Eleven heaven for Dale’s cup heroes
ROCHDALE’S first team began the second half of the season with a semi-final tie in the Lancashire Cup at Older Hill.
Having made the final in 2016, they had a determination from the beginning to go one better this year and bring the trophy back to Rochdale.
The two teams had met in the cup in 2016 which saw Rochdale run out 6-2 winners and from the moment the game began, Mossley Hill struggled to keep on an even keel with Rochdale and the tempo they were setting, Rochdale dominated possession all afternoon and the 11-2 victory was a more than fair reflection of the tie.
Barry Gumbley got a hat-trick, scoring two of his goals from solo runs through the Mossley Hills defence to rifle home perfect shots into the back of the net.
Captain Michael Waddicor scored twice, his first being another solo effort finding him one on one with keeper and sending the keeper the wrong way to leave an easy tap into the open goal.
Waddicor later repeated the run, only this time to tee up David Gowers for his first of three for the afternoon, his second coming from a fantastic top D drive. Waddicor also had a hand in first of Richard Borritt’s two goals.
Finding him free in the Mossley Hills D with a pin point pass, Borritt then calmly flicked the ball into the top corner, a skill he repeated for his second later in the game.
Rochdale’s 11th came from Keiran King, who scored with a reverse shot after James Shepherd had broke down the Mossley Hills defence. King dedicated the goal to his new born son Kalen.
Shepherd was unlucky not to get on the score sheet himself with an amazing solo goal disallowed after a poor umpires call, and a later great shot went just wide into the side net.
To give Mossley Hill credit, it wasn’t all one way, they did manage to score twice and could have got a third if it wasn’t for James Deacy in the Rochdale goal making an amazing save after Mossley Hill broke through to be one on one with him, Deacy was quick off his line taking the ball first and approaching attacker second.
Captain Michael Waddicor said: “Dave Gowers’ recent performances are like he has rolled back the years. After a fine scoring run of late, another hat-trick today has earned him the Oulderhill Leisure Complex man of the match.
“This solid win puts us in the Lancashire Cup final for the second year in a row, and I am very proud of the lads.”