Hockey: Glossop Ladies 1 - 1 Rochdale Ladies

Rochdale keeper Sam Partington and defender Becki Moon

Rochdale's first away match of the season was against Glossop, and they built well from their performance the previous week. Rochdale controlled much of the game on Saturday 28 September by using their quick passes to great effect, especially in the midfield between Hodcroft, Leech, McDonald and Parton, which allowed the team to push high to attack Glossop's goal.

Rochdale were reacting better too, on a short corner McDonald injected up to Hodcroft, who took the shot from the top of the D. Glossop's keeper saved it, but Parton pivoted with lightning fast reflexes to catch the rebound for her own attempt but Glossop were able to regroup to shut it down.

Against the run of play Glossop were able to get the first goal with a fast break from a Rochdale attack. Undeterred as the match progressed, Leech swept in to intercept a Glossop ball, and handed it off to Hodcroft, who weaved her way down the midfield before passing it up to Lyssejko who had found some open space at the top of the right wing. Lyssejko tapped it to Burrell who pivoted to crack the ball across the D towards far post, unfortunately no one was able to get a stick to it to deflect it in.

A long corner from McDonald found Leech, who ran it into the D before passing it straight to Black who got a fantastic touch on it to push the ball into the goal which - despite the keeper's best efforts - couldn't be stopped from crossing the line to bring Rochdale level.

After half time Rochdale continued to keep their heads and use their passes to create the space, coming back around if they couldn't go forwards and working well as a team. Such as a sideline ball from Moon to McDonald, who tapped it straight back to Moon who bounced the ball over a player's stick into the space created for Hodcroft to run onto.

However, even though both teams did excellent work creating opportunities for themselves to score, both defences were solid and the game ended without another goal.

The final score was 1-1, with Lily Black as Rochdale's only goal scorer.

Player of the match was a tie between Black, Partington and Knowles.

Captain Collinson said: "Well my first game back and the ladies second. I cannot believe the standard of play displayed today. We had a shout out from the oppositions umpire at the end to praise us for our development. Well done girls, very proud.”

Rochdale's team:
Keeper; Sam Partington.
Defence; Dionne Collinson, Claire Hoyle, Kieran Leech & Becki Moon.
Midfield; Gemma Hodcroft, Fee Lyssejko, Paula McDonald, Daisy Parton.
Forwards; Katie Burrell & Becky Knowles.
Substitutes: Lily Black, Hannah Palmer.