Hockey: Rochdale Seconds 0 - 0 Salford University

Rochdale Seconds played out a goalless draw against Salford University in their first game of the new season.

The match gave new captain Dean Close and coach Aasim Chaudhry an opportunity to put plans in to action.

Rochdale’s new high press set up is designed to keep constant pressure on the opposition and look to win the ball high up the pitch. With this new style, Rochdale surprised Salford and put immense pressure on their defensive line.

Right from the off Rochdale took control of the game and were the dominant side, taking possession of the ball at all opportunities and when they did lose the ball, the whole team worked hard to get it back behind it, in a defensive formation.

Throughout the game Rochdale pressed into the D and had chance after chance but the Salford had a keeper that was equal to everything that Rochdale could throw at him and Rochdale could not break the deadlock.

The high press is hard to keep up for a full game and with everyone starting to tire, Salford caught Rochdale on the break and got a few shots off at Rochdale keeper, Brian Robinson, who was equal to the task.

Neither team was able to make anything happen and game ended in a draw.

Dean Close said: "Overall with Rochdale employing a new system the whole team were very impressive and worked well for each other, at times the high press gave Salford no options at all and this worked very well for us."

The Flying Horse man-of-the-match was Bjorne Brauns.