Dale win at home to Macclesfield

Football

Rochdale 3 - 1 Macclesfield Town

After going a goal down at home to Macclesfield, Rochdale found themselves 2-1 up at half-time after late first half goals from Alan Goodall and Grant Holt. They sealed the win in the second half thanks to a superb solo effort from Holt, who had been given the Captain’s armband ahead of the game in the hope that it would put a stop to the striker’s yellow-card problems.

Manager, Steve Parkin changed both the system and the personnel in the hope of a more attacking performance against the lowly Silkmen, who have struggled to continue their good form of last season that saw them reach the play-offs.

Rochdale started the game with three strikers as Blair Sturrock made his first start of the season. Scott Warner also made his first appearance in a three-man midfield, with both Gary Jones and Neil Brisco suspended.

Macclesfield had the better of the scrappy opening exchanges but the first chance came Rochdale’s way. A Rickie Lambert corner was flicked on to Holt at the back-post but he failed to trouble Fettis in the Macclesfield goal with his weak header. The game continued at a slow pace with both sides struggling to create many opportunities.

With twenty minutes gone Sturrock had a chance to open his Rochdale account. A poor kick by Fettis went straight to Lambert and he threaded a delightful pass to the Scotsman who saw his effort spilled by the former Northern Ireland goalkeeper and unfortunately for the home fans Rickie Lambert failed to connect as he followed up Sturrock’s effort.

Former Rochdale youngster Kevin Townson opened the scoring for Macclesfield on twenty-four minutes. Townson was cheered by Rochdale fans and he showed the supporters what they were now missing out on after a superb goal. Townson, who scored 17 goals in Rochdale’s play-off season of 2001/02, notched his second goal in as many games after his strike earlier in the week helped Macclesfield to overcome Notts Forest in the Carling Cup.

After picking the ball up wide on the right, Townson’s trickery allowed him to skip past Jon Boardman and the striker cut into the box and fired an excellent low drive through the legs of Matthew Gilks and into the bottom corner. Townson clearly wanted to make his feelings known to the Rochdale bench after his goal and it was thanks to the Macc manager, Brian Horton that Townson’s celebrations did not turn sour. Townson sprinted over to Steve Parkin in the Rochdale dug-out only for Horton to inform the goal scorer that rubbing Parkin’s nose in it was not a particularly good idea, meaning the situation was calmly dealt with by both managers.

Minutes later, Townson could have added to his tally and possibly put the game beyond the reach of the hosts. Poor defending in the Rochdale box left the Macclesfield goal-scorer with a free-header from which he looked sure to score. Despite a weak effort it took a superb Gilks save to tip the ball on to the under-side of the bar and the home fans were relieved to see the follow up fall wide of the mark.

Rochdale knew they were lucky to still be in the game and this fortunate escape inspired them into a better standard of football, which brought them two goals in the space of just three minutes. It was star-man Grant Holt who gave the home side the equaliser. Good work by Cartwright down the right side enabled the ex-Preston man to win a corner. Rickie Lambert whipped the ball across and some dire marking by the Silkmen enabled Holt to cruise into the box and power a free-header past Fettis.

Rochdale’s second was a carbon-copy of the first, only this time it was Alan Goodall who would profit from poor marking at the back-post. Goodall was given enough time to steer his header past the man on the line and to give Rochdale a perhaps undeserved lead. Brian Horton must have been furious to see his side squander their advantage through two goals from corners, especially with the height of captain David Morley and former Bury man and Macclesfield’s record-signing, Danny Swailes in the centre of defence.

Rochdale’s already thin squad was made even thinner when Lee Cartwright, who had gained both corners for the Rochdale goals and was having by far his best game for the club, had to be substituted in place of Tommy Jaszczun after picking up an ankle-ligament injury on forty minutes.

Rochdale maintained their lead without incident when the half-time whistle blew, but the game certainly was not over. Macclesfield had created a few promising opportunities and Rochdale had not performed particularly well despite finding themselves 2-1 ahead. That all changed in the second half as the away side struggled to contain some thrilling Dale football, the best that they have played so far this season. Certain moves left fans singing, “It’s just like watching Brazil!”

However, the opening exchanges were again fairly dull with both sides battling for the all important next goal. Macclesfield looked strong in defence after surely receiving a proverbial rocketing from Horton at the interval. The more attack-minded Martin Bullock also replaced Neil McKenzie as Macc searched for the equaliser but chances for both sides were still few and far between, which led Horton to make a further swap; David Beresford entering the play at the expense of Kevin Sandwith.

After the hour mark Rochdale began to get on top of the proceedings with numerous chances not registering further goals. Goodall created the first opportunity as he nearly bettered his effort at Leyton Orient, but his shot, after beating a defender, went wide of the mark following a one-two with Blair Sturrock. Rochdale’s left-side and Goodall in particular, were causing problems for Macclesfield as Dale’s second goal-scorer continued his excellent recent form. Goodall later found Holt just inside the area and the man-of-the match was unlucky to see his shot on the turn rebound off the post with Fettis beaten.

A goal certainly seemed to be in the offing with Dale playing some exciting football and it was left to Grant Holt to do the honours on 75 minutes with a truly stunning goal which higher league managers will surely have taken note of. Holt beat two defenders in the box having received the ball with his back to goal and after a turn akin to that famously used by Maradona; he fired the ball to Fettis’ right and into the corner of the goal. It was Holt’s fourth goal of the campaign and by far his best, and with Lambert and Sturrock both playing well, Rochdale should not struggle for goals this season.

This was an excellent win for Rochdale and they showed good character in coming from a goal down and gaining their first home win of the season, an important victory as it put the poor performance against Bradford well and truly behind them. With the team doing well in their away games it was important that the home fans could finally see what this side is capable of at Spotland. Rochdale’s away form has been excellent thus far but a good season is built on home performances and this win will give fans optimism for the rest of the campaign.