Hockey: Kendal 2 - 6 Rochdale Mens Firsts

Rob Lees

Rochdale won at Kendal in their second game in two days on Sunday.

The game at a high tempo which Kendal could not deal with.

This showed as they failed to deal with the skill of Barry Gumbley and the runs made by James Shepherd, Rob Lees and Michael Waddicor.

Within 20 minutes Rochdale were up 4-0. Goals coming from a Gumbley strike straight through the keeper at a short corner, Dave Gowers with a thunderous shot in the bottom corner from another short corner, and Lees converting a saved attempt from a Waddicor shot. The best goal of the first half came from the returning vice captain Stuart Dearden - after a lengthy spell missing with injury - he stole the ball from the Kendal midfield, passed it out wide for Shepherd to run the ball deep in to the opposition defence, before squaring a pass back to Dearden to convert in style as he dived to reach the ball slapping it past the Kendal keeper.

In the second half Rochdale legs began to tire, and the toll of two games in two days began to take effect.

Kendal got a goal back from a Rochdale error, which saw them fail to clear the ball into safety.

Rob Lees got his second goal of the game and restored Rochdale's four goal advantage with a fine solo effort. He received the ball just outside of the Kendal D and forced his way through the defence to give himself a shooting opportunity, and his strike flew into the net.

Kendal never gave up and got a second goal, squeezing the ball past James Deacy's inside post.

Deacy and the Rochdale defence of Danny Ramsbottom, Mark Eden, Andrew Borritt, Tim Liptrot and Mark Vynne were pretty much solid throughout the game. The only exception was a miscommunication between Vynne and Eden which ended up which Eden being sent off for five mins for a strong tackle on the Kendal forward.

Rochdale winger Lees ended the game with his third goal, and Rochdale's sixth, as he turned a Gumbley shot over the line.

Rochdale Captain Michael Waddicor said: "This was the second game in two days, and by the end of the game there were some tired legs, but the lads dug deep yet again to earn another three points and put us back at the top.

"It was great to finally have Stuart Dearden back after so long away. He is always a rock in the midfield and we have missed him.

"The Oulderhill Leisure Centre man-of-the-match went to Rob Lees for his hat-trick performance.”