was it, the game and season was over.

Jackson was awarded the Quat Chem man-of-the-match and Rochdale were undefeated, having scored 108 goals and were champions.

Captain Karl Wynn said: “I have already said it on several occasions this year, but I am extremely proud of this team and what it has achieved.

"We will work over the summer to improve and push on in Division Five next year, but for now we are going to enjoy the moment and celebrate at our end of season presentation evening next week.

"A big thank you should go to both Karl Wynn and Danny Ramsbottom for the behind the scenes organisation and running around which has gone largely unnoticed. Without this the team would not function. Many thanks from all the seconds."