Hockey: Rochdale Men’s Firsts 4 - 4 Ormskirk Men’s Firsts

Man of the match Michael Waddicor - Rochdale Men’s Hockey Firsts

The fixture was always going to be a physical game after the heated cup tie last year which saw Rochdale take the spoils and this time honours ended even.

Ormskirk started the better of the two teams, pinning Rochdale in their own half and the constant pressure saw them overturning Rochdale possession.

Rochdale started to find some momentum and they began to push up through the gears. Mark Eden in defence had found his range with penetrating long balls deep in to the Ormskirk half and Rochdale strikers James Shepperd and David Gowers were picking them up and causing the Ormskirk back four all sorts of trouble.

With the Ormskirk defence occupied with Shepperd and Gowers, gaps began to open for the Rochdale midfield to take advantage and it was Rochdale captain Michael Waddicor that led by example. On a typical Waddiocr run from deep he managed to break through the Ormskirk defence and wrong foot the keeper to opne the scoring.

Barry Gumbley doubled Rochdale's lead after a solo run from midfield, around the top of the D, he riflied a shot past the Ormskirk keeper.

Winger Keiran King put Rochdale further in front before half time.

The second half saw Rochdale become complacent believing they had won the game.

Ormskirk never gave up and soon found themselves back in the game with two quick goals and then drew level just as Rochdale were gaining back control.

Rochdale got a fourth goal through Gumbley, his second of the game, before Ormskirk gained a short corner which they dispatched straight down the middle of the Rochdale goal.

Rochdale Captain Michael Waddicor said: "This is the first time we have dropped points all season and we are disappointed with both the result and the way in which it happened. We felt several umpiring decisions did not go our way and some of the Ormskirk team shouldn't have been in the pitch after the deliberate fouls they had made.

"At 3-0 up we should have finished the game off and never allowed them back in to it, which shows we still have lots to work on."

The Oulder Hill Leisure Centre man-of-the-match went to Michael Waddicor.