Rochdale Ladies 4 - 0 Stockport Bramhall Ladies

Katie Burrell scored Rochdale's third goal

With two matches played and two draws, Rochdale were hungry for their first win of the season - and they launched themselves at the chance during their home match on Saturday 5 October. Building on their game the previous week, they used their short sharp passes to superb effect in the midfield, pushing high and holding the play deep into Stockport's defence. Stockport for their own part managed to break through a few times, but Rochdale's defence was strong and batted them away from their goal without fuss.

Rochdale pulled ahead early as Pickering received the ball in the midfield and drove it up the right wing before handing it off to Burrell. Burrell sent it up to the top of the D where Hodcroft had run in. Hodcroft sent the ball flying towards the left post where Black ensured the ball found the back of the net.

Their second goal was almost a replay of the first, with Pickering on the right sending it into the D for Burrell to get a hold of, who again passed it off to Hodcroft. This time she took the shot on goal and found the gap between the keeper's feet to hit the goal's backboard.

Even though they didn't have a full squad, Stockport's defence held strong and made it very difficult for Rochdale to find a way through. Several opportunities were sent wide because there was just no angle or were cleared by stubborn defenders.

Hodcroft made multiple weaving runs through the midfield with the ball as she tried to exploit any gaps she could, most of them were ended by the defence, but after one of them she sent the ball out wide to Pickering, who had an angle to fire it to Burrell who lowered her stick and just swept the ball towards the goal and it slammed into the net to add to Rochdale's lead.

Rochdale nearly managed to pull yet further ahead with Black and Parton getting stuck into the D as they caught multiple rebounds and tackles to try and keep the ball live, before they were finally able to see it over the backline, only for it to be disallowed because it hit a foot.

If that decision made Rochdale lose their heads, it was only for a moment as Stockport pushed for another attack and got embedded enough into their D to win a short corner. But by then Rochdale were back on form and blocked the shot before it was cleared away. McDonald and Pickering worked their way through the midfield with several quick passes to find the space before Pickering fired the ball into the D where Black had made her run. Black got control of the ball and took a shot, only for the keeper to deny her. However, Black was not having another of her goals denied, and she reacted fast to get the rebound and sent the ball right back into the goal.

Final score was 4-0, with Lily Black (2), Katie Burrell (1) and Gemma Hodcroft (1) as Rochdale's goal scorers.

Player of the match was Daisy Parton.

Captain Collinson said: "An amazing effort against Stockport. It’s great to see training in match play. Well done all.”

Rochdale's team:
Keeper; Sam Partington.
Defence; Dionne Collinson, Claire Hoyle, Becky Knowles & Hannah Palmer.
Midfield; Gemma Hodcroft, Paula McDonald, Daisy Parton & Roisin Pickering.
Forwards; Lily Black & Katie Burrell.