Hockey: Didsbury Northern Ladies Sixths 6 - 1 Rochdale Ladies

Fee Lyssejko (right)

After an unexpected break due to pitch issues, Rochdale were playing away against Didsbury Northern 6ths this weekend, and despite Rochdale's best efforts the time away from the pitch showed.

Didsbury scored first, creating an overload that Rochdale chased down to try and close but couldn't. It was a tactic Didsbury used a lot, and most of the time Rochdale were able to shut it down, but unfortunately not every time.

Even though Didsbury were pulling ahead on the scoresheet, Rochdale were creating chances for themselves. With the midfield working hard to get the ball up the pitch, Burrell received a ball to have a cracking shot on goal, only for the ball's spin to stop it practically on the backline with enough time for Didsbury to clear it. Another time a cross in from Knowles on the right wing flew directly between Black and McDonald, but neither were quite able to get the touch that would deflect it into the goal.

Finally Rochdale's perseverance paid off, and a short corner in their favour was injected by McDonald up to Burrell at the top of the D, she passed it to the left post where Lyssejko had run and she was able to tap it in.

Didsbury had another chance before the half time whistle, and as their striker ran into the D, Leech intercepted and tackled, but not before the player had taken the shot and the ball sailed up and arced back down towards the far, top corner of the goal. Partington and Hoyle both tried to close down the gap but with such an awkward angle the ball made it past them and brought the score to three one in Didsbury's favour.

In many ways Rochdale played better in the second half, using the space better and taking advantage of Didsbury putting so many players on Hodcroft to create that space. They were able to create more chances in Didsbury's D, such as a fantastic reverse hit that Burrell cracked at the goal towards the right post, only to be denied by the keeper getting an equally brilliant save.

Didsbury kept pushing hard, however, and despite some excellent keeping by Partington - including a fast paced double save as Didsbury got the rebound - were a lot more adept at converting their chances into goals than Rochdale.

The final score was 6-1, with Fee Lyssejko as Rochdale's only goal scorer.

Fee Lyssejko & Gemma Hodcroft were named as joint winners of player of the match.

Captain Collinson said: "It wasn’t the score we wanted and it wasn’t the score we deserved, however we kept going, worked well and showed a great amount of teamwork. Playing second in the league was never going to be easy so well done ladies. Shout out to Fee for her first goal, it was so deserved!”

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