Rochdale Do the Double

RAFC Reserves 3 - 2 MCFC Reserves

Rochdale seem to have the hoodoo over City at the moment as they secured a league double over us this afternoon at Rossendale's Dark Lane ground. City came from one nil down thanks to an own goal and a goal from Jack Redshaw; but Dale equalized in the first half. Rochdale then scored a late solo goal from experienced Lee McEvilly to secure the points.

City started brightly as in the fourth minute a Kingsley Grandison corner was headed goal wards by Peta Varga and cleared off the line. Slightly against the run of play Rochdale took the lead five minutes later when new signing Craig Dawson from Radcliffe Borough rose unchallenged to head home a corner at the far post.

Two minutes later City were level themselves when a Grandison corner was knocked on and Rochdale's George Bowyer could not get out of the way as he diverted the ball past goalkeeper Sam Russell into the far corner of the goal.

In a quick turnaround City found themselves infront when Jeremy Helan sent a deep cross from the left that the smallest man on the pitch rose really well at the far post to send a looping header to the back post and into the goal.

Rochdale were back on level terms on the half hour mark as their best player in the first half Joseph Reidy cut in from the left wing and found enough space to fire in a twenty five yard shot that goalkeeper James Wood might have done better with as he had full sight and he got a hand to the ball but he allowed it to sneak into the far corner of the goal.

Redshaw went on a strong run with two minutes before the break and was brought down right on the edge of the area; but the little man's free kick curled just over.

The second half was pretty much a non event apart from the final couple of minutes when City allowed McEvilly to run from just inside the City half past a few City challenges and into the area before slipping the ball under an advancing Wood in the eighty ninth minute.

City responded a minute later with good play by Omar Elabdellaoui pushed the ball to Guidetti who fired a curling and dipping shot towards the top corner that Russell did well to tip over for a corner.

City still remain top of the league on goal difference to Carlisle but City have played two games less but must now probably beat Burnley home and away if they are to win the league title as Burnley are four points behind with three games in hand.


Rochdale: Russell(GK)(Capt.), Bowyer, Brizell, Byrne, Dawson, Evans, Kenyon(Buckley 59), Blackeley, Sheriff(Crank 46), McEvilly, Reidy.

Subs: Hanford(GK), Brown, Mallion.


City: Wood(GK), Smith, Carter(Capt.), Elabdellaoui, Varga, Paldan, Grandison, Mitchell, Redshaw, Guidetti, Helan.

Subs: E Johansen(GK), Paris, Frater, Kapsalopodas.