R&DSFL U21 7 - 0 Ashton U21

This semi-final of the Under 21 Inter-League competition was so one-sided it was almost embarrassing to be a home supporter! So much so that one R&DSFL Committee Member watching the game felt so sorry for the Ashton team that she was willing them to score a consolation just to give them something to hold onto on what must have been a dismal journey back to Tameside.

To say the Ashton team were poor would be an understatement and one wonders how they got to the semi-final such was the lack of skill, technique and even commitment. However, take nothing away from a superbly organised Rochdale team, who once again carried out managers Phil Crowther and Wayne Whitlow's instructions to the letter, using their wing back system to great effect.

The game was effectively over long before the half time whistle, wing back Danny Parker opening the scoring before Rochdale Captain Lee Leonard added a second from the penalty spot. Cue the start of the Richard Helme goal fest! Helme, having wasted a couple of glorious chances, refused to let his head drop at his misses and hit two more Rochdale goals before the break.

The second half was pretty much as the first, constant one way traffic as the Rochdale midfield dominated, winning tackles, always first to the second ball and spraying the ball with ease down both flanks to the marauding wing backs. Every forward surge looked likely to end in another goal as the Ashton defence almost literally went AWOL.

The fifth goal was the pick of the game, the imperious Lewis Rowland picking the ball up just in the Ashton half and moving forward before finding Danny Armitage on the left wing. Armitage skipped past two Ashton defenders as though they were not there and put in a cross so perfect that all Helme had to do was let it hit his head to finish a quite superb move.

Helme went on to score a further two goals to make his total five and Rochdale’s seven,  and any forward putting the ball in the back of the net five times in a semi-final could normally reasonably expect the man-of-the-match accolade, however, in this reporters opinion that award belonged to young Danny Armitage. Physically smaller and slighter than every other player on the pitch but so elusive were his constant forays down the wing that Ashton constantly resorted to foul play to try and stop him, and even then they were not always successful.

The only dampener on a job well done was the five Rochdale Catholic Club players in the squad who badly let the team down by not turning up!

Joint manager Phil Crowther said: "Myself and Wayne are very pleased with the way the lads played and as in the previous round the other team could not get to grips with the wing back formation, which again proved a winning formation."

Rochdale Team:
Jamie Roach | Tim Astley | Danny Parker | Chris Fielding | Chris Harris | Lester Peters | Lee Leonard | Lewis Rowland | Richard Helm | Gareth Horrocks | Danny Armitage

Substitutes:
John Lomas | Scott Hopley