Hunter’s hat-trick the highlight for Rochdale
FOLLOWING successive draws to open the season, newly promoted Rochdale were looking for their first win of the season at home to Chester.
Having started slowly in the first two games the home team were keen to get on the front foot from the start – and with some early closing down in midfield a turnover in possession leading to an early penalty corner from which midfielder Luke Rosebury converted a training ground routine with a tap in at the far post.
Rochdale were straight back on top after the restart and their crisp passing was too much for Chester to handle with a well worked move neatly finished off by Aaron Hunter for his first of four goals on the day.
More turnover possession led to the third goal scored by captain Michael Waddicor who kept his composure well to round the keeper and slot the ball into an empty net. Waddicor was again causing the opposition problems with an incisive run down the right-hand side into the D before a square pass to Kieran Hunter who converted from 6 yards out putting Rochdale four ahead at the break.
The half time team talk was clearly missed by the team who had a sluggish start to the second half, giving the ball away under pressure and conceding the first goal from an early penetration into the circle and a top D strike that was too much for home keeper Jimmy Deacy.
The home team were back into their stride shortly after conceding with their passing, movement and desire to win the ball back being too much for the opposition to handle.
The home team forcing a string of penalty corners before Aaron Hunter scored his second with another tap in at the back post after smart work from the short corner team.
Hunter then scored his hattrick goal with a superbly taken third after another turnover high up the pitch dribbling into the D and onto his weak side before deftly lobbing it over the scrambling keeper.
He then scored his fourth and Rochdale’s seventh after more aggressive pressing from the team again beating the keeper at his far post. 7-1 on the day.
Next up is an away trip against Bramhall where the team will look to push on. ●●ROCHDALE ladies played City of Manchester on Saturday, with a bare 11 they had to dig deep to keep the opposition at bay.
Despite being short on numbers for this first of two games over the weekend, Rochdale were full of determination. Much of their possession during the match showed training this season is really paying off. However, they were unable to keep, a well drilled, City of Manchester team from scoring.
The game ended 7-0. Player of the match was Daisy Parton.
The second game of the weekend was over in Bolton where Rochdale faced a cup match against Bolton’s first team. Once again Rochdale could only field a bare 11 but hoped they would be able to power through to the next round of the cup. However, despite a valiant effort, the game ended 3-0.
Player of the match was Sam Partington.
Captain Collinson: “It was a tough weekend with 2 matches. The effort, determination and skill is there so we will continue to push for a win.”