Report | Rochdale


Saturday 5th May 2007- 3pm
Peterborough United			3	Rochdale					3
31	Shwan Jalal			1		Matt Gilks
3	Shane Blackett			2		Simon Ramsden
6	Micah Hyde			12		Alan Goodall
7	Adam Newton 46			23		Rory McArdle
8	Richard Butcher 46			14		Gary Brown
12	Craig Mackail-Smith			16		David Perkins
15	Alan White			11		Adam Rundle 55
27	Adam Smith			25		Joe Thompson 68
28	Craig Morgan 77			19		Lee crooks 59
29	Gavin Strachan			9		Chris Dagnall
30	George Boyd			17		Glenn Murray
Substitutes
1		Mark Tyler		13		Lloyd Rigby
2		Josh Low 46		26		Glen Poole 55
5		Guy Branston 77		30		Louis Dodds 68
9		Justin Richards		31		Danny Reet
33		Danny Blanchett 46		4		Tom Bates 59
SCORERS
Boyd 22,26, Blanchett 54				Murray 11, Dagnall 63, 69
BOOKINGS



Stuart Ashworth at London Road
An entertaining final game of the season ensured a top ten finish for Keith Hill's side after sharing the spoils with The Posh at London Road.The afternoon was somewhat spoiled by one Peterborough United supporter who ran onto the pitch and punched Glenn Poole as the players made their way off the field at the end of the game. He was chased by Dale pairing Alan Goodall and David Perkins before caught and handed over to the police but it was a sad end to a very fair game and one devoid of bookings. Rochdale manager Keith Hill was forced to make one change to his starting line up with John Doolan suspended following his red card last Saturday and that meant a place for Gary Brown who never looked as though he'd been out of the side. He and his fellow Dale colleagues had plenty to do too as Peterborough started the game well enough, though despite the swift pass and go movement they never really brought Dale 'keeper Matt Gilks into the fray early on. Despite enjoying the early ball it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play on 11 minutes after Glenn Murray tucked the ball home following a mix up in the Peterborough defence. The Dale striker latched onto a poor ball back from Craig Morgan to his 'keeper Shwan Jalal and slotted home for his easiest goal this term. The goal knocked the home side allowing Dale to get out of their half a little more often and they crafted a chance to stretch their lead with a good chance on 14 minutes.It was a dummy by Glenn Murray that allowed Dagnall to skip forward down the left but his low centre evaded the runs of Thompson and Murray. Peterborough eventually began to find their feet once more and with 22 minutes played The Posh levelled matters after defender Alan White was allowed to run the full length of the London Road pitch before putting in a deep cross that George Boyd met with a looping header to equalise. Two minutes later Matt Gilks produced a fine save to deny Adam Newton, but it was to no avail as Dale went further behind after Boyd was allowed to get in to pop another looping header from a Gavin Strachan corner over Gilks and into the net. The Posh were certainly on top and that man Boyd could have claimed the match ball just before the half hour mark after Mackail-Smith cut the ball back from the leftto Boyd, but he was denied by a quality one-handed save by Gilks. The resulting corner almost cost them once more after a White header fizzed just over the bar on 30 minutes. Rochdale managed to squeeze in a couple of good efforts of their own before the break with a Glenn Murray shot off post after Joe Thompson laid the ball to the Dale striker on the edge of the box. The woodwork came to the rescue just a minute later for the home side after a driving run by Adam Rundle down the left ended with a driving shot that crashed off the cross bar. The second half started with Peterborough United continuing to keep Dale on the back foot after introducing Danny Blanchett and Josh Low at the start of the half and it was a move that looked as though the points for the afternoon we in the bag. With 53 minutes played The Posh seemingly ended Dale's hopes of getting something out of this game after poor defending allowed substitute Danny Blanchett to stream forward before blasting an unstoppable effort past Gilks and into the roof of the net. However just seven minutes later Dale were back in the game after Chris Dagnall smashed home from inside the box following a Thompson assist.It was a goal that breathed new life into the afternoon for the superb travelling support, though Darren Ferguson's side still looked dangerous. Craig Mackail-Smith had proved to be thorn in the Dale side all game and he looked as though he'd round off a man-of-the-match display with a goal after going through one-on-one with Gilks, but the Rochdale 'keeper made a superb save to his right to deny the Peterborough man. It was to cost them dear too because Keith Hill's side levelled the game through former Tranmere striker Chris Dagnall after substitute Glen Poole floated the ball over to Murray who headed back across the packed area. Dagnall had a lot to do but with his back to goal caught the Posh defence by surprise with a swivel shot that smashed into the top corner sending the fans behind the goal wild. Rochdale could have finished their season with a win as the game came to a close with a couple of good chances and one gilt-edged opportunity going begging. The first couple of efforts saw Louis Dodds through but his low shot was saved by the keeper saved down to his left.A minute later Tom Bates got the chance to try his luck with a shot from 18-yards, but againt Jalal saved this time going to his right Glenn Murray had a great chance to seal matters after a sweeping move ended with the Dale striker going through one-on-one, but his curling effort drifted wide of the post. Sadly the end of the game saw a pitch invasion leading to Glen Poole being felled by a punch from one Peterborough fan.We are pleased to report that Glen suffered no ill-effects from the blow and we are pleased to learn the 'supporter' in question has already received a bigger hit from the club, a lifetime ban from the ground. Not a fitting way to end a campaign that has seen it's highs and lows as far as Dale fans are concerned.Thankfully it has been plenty of the former and Rochdale supporters will go into the summer full of optimism about the centenary year and it is one shared by everyone at the club.
Match Stats

		ATTEMPTS	13				ATTEMPTS	13
		ON TARGET	11				ON TARGET	8
		FREEKICKS	8				FREEKICKS	15
		CORNERS	6				CORNERS	1
		OFFSIDE	7				OFFSIDE	1
		YELLOW CARDS	0				YELLOW CARDS	0
		RED CARDS	0				RED CARDS	0
		POSSESSION	52%				POSSESSION	48%
Stats by PA
Star Player
Peterborough Utd.					Rochdale
Craig Mackail-Smith					Matt Gilks
Dangerous with the ball and caused problems all afternoon for Rochdale.					A string of fine saves helped Dale on the way to securing a point.
Managers Comments in Brief
Darren Ferguson					Keith Hill


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Substitutes

BOOKINGS

Match Stats