Second win of the season as Dale hit Orient for four

Rochdale Match Report by Jan Harwood

Leyton Orient 1 - 4 Rochdale

Rochdale’s second away game of the season produced a second win as fans witnessed a rout at Brisbane Road. Going into the game Orient were the only league team outside of the Premiership to have won all of their matches but that record was well and truly destroyed by a rampant Dale side. Demons were exorcised as they played bogey side Leyton Orient off the park in an emphatic 4-1 which avenged numerous defeats against the Os. The performance was one of the best since Steve Parkin’s return to the club.

Dale were on top from the first whistle as they fielded an unchanged side bar the expected swap of Ernie Cooksey for the suspended Neil Brisco in midfield. Following a strong second half performance against Cheltenham last week it was hoped that Cooksey would bring further bite and stability in the centre of the park.  The away side created their first opening after less than ten minutes. Orient tried to play the offside trap but only managed to leave Rickie Lambert on his own at the back post. However, the striker sent what appeared to be an easy chance wide of the mark.

Referee Patrick Miller angered the Dale players in the opening twenty minutes by denying them two clear penalties. In the first instance Rickie Lambert was clambered upon by an Orient defender only for Miller to wave away the protests when a penalty was not given. A second claim was denied when Grant Holt was wrestled to the ground just outside the six-yard box. It seemed clear to everyone in the ground that a penalty would be given, only for the referee to award a goal kick to the home side.

After these poor decisions, Dale fans were beginning to think that, not for the first time at Brisbane Road, it would not be their day. However the disappointment did not affect the Dale performance as their first goal came in the 24th minute, Ernie Cooksey headed the ball on to striker Grant Holt, who turned his man just inside the box and fired the ball past the diving Garner in the Orient goal. This came after Rochdale nearly got lucky moments earlier when Garner tipped the ball over from a cross-come-shot free kick attempt from Tommy Jaszczun.

Rickie Lambert added Rochdale’s second on the half hour when he struck a tremendous 30 yard free kick over the wall and into the top corner of the goal; it was an even better effort than his equalising free-kick a week earlier.

With the score at 2-0 Orient began to drag themselves into the game, but their efforts were to no avail. It took until the half hour mark for them to register their first shot on goal. Dale keeper Matt Gilks deflected a twenty yard Michael Simpson shot round the post for a corner and later, Dale defender Jon Boardman cleared the ball off the line but the referee had already given a free kick to the away side for an earlier pushing incident on Alan Goodall.

Although Orient were now on top, Rochdale still had their chances. Grant Holt cut through the Orient defence only to be defeated by a last ditch Zakuani tackle. The pressure was building on the leaders; a McMahon shot from the edge of the box produced a comfortable save from Gilks, low to his left.

Rochdale were still unscathed by half time and Orient made a change, Craig Easton coming on for McMahon. Fans were wandering whether Dale could hold on in the second half, feeling sure that Orient would turn up their performance. However, it soon transpired that they had little to worry about. Dale quelled the early storm with some fine defending leaving keeper Matt Gilks with few saves to make. The home side had plenty of possession but didn’t really know what to do with it against a solid back line that was supported by some excellent tackling in midfield by the formidable Jones and Cooksey partnership. It was clear that Orient’s more inspirational players, Alexander and pre-season signing Tudor, were struggling to have an impact. On the hour, manager Ling hoped that a tactical change would bring some rewards as he went with three up front, Efe Echanomi replacing Joe Keith. The benefits were almost immediate when Gary Alexander got the better of Tony Gallimore down the right and a dangerous cross was headed to safety by the covering Jamie Clarke. 

Although Orient continued to enjoy spells with the ball, Lambert made it three on the break. Cartwright picked up the ball in the midfield and he found Lambert in space on the right hand side. The free-kick specialist rampaged towards goal, stopping only to turn inside Mackie and fire a low shot into the far left hand corner of the net and for a third time, Garner had no chance. An early pass to strike partner Grant Holt was expected as he found himself in acres of room to Lambert’s left, but Lambert’s cool finish showed that a pass was not necessary. This was the cue for Orient fans to leave their seats, knowing that a final nail had been hammered into the league leader’s coffin.

Three soon became four, left back Alan Goodall scored with fifteen minutes remaining after an excellent passing move. Jaszczun exchanged passes with Goodall who then found Lambert on the edge of the box. Goodall continued his run and Lambert set him up perfectly to slot the ball into the net and to complete Rochdale’s scoring for the afternoon.

Orient grabbed a consolation with fifteen minutes remaining. Substitute Echanomi smashing the ball into the top corner from close range after Rochdale failed to deal with a high ball into the box. Although Rochdale’s defending from crosses has been poor at times this season it mattered little this time. Indeed the 4-1 score line seemed only to add to Dale fans’ enjoyment as “Are you England in disguise?” was sung by the travelling support. One incident did sour the game a little however; a third booking in four games for the aggressive Holt will worry manager Steve Parkin and this was made apparent by the fact that the first goal scorer was withdrawn in place of Blair Sturrock moments later.

The final whistle came after some minor attempts on goal by the home side and the Dale fans stood to applaud their heroes. Orient players left the field dejected in the knowledge that the performances that had given them a 100% record prior to the game were certainly not on show against a rampant Rochdale side.