Report | Rochdale

Tuesday 4th April 2006- KO 7.45pm

Rochdale

Darlington

Matt Gilks

Sam Russell

Simon Ramsden

Ryan Valetine

Gareth Griffiths

Joe Kendrick

Mark Jackson

Matt Appleby

Alan Goodall

Matt Clarke

Scott Warner 76

Guy Bates

John Doolan 76

Shelton Martis

Gary Jones

Andy Cooke 63

Iyseden Christie

David Duke 79

Ricky Lambert

Mark McLeod 91

Chris Dagnall

Jemal Johnson

Substitutes

Jon Boardman

Anthony Peacock

Gary Brown 76

James Beaumont 91

Ben Kitchen 65

Neil Wainwright 79

Ernie Cooksey 76

Akpo Sodje

Tony Gallimore

Taiwo Atieno 63

SCORERS

Cooke 34, Johnson 53

BOOKINGS

Goodall 73

Johnson 61, Kendrick 66

Stuart Ashworth at Spotland

Rochdale continued their poor run of results despite a more positive performance at Spotland. The return of Alan Goodall helped give Dale more in the attacking department, but it was a cutting edge they lacked as chance after chance went begging.

The home side set out their stall from the first minute, getting on the front foot from the first whistle. With just four minutes played Gary Jones got a low shot off after good work by Chris Dagnall and a lay-off by Christie, sadly for the skipper his shot skipped wide.

The visitors weren't without their chances and Parkin's side had Matt Gilks to thank for keeping the scores level after a quarter of an hour. The shot from Cooke was blocked by the Rochdale stopper as his defenders stood still looking for an offside flag.

For every chance that Darlington created, Dale had three. Christie showed great control on edge of box from a throughball by Scott Warner. Christie had the ball prodded away by the impressive Martis, but the ball fell to Jones on the edge of the box. Jones shot and the defenders got in the way, sending the ball out for a corner., Jones shot blocked

Gary Jones continued to find a shooting opportunity from distance and just minutes later got a shot on target away but his effort was comfortably saved by Russell .

Darlington seemed content to soak up Dale's attacking style and to be fair they were comfortable in doing so. A good move down the right on 28 minutes almost carved out an opening for Jones after a cross-come-shot from Christie just evaded the out-stretched right limb of the sliding captain.

Cue sucker-punch! Five minutes later Andy Cooke opened the scoring for the visitors after quick break down the right by Valentine. His cut back was perfect for Andy Cooke who smashed the ball home from 18-yards giving Gilks no chance at all.

The Rochdale 'keeper was called into action as the half came to a close only this time had got down well to push out a low goal bound effort from Cooke.

Rochdale started the second half very well, creating a couple of hairy moments for the Darlington defence almost from the off. The home side had strong claims for a penalty waved away just minutes after the restart when Chris Dagnall was upended following what the referee deemed a fair challenge by Dutchman Martis

Darlington doubled their not long after and it's one Matt Gilks will be disappointed he didn't stop. With 51 minutes on the clock the Dale 'keeper let a tame shot slip under him after on loan Blackburn man Jemal Johnson got the better of the Dale defence on two occasions.

Rochdale to their credit continued to press and Chris Dagnall and Iyseden Christie will be asking themselves why they didn't make more of an opportunity that fell their way just before the hour.

Dagnall looked clean through before a combination of poor control and the surface allowed Martis in to make the block. The danger for Darlington wasn't over as the ball fell to Christie, but the shot from the striker just inside the area flew well over the bar.

With 68 minutes played Chris Dagnall burst clear out pacing three Darlington defenders before firing a fierce shot at Russell's goal, but the 'keeper was more than equal to it with a flying save to his right.

Darlington almost made it three towards the end after Johnson got the better of substitute Gary Brown after his side cleared a corner. Johnson skipped through but it was the attentions of Alan Goodall, back after a lengthy lay-off due to fractured cheekbone, that forced the Darlington striker to shoot early and Gilks made a fine save to deny him his second of the evening.

It was a disappointing night in terms of the result, but the performance was there, now all we need to find is a prescence in front of goal as we head down to Northampton at the weekend.

Match Stats

Rochdale

Darlington

ATTEMPTS

ON TARGET

FREEKICKS

CORNERS

OFFSIDE

YELLOW CARDS

RED CARDS

POSSESSION

52%

POSSESSION

48%

Star Player

Rochdale

Darlington

Scott Warner

Shelton Martis

Ran close to the award by Gary Jones, but after a long time out of the starting 11 played like he'd been part of the team all season.

Excellent in defence for Darlington. Won everything from headers to tackles and was in where it hurts constantly.

Managers Comments in Brief

Steve Parkin

Dave Hodgson

"Despite the scoreline reading 2-0 it wasn't as one-sided as the result sounds."

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