Football: Rochdale 0 - 1 AFC Wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon beat Rochdale with a stoppage time goal

Rochdale were dealt a crushing blow as they conceded a stoppage time goal in a narrow defeat at home to AFC Wimbledon. Substitute Ethan Chislett had only been on the field a matter of minutes when his turn and shot rifled into the bottom of Jay Lynch’s goal making it four defeats on the bounce in all competitions.

Brian Barry-Murphy was missing goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu after the on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper returned from international duty with Republic of Ireland U21’s with a hand injury meaning Jay Lynch was given a start. Striker Stephen Humphrys took his place on the bench after missing eight weeks through injury.

The first half was low on goalmouth action with neither goalkeeper seriously tested. Ryan Longman, stretching to reach a low Shane McLoughlin cross, steered the ball narrowly wide whilst Aaron Morley’s free-kick from the left was punched away by Connal Trueman with Jimmy Ryan’s follow up shot deflecting off a defender and out for a corner.

The second half opened up a bit with both sides creating half chances but again the goalkeepers weren’t overly busy. Ollie Rathbone will feel he should have scored when he latched onto a Morley centre with the Dale man nipping in ahead of Trueman but the ball drifted narrowly wide of the right hand upright.

Trueman had to be alert when Tolaji Bola’s angled shot deflected off a defender with the keeper tipping the effort over whilst a similar chance fell to the visitors a little later; Jay Lynch reacting well to catch the deflected shot.

The Dons, who came into this game having had 17 days off due to players and staff from the London side testing positive for Covid-19, almost gifted Dale a goal. A short backpass was seized upon by Jake Beesley but the striker’s touch took the ball away from him allowing the keeper to smother the chance.

With the game heading for a stalemate, Wimbledon snatched victory. Jimmy Keohane was closed down as he tried to play out from the back and when the Dons fed the ball to Chislett, the summer signing from Aldershot made no mistake with his second goal of the season.

It was another disappointing day for Brian Barry-Murphy whose side really didn’t create enough chances to win the game but had probably done enough to earn a point.

Rochdale: Lynch, Keohane, O’Connell ©, Roberts, Bola, Morley, Lund, Ryan (Humphrys 61), Rathbone (Dooley 90), Beesley (Done 80), Newby (Baah 90)
Substitutes: (not used) Chalton, McNulty, Tavares

AFC Wimbledon: Trueman, Csoka, Nightingale ©, Thomas (Heneghan 79), McLoughlin, Seddon, Woodyard (Chislett 87), Hartigan, Reilly (Rudoni 72), Pigott, Longman (Palmer 87)
Substitutes: (not used) Tzanev, Alexander, Guinness-Walker

Referee: Mr D Bourne
Assistants: Mr D Gratton & Mr S Wade
Fourth Official: Mr M Coy