The reserves were left rueing missed chances as they drew 2-2 with Blackpool. Andy Brown and Joe Reidy both scored for Dale with former midfielder Theo Coleman returning to Dale on trial. Full report online now...
Rochdale fielded a strong eleven at Dark Lane with Nathan D’Laryea and defensive partner Raphale Evans, who has recently returned from his loan spell at Bradford Park Avenue, returning to the reserve side.
Dale: James Spencer, Josh Brizell, Nathan D’Laryea ©, Raphale Evans, David Doherty, Andrew Brown, Callum Byrne, Joe Reidy, Theo Coleman, Robert Crank and Dennis Sherriff.
Substitutes: George Bowyer, Alex Mallion, Joseph Wright, Matthew Ellis and Daniel Handford.
Blackpool: Mark Halstead, Alex Baptiste ©, Joe Martin, Ashley Eastham, “A Trialist”, Stuart Green, “A Trialist”, Danny Mitchley, Dominic Merella, Ben Fishwick and Michael D’Agostino.
Substitutes: Lewis Almond, Jake Rooney, Kieran D’Arcy, Ben Breakell and Jake Forshaw.
Both sides made a slow start to today’s game with the impressive central midfield pairing of Callum Byrne and Joe Reidy controlling the game from the off.
The two youth teamers were winning practically every second ball there was to win and opening plenty of gaps for wingers Andy Brown and Theo Coleman to take advantage of.
But unfortunately for Dale, striker Robert Crank had to be substituted after 20 minutes due to a collision with a Blackpool defender.
The striker, who had only recently returned to the reserves from suspension, looked to be in trouble straight away and it took a few minutes for physio Jon Lucas to even get him to stand up!
After leaving the field, Crank was immediately replaced by Matt Ellis.
The match then became a much more open affair for both teams with Joe Reidy’s extremely calm control and pass freeing Andy Brown, who was then one-on-one with Mark Halstead.
Brown managed to avoid the attempted rugby tackle on him by Halstead and was then left with the simple task of tapping the ball into an empty net. 1-0 Rochdale.
Blackpool were unfortunate not to equalise soon after as the impressive Danny Mitchley managed to lose his man, but luckily for Dale, his resulting effort hit the post.
Mitchley’s luck was to change for the better minutes later, as his free-kick beat everyone, including Spencer, as it flew into the far corner of Spencer’s net. 1-1
Half time came at a good time for Dale as Blackpool started to take control, but Dale’s defence held up well as both teams went in level at the break.
The pace of the second half was completely different from the first as both teams set out for the win, and it was Dale who were to take the lead through an excellent Joe Reidy header.
Good work down the right allowed Andy Brown to go on another run, with his cross being met by Joe Reidy who left Blackpool goalkeeper Mark Halstead with no chance. 2-1 Rochdale.
But Dale couldn’t hold onto the lead as Blackpool equalised soon after with a corner being met by Lewis Halmond, with his header looping over Spencer and into the Rochdale net. 2-2.
Dale were then forced into their second change of the match as Raphale Evans was replaced by Alex Mallion after picking up a nasty looking ankle injury.
Theo Coleman started to enjoy more possession in the last half an hour, with his first run and cross falling to Sherriff, who rifled his shot straight at Halstead and his second run seeing the winger pass two Blackpool players, before putting left back Doherty through, only for Doherty to be harshly given offside.
Sherriff found himself with a free run on goal just minutes later but he failed to test Halstead as he scuffed his shot wide of Halstead’s goal.
Coleman had the chance to put himself on the score sheet with twenty minutes left, but he ended up miss kicking the ball, with Callum Byrne firing the rebound over the bar.
Dale made their third and final substitution with around fifteen minutes remaining as George Bowyer made his return to the reserve team after recovering from his injury, in place of Josh Brizell.
Both teams went all out for the win in the final ten minutes with Blackpool coming close on two occasions, with the first headed effort being saved by Spencer and the second being scrambled off the goal-line by Doherty.
Dale had their own chances to snatch the win too as Bowyer first had his own opportunity at goal and then created one as well.
The first effort came as Bowyer tried his luck but could only fire his over the crossbar from 30 yards.
Bowyer then took advantage of the space being left by Blackpool’s midfield as he burst into the Blackpool penalty area, forcing Halstead into an excellent save, but the ball then fell in front of Sherriff who failed to bundle the ball in at the far post.
The game finished 2-2 and I’m sure Sherriff will be wondering how he failed to score the winner for Dale.
Rochdale ratings: Spencer 6, Brizell 7 (Bowyer 7), D’Laryea 7, Evans 6 (Mallion 7), Doherty 7, Brown 7, Byrne 7, Reidy 8, Coleman 7, Crank 6 (Ellis 7), Sherriff 6.