Juniors step up to help Ladies home

ROCHDALE welcomed Glossop to Oulder Hill on Saturday and beat the visitors to secure their fourth win of the season.

With Paula MacDonald still enjoying half term, Saturday saw Becky Knowles play in the middle of the park and Kie Leech take on left wing – both taking on the positions with ease, causing little disruption to the Rochdale team.

Glossop pushed early on and within the first ten minutes scored a very lucky goal.

Despite the valiant efforts of Becky Moon (right back), Gill Owen (middle), Nikki Mongan (middle) and Dionne Collinson (left back) a strike from the Glossop striker proved too powerful to stop.

However, Rochdale battled on and within the last couple of minutes of the first half they levelled the score line. After a fantastic sweep from Owen at the top of Glossop’s D, sending the ball to Gemma Hodcroft in the middle who skilfully passed up the right to Roisin Pickering.

Pickering then passed the ball square and Rochdale scored their first goal as Katie Burrell sent it searing past the keeper from the back post.

The second half saw very much of the same play with Rochdale putting everything they had to retain possession and creep away from the tight score line.

The effort shown by Rochdale’s players paid off with Rochdale soon going 2-1 up.

Pickering shot at the top of the D, whilst Molly Barker took to the back post, sweeping the ball into the back of the net.

A goal the Rochdale fans went wild for as it showed great skill and execution from the attacking players.

Glossop started to tire and with Rochdale becoming more of a threat, they started to play more defensively meaning Rochdale’s defensive unit was able to push up to support.

The third goal came after Pickering took the ball down the middle of the pitch as Knowles made a run down the wing before receiving it on the edge of the D. Knowles produced a sensational cross to Burrell, who was patiently waiting on the back post, before expertly sending the ball into the back of the net.

Captain Leech said: “This was well deserved win for Rochdale who battled hard to get the three points.

“A massive well done to junior players Molly Barker, Sarah Ransome and Rebecca Newton who are showing some outstanding skill during games, putting the work in during training sessions and establishing themselves as integral senior players.”