Report | Rochdale

Tuesday 25th April 2006- KO 7.45pm

Rochdale

Barnet

Matt Gilks

Ross Flitney

Simon Ramsden

Simon King

Gareth Griffiths

Adam Gross

Mark Jackson

Paul Warhurst

Alan Goodall

Ian Hendon

Lee Cartwright 74

Dean Sinclair

Scott Warner

Andy Hessenthaler

Gary Jones

Anthony Charles 36

Ernie Cooksey

Nicky Bailey

Ricky Lambert

Liam Hatch

Chris Dagnall

Tresor Kandol

Substitutes

Jon Boardman

Matt Reed

Blair Sturrock 74

Paolo Vernazza

Ben Kitchen

Guiliano Grazioli

Tony Gallimore

Louie Soares 36

John Doolan

Damien Batt

SCORERS

Dagnall 23

Hendon 28 (pen)

BOOKINGS

Griffiths 27, Dagnall 91

Hatch 68, Hessenthaler 69, Kandol 89

Stuart Ashworth at Spotland

Barnet started the game very well and looked far from a side struggling at the foot of the table. With just two minutes on the clock Nicky Bailey went close with a shot from 18-yards after the Dale defence went walkabout. Fortunately Matt Gilks was awake and he dived across his goal and tipped the ball round post.

Liam Hatch thought he'd scored in the fifth minute following a sweeping move down the right that left him free in the box, but the Barnet man handled before tapping home, again with the Dale defence AWOL.

The chances weren't exclusive to the visitors though but it was only shots from distance that the home side could muster. The closest came from skipper Gary Jones who shot wide on eight minutes after a neat lay off by Lambert.

Rochdale took the lead on 23 minutes after a half-cleared corner was smashed goalwards by Cooksey. His shot was saved superbly by Adam Gross though the defender used his hand to scoop the ball out, but Dagnall ensured the referee had no major decision to make by tucking the ball over the line.

Dale didn't keep their lead for long though with Dale defender Mark Jackson off the pitch requiring stitches in a cheek wound the visitors levelled matters five minutes later from the spot. Tresor Kandol teased the challenge off Griffiths inside the box and when the defender obliged, Kandol went over. Ian Hendon drilled home the penalty.

Rochdale had their chances to take a lead into the half-time break with Gary Jones going close with a raking shot after a good spell of play by Rochdale.

Dale fans were on the edge of their seats seconds before the interval after Rickie Lambert's great footwork beat three defenders before curling a low shot to the far post that Cooksey and Jones just missed.

The second half started brightly for both sides with Dale's Chris Dagnall looking very lively and coming into the game more and more.

The young Dale striker went close with shot that just cleared the crossbar and managed to keep 'keeper Flitney alert with a low curling shot after a good touch by Lambert freed the space.

Dale continued to enjoy a good spell of possession but it was the quality of the end product that sadly ruined good build up play.

More evidence if it was needed came on 70 minutes after Ernie Cooksey picked up ball on outside of box , again following some decent football by Parkin's side this time down the right. Cooksey shot from around 18-yards lacked power and direction and it was a comfortable take for the 'keeper.

Rochdale continued to huff and puff but the Barnet defence proved stubborn and that quality in the final third still eluded them. Live wire Chris Dagnall found Gary Jones on the edge of the box, but his low effort was again an easy for 'keeper Flitney.

The golden rule of making your possession count almost came back to bite Rochdale on the backside late on after defender Mark Jackson got on the wrong side of his man. Kandol managed to get inside the box, but good covering from Griffiths made sure the Bee's striker failed to make the opportunity count.

Dean Sinclair also failed to make Dale pay minutes later when a left-sided cross found him in space at the back. Sinclair waited for the ball to bounce but then blazed over from 15-yards much to the joy of the Rochdale fans.

In a game with more chances than your average Monopoly board, Dale were next up to try and take the lead. Substitute Blair Sturrock found himself in the right place at the right time following a great cross by Alan Goodall, but again Rochdale failed to make Flitney work hard as Sturrock's shot tamely flopped into the 'keepers arms.

In the end it was a point shared and on the balance of play it was a fair result, but Rochdale need to find that killer instinct in their play and put games like this one to bed.

Match Stats

Rochdale

Barnet

ATTEMPTS

ON TARGET

FREEKICKS

CORNERS

OFFSIDE

YELLOW CARDS

RED CARDS

POSSESSION

Star Player

Rochdale

Barnet

Rickie Lambert

Liam Hatch

Quality in abundance from the Dale striker from his first touch to his last.

Big man who looked dangerous throughout. Good feet and always a threat.

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