Rochdale End Unbeaten Run

MCFC Reserves 0 - 1 RAFC Reservea

City's junior reserves ended their unbeaten start to the season when they were beaten by Rochdale at the athletics arena this afternoon by the odd second half goal.

City started brightly as midfielder Andrew Mitchell had a fine long range strike that struck the crossbar in the second minute. City continued to press as Adrian Cieslewicz and John Guidetti found themselves in good positions but could not find that quality final ball to break the deadlock.

Rochdale came out a far better team in the second half and it was no surprise when they took the lead on sixty minutes when a long ball over the top for Christopher Blakeley to run onto who smashed it straight at Chris Wood who should have pushed it over but let the ball go straight through his hands.

Rochdale's Andrew Brown had a very good chance to double the lead but was thwarted by a half save from Wood and Kingsley Grandison clearing off the line. Rochdale substitute Robert Crank was also unfortunate to see his long range chip cannon off the crossbar. Then moments later Dennis Sherriff headed a great cross from the left that Wood did well to save.

City made some substitutions of their own later on and although they started to play better again with too many players not performing well up the top end of the field they did not have quite enough to get the equalizer.


CITY: Wood(GK), Grandison, Smith, Elabdellaoui, Nicholas(Paldan 74), Tse, Cieslewicz(Capt.), Mitchell, Redshaw, Guidetti(Jukes 59), Frater(Hovath 81)

Subs: E Johansen(GK), Parris.


Rochdale: Spencer(GK), Brizell, Doherty, Bath, C Brown, Mallion, A Brown(Wright 77), Byrne, Blakeley(Crank 63), Sherriff, Reidy(Murray 68).

Subs: Taberner(GK), Ellis.