Pride in performance as Ladies lose out
AFTER their first win of the season last weekend, Rochdale were in good spirits as they arrived to play Stockport Bramhall Ladies 3s on a chilly Saturday morning.
A lot of the action in the first half took place in Rochdale’s half, a number of short corners being awarded to Stockport, but the visitors were ready for them.
With Hoyle guarding Partington’s free post, Palmer blocking out wide shots and Leech and Owen interrupting the efforts near the top of the D, they were able to see off each attempt.
Despite Stockport bogging Rochdale down in the midfield, and forcing Hodcroft to do a lot of weaving and pivoting to try and find a way through, Rochdale were able to find a way through on several occasions.
Parton intercepted a pass, and when a Stockport player tackled her, she stood fast and kept possession before turning and running up the wing towards the D.
When another Stockport player tried to stop her, she tapped it up to Richardson who had run square to be an option down the line for her.
Richardson took the strike early, and was unlucky to hit the post.
A good bit of back and forth between Leech and Mcdonald allowed Leech to get down the left wing and in a position to fire the ball into the D.
Black ran to meet the ball then turned for a goal strike and it went just wide of the post. Stockport’s efforts to break through were cut short by Hodcroft, who outmanoeuvred all attempts to stop her getting into the D and tried for a shot. It was blocked but Black was able to catch the rebound and just stop it going off the backline.
A Stockport defender forced Black to battle to keep the ball in play, and she held it well until her efforts were called off when the whistle blew for a Stockport free hit when the ball finally went out of play.
Stockport were able to nudge ahead just before the end of the first half with a goal from a short corner.
Half time gave Rochdale a chance to take stock, and remind themselves to play their game and to try and open up the field of play rather than allowing the opposition to pull them close together and dictate.
Stockport got another goal when one of their players fired it into the D from their left wing and with an open D one of their attackers was able to deflect it up into the top corner of the net.
Rochdale came close to narrowing the lead with a short corner in their favour, Hockaday injected and found Burrell at the top of the D, who slammed it towards the far post where Hockaday had run in to deflect, but a Stockport defender was able to deflect the pass just enough to undo their effort.
Later Hockaday took a free hit and found Moon on the wing, who drove the ball up the pitch, despite being tripped by a member of the opposition. Making use of a one-two with Hockaday they got the ball up to Pickering who in turn was able to cross the ball into the D to Burrell. Burrell’s attempt to get to the goal were hampered by a defender who forced her off the backline. Stockport were able to break through and caught Rochdale unawares, leaving Partington facing off against the striker alone. But Partington kept her cool and forced the player to come to her and made the excellent save look easy, before kicking it to Hoyle to clear.
Rochdale were definitely pushing higher in the second half, and it looked to be paying off when Pickering rushed down the wing and passed it off to Hockaday to take it into the D. Hockaday in turn was able to get around the defence to hit it to where Black was running into space near the post. Black caught the ball and tapped it into the goal before the keeper could react.
Rochdale’s celebrations were short lived as the whistle went after the goal was scored, it now discounted and a long corner given in Rochdale’s favour. They made a valiant attempt to reclaim the goal they’d just lost, but unfortunately were unable to do so before Stockport were given a sixteen. Later Hockaday took a sideline free hit and passed it to Pickering, who was quickly able to find some space to cross the ball into the D again.
This time Yates was free and once she had the ball under control took a shot wide of the keeper only for it to be stopped just short of the goal line by a defender’s foot. A short corner was issued and Yates injected up to Hodcroft, who took her strike from the top of the D, but the keeper saved it. Hodcroft rushed for the rebound, but Stockport were able to clear it first.
Stockport were able to maintain their luck when they were awarded a short corner late in the second half. But Rochdale were determined not to let them pull further ahead, and Hoyle stopped their efforts with a fantastic mid-air block before batting the ball out of their D. Both teams kept fighting till the very last whistle, even when it didn’t feel worth it, but neither were able to get another goal. Final score was 2-0.
Player of the match was Claire Hoyle.
Captain Partington said: “Well done girls, we kept our heads whilst every single thing was going against us. We had some strong play throughout the game, some amazing clearances in defence and shots on goals upfront. Keep your heads up girls, very proud of how we dealt with today.” ROCHDALE’S TEAM: