Started the game with 10!!

The 4s travelled to Rochdale on Saturday for what they knew would be a difficult match for two reasons - Rochdale are a strong side particularly playing at home and due to illness and school games Stockport scraped just managed to scrape together 11 players (thanks to Susan Elcock coming in at last minute - literally!!) although started the game with 10!!

The Stockport defence were under attack straight from the off forcing a number of saves from the keeper Andrea Boulton to keep Stockport from going 3 or 4 nil down in the first 10 minutes.  Susan Elcock and Hannah Meadwell at the back were missing the sweeper so were covering 3 positions between them so had their work cut out but held the defence well.

Midfield Sophie Binder, Jenna Connor and Chloe Withers had the skills but just lacked a bit of conviction to get the ball into the Rochdale half and then Rochdale made a break and scored their first goal from open play with a direct shot on goal.  Kim Lumsdon and Olivia Shackleton managed to get into the Rochdale D a couple of times taking advantage of Rochdale pressing the Stockport team but the Rochdale goal keeper kept the ball out.
Despite a number of shots and great crosses in the D from the right Stockport managed to hold off Rochdale until half time and were only 1-0 nil down so still had everything to play for.

Rochdale had a couple of subs and that made a big difference in the 2nd half although Stockport did now have 11 players thanks to Nikki Barker making it from the school open day!!  Nikki made a big difference in the middle but Rochdale were not rolling over and were hungry for another goal.  Rochdales centre forward was one on one with Stockport's goalkeeper and came off a bit worse for wear when the goalie took her out (going for the ball) and a penalty flick was awarded which Andrea saved but within the next 2 minutes the centre forward was rewarded with a goal taking a deflection off Stockports defender 2-0 to Rochdale.

Stockport allowed Rochdale a flurry of goals during a lapse (tiredness and loss of concentration) during a 10 minute period and then a great ball out from Susan Elcock found Freya Krom on the right wing who switched play across to Olivia Shackleton and then to wide to Kim Lumsdon.  Kim brought the ball into the D having a shot and Olivia followed up on the rebound which was the closest Stockport came to scoring.

Great defending by a tired Stockport side in the closing stage of the game (how many short corners??) made the final score 5-0 to Rochdale. 

Player of the match Andrea Boulton.