Hockey: Rochdale U15s runners up in Greater Manchester U15 Hockey League

Tom Kershaw - Rochdale Hockey U15s Player of the Year

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Rochdale U15s went into the last round of the Greater Manchester U15 Hockey League in a strong position. Sat in second place, they knew just two victories would guarantee a runners up spot and if Bowden did slip up, they had a slight chance of champions.

Their first game of the afternoon saw them line up against Stockport Firsts, the only team that could leap frog them into second place.

Rochdale got off to a strong start and kept Stockport under a lot of pressure, with most of the play in the Stockport half.

Although chances were coming Rochdale’s way, most were from the top of the D and the Stockport keeper was in great form and proving difficult to beat from that distance.

Into the second half the game became more even with chances at both ends and with less than five minutes on the clock Stockport caught Rochdale on a counter and scored.

Although it was not the end, it dealt a blow to Rochdale and added a little more pressure to the afternoon.

Game two was against Didsbury, who had only won one game all year, but because they had come to the tournament minus a keeper, the team without a game was loaning theirs and for the Rochdale game that meant they were up against the Stockport First keeper, who had just stopped everything Rochdale could throw at him.

The coaches had a quick chat with the team and a change of tactics was put in place. As Didsbury were not as strong defensively as Stockport, the plan was to work the ball into the D, get the keeper to commit and then work it around him. Come what may Rochdale needed to win this game.

Didsbury stood strong early on, but Rochdale’s skill level was too much and gaps began to open.

Rochdale’s tactical change was paying dividends. With penetrating runs from midfield from Sam Wilkinson and Callum Lord cutting into the Didsbury defence and allowing Rochdale to slip the ball to the back post. The goals came from Rijik Malakar (2), Tom Kershaw and Sam Wilkinson and Rochdale ran out 4-0 winners.

With just two games of the afternoon left, and the last one against league leaders Bowden, Rochdale’s third game was against Stockport Seconds and another must win.

With confidence high, Rochdale started with a quick tempo and kept Stockport on the back foot.

Keeping the tactics which had worked so well for them against Didsbury, Rochdale took an early lead and never looked back.

Peter Ransome who had been the defensive foundation all season even managed to push up and get himself on the score sheet - which was testament to how Ben Alker, who had only had a brief appearance in the last round of games, had found his feet and slotted into the back line.

The game finished 4-0 to Rochdale, the other goals coming from Kershaw (2) and Malkbar and second place was now guaranteed.

Going into the last game Rochdale had something to prove against Bowden, who had been a thorn in their side all year.

It was Rochdale’s last game of the afternoon and the last this squad would play as U15s, so with nothing to lose it was Rochdale cup final.

Both teams went for it 100% and the game was end to end, with Sam Jackson pulling off a string of great saves.

Mid-way through the first half Rochdale took the lead when a quick counter caught Bowden out and Kershaw found the back of the net.

Bowden continued to push and just before the break equalised to take both teams in to half time level at 1-1.

The second half was more of the same, the game was nail biting for the spectators and once again Kershaw found a way through and put Rochdale back into the lead.

With less than five minutes left on the clock it was still end to end stuff, but as has been the case at every round of tournaments this year, Rochdale had played all their games back to back without a break and always played Bowden in their last game. Once again it was to be Rochdale’s achilles heel, tired legs started to play a part and Bowden caught Rochdale on two quick counters, to take the game 3-2.

Sam Jackson did have one other game to play as he stepped in to help Didsbury in the last game of the tournament, but the result was irrelevant and Jackson was playing for pride. Despite a string of great saves keeping it to 0-0 up to half time, Bowden proved too strong for Didsbury in the D, getting to the loose ball quicker and faster and completed their day with a 4-0 victory and were proclaimed champions.

A spokesperson said: "The progress Rochdale have made this year has been outstanding, this time last year they finished in seventh place with just two victories all season, so to take it all the way to the last round of games and push the likes of Bowden all the way to end up runners up is a huge achievement and every player in the squad of Sam Jackson, Peter Ransome, Jake Spanswick, Sam Wilkinson, Ibrahim Omar, Rijik Malakar, Ben Alker, Callum Lord, Isaaq Ansari and Tom Kershaw should be extremely proud of themselves.

"With most of these players now on the fringe of regular second team places for Rochdale Men’s, the future looks bright."

After the tournament, a short presentation took place and Peter Ransome was awarded Player's Player of the Year and Tom Kershaw awarded Player of the Year.