Saturday 16th March 2007- 7.45pm

0

Rochdale

1

12

John Danby

1

Matt Gilks

2

Simon Marples

2

Simon Ramsden

5

Phil Boland

12

Alan Goodall

6

Sean Hessey

23

Rory McArdle

7

Jamie Hand

11

Adam Rundle

8

Simon Yeo

16

David Perkins

9

Royce Brownlie 57

5

John Doolan

17

Laurence Wilson

6

Ben Muirhead

19

Paul Linwood

7

Steve Turnbull 67

21

Dave Artell

30

Louis Dodds 81

23

Brad Maylett 74

17

Glenn Murray

Substitutes

3

Kevin Sandwith

13

Lloyd Rigby

11

Glenn Cronin

15

Joe Thompson 81

14

Alex Meechan

19

Lee Crooks 67

27

Chris Holroyd 74

3

Mark Jackson

34

Lee Steele 57

27

Rory Prendergast

SCORERS

BOOKINGS

Stuart Ashworth at the Suanders Honda Stadium

A game described as ugly by Rochdale manager Keith Hill, was decided by a Louis Dodds fourth minute goal and it was a goal and a victory that has almost secured Dale's future in the league.

Ugly was perhaps a good description from Hill, it was a game devoid of any real quality, spoilt in part by a gutsy wind and although there were some breath-taking moments, jaw-dropping decisions and very close shaves for many to talk about on the way home.

The game began with Rochdale winning the toss and opting to switch halves and playing with the wind in their favour and with four minutes played that decision reaped reward.Adam Rundle did well to win the ball on the left flank before feeding Glenn Murray on the edge of the box.The Rochdale striker turned and headed down the right wing and for a moment the opportunity looked lost as Murray seemingly pushed the ball a little too far to get a shot away.

The best he could do was put the ball into the box from the by-line and Louis Dodds, on his full debut for Dale side-footed home from close range in front of 683 travelling supporters.

It was a scrappy game as both sides struggled to get a foothold in the game but the best of the efforts on goal were made by the visitors and it was that man Dodds who popped up again on 20 minutes with a great chance for his and Dale's second of the night.Glenn Murray provided a slick ball into the box feeding a clever run by Dodds, but his first time shot had more direction than power and Danby pounced on the ball just outside his six-yard box.

Danby intervene once more to keep the ball out of his net after a Ben Muirhead corner looked destined to drop under the bar and in, but the Chester City 'keeper was alert and he pushed the ball away.

Alan Goodall, alongside the fit again Rory McArdle was outstanding throughout the 90 minutes.The makeshift centre half looked comfortable in everything he had to deal with and was always there or thereabouts when danger lurked.

However, Chester did manage to get one shot at Gilks in the first half, but Jamie Hand's speculative 40-yarder was well watched and dealt with by Gilks.

The second half started brightly enough, well for Chester, but it will be best remembered for the added eight minutes and the period leading up to it but more on that later.

The half had two shouts for a penalty from the home side.The first on 56 minutes came after Simon Yeo stole into the box before Perkins scampered across and dispossessed the experienced striker, who then went to ground rather easily.A penalty?Never in a million years.

The second on 63 minutes was astonishing in a couple of ways because I couldn't see why the referee Mr Taylor gave it.A corner from the left was lofted into the Dale box and the official pointed to the spot and duly booked Rory McArdle.Supporters from both sides seemed confused and stunned by the decision but as Chester prepared to take the kick, a referee's assistant called Mr. Taylor over.

The pair conversed for a moment or two before the referee ran back into the box and gave Dale a freekick before running to the fourth official and ordering him to strike McArdle's yellow card.Confused?So were we but we have cleared things up after the game.

A foul on McArdle was spotted BEFORE the referee had seen McArdle foul his man by the linesman who was flagging BEFORE the referee blew for the penalty so fair play to the referee for having the nerve to change his decision.

It was the luck Rochdale needed and their goal lead a charmed life in the closing stages including a staggering eight minutes of added time.

With two minutes to go Chester threw everything at Dale beginning with a distance strike from Hessy that flew just over the bar.

Moments later a freekick from the home side evaded the fist of Gilks who clattered into McArdle but he was saved by Goodall back on the line who headed clear as the ball came back in.

As the pressure continued another freekick found the head of Artell who flicked on towards the back stick were Linwood powered a header that had goal written all over it.Well that was until Gilks took flight to make a brilliant one-handed save that was simply world-class.

Chester still had time, lots of it in fact, to create another couple of chances the closest coming from Yeo who thundered a vicious drive off the post with Gilks beaten.

With everyone pushing up in a Chester shirt, Dale almost provided the sucker-punch after Muirhead broke down the left.The Bradford loanee squared the ball to Murray who should have put things to bed with a tap in, but his tired effort bobbled wide of the mark.

Match Stats

ATTEMPTS

13

ATTEMPTS

7

ON TARGET

6

ON TARGET

5

FREEKICKS

18

FREEKICKS

21

CORNERS

7

CORNERS

2

OFFSIDE

10

OFFSIDE

3

YELLOW CARDS

3

YELLOW CARDS

1

RED CARDS

0

RED CARDS

0

POSSESSION

54%

POSSESSION

46%

Stats by PA

Star Player

Chester City

Rochdale

Dave Artell

Alan Goodall

Managers Comments in Brief

Mark Wright

Keith Hill

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