Boston Deal Harsh Blow for Dale at York Street

Football

Boston United 3 - 2 Rochdale

Rochdale succumbed to a successive away defeat and conceded three goals despite being forced to go into the game at Boston with a more defensive system. However, referee Andy Penn was one of the main contributors to Rochdale’s defeat and has since come in for some stick from manager Steve Parkin after awarding Boston a dubious looking penalty and constantly failing to give decisions in favour of his team.

Rochdale are yet to win at Boston since the Lincolnshire sides’ arrival in the football league but this defeat could easily have been a victory as the travellers dominated the game for long periods, scored two goals and could, with more luck, have added to that tally and at least taken a deserved share of the spoils. It was what happened at the other end, however, that denied Rochdale a chance to go to that elusive top of the league position and Steve Parkin has already voiced concerns over his side’s defensive display. 

The day started badly and ended worse for Rochdale after traffic on the motorway delayed the team coach and also denied star front-man Rickie Lambert a place in the starting eleven. After picking up a thigh injury during the week, it was touch and go for the set-piece specialist to be ready for the game. He was due a fitness test when the team got to York Street but that could not be afforded to him due to the late arrival so he had to make do with a place on the bench. Other changes were also made by the Rochdale manager, as Gary Jones and Gareth Griffiths, returning from suspension and injury respectively, were drafted in to form a five man midfield and a more solid defence as the away side adopted a 4-5-1 formation at the expense of striker Blair Sturrock.

Dale created chances early on and their formation looked to be working to their advantage as the midfield began to get a grip on the game. Poor defending from the home side led to Dale’s first chance. A short Ellender back pass followed by a scuffed clearance from goalkeeper Abbey saw the ball land at Ernie Cooksey’s feet and he fired goalwards only for Ellender’s arm to block the ball outside the area. The centre half earned a yellow card for his block whilst some thought that a red may have been warranted for the crime. A corner came from the resulting free-kick and Cooksey again nearly found the net. A combination of post and goalkeeper kept the midfielder from opening the scoring for a second time, a further corner being the only reward but goals did not seem far away for Rochdale.

It was the Pilgrims who took a surprise lead on nine minutes after a nicely crafted goal. Former Premiership hit man Noel Whelan found himself on the score-sheet after a tidy volleyed goal from just inside the area following Jason Lee’s knock on. Surprisingly this was Whelan’s first strike of the season and it came against the run of play. However, the goal did not seem to affect the Rochdale mentality and they continued to dominate, their midfield continued to impress and they got their just-rewards on sixteen minutes. Excellent work by the impressive Jamie Clarke created the opening after the make-shift right back tackled the rampaging Joachim, another former Premiership forward in the Boston ranks. Clarke then unleashed a killer long-ball for Grant Holt who, with all the coolness of a man of Joachim and Whelan’s calibre, lobbed the ball over Abbey to give Rochdale a deserved equaliser.

Dale continued to take the game to the home side and could have added to their tally on numerous occasions. The gap in league positions between the two sides was beginning to show as Rochdale passed the ball with confidence and Boston struggled to keep up with the slick play of the visiting outfit. Boston had Abbey to thank for preventing Scott Warner getting a second goal in as many games, beating a low shot away after the hard-working midfielder linked well with lone striker Holt. With Gilks a spectator at the other end for long periods it was a good job the Rochdale keeper remained alert to deny the home side taking a second undeserved lead on the break. Joachim reacted to a ball in the area but Gilks was on hand to push the shot of the former Aston Villa man away to leave the score at 1-1 going into half time. The whistle came with some relief for the home fans with Rochdale looking by far the better side.

The second half got under way in much the same vein with the visitors having the better of the play, but Boston were still looking dangerous on the break and sharp Griffiths defending was needed to deny Joachim. Minutes later and Griffiths was again the hero, only this time at the other end as Rochdale took a deserved lead. A Jamie Clarke corner sailed into the box and with Abbey underneath the ball it appeared that there was no danger, only for the keeper to spill the simple catch, leaving Griffiths with the easy task of prodding the ball home.

Five minutes later and the game was transformed as referee Penn put himself under the spotlight. He awarded the home side a penalty for an incident that only Penn himself spotted and left both Boston and Rochdale fans stunned that a spot kick had been given. Replays do, however, suggest that it was excellent officiating to see a Neil Brisco hand-ball that no-one else in the ground saw. After everyone, including the players, had deciphered the referee’s decision, Noel Whelan placed the ball on the spot and fired it straight down the middle. Gilks made contact with his feet having dived to his left but the ball had enough pace to find the goal. With the score now 2-2 and with more goals on the cards, the game could have gone either way.

Again Dale did not let the goal affect their play and Abbey made up for his earlier error with fine saves to deny Cooksey and Griffiths. His efforts would be even more appreciated when Boston took the lead for the second time on 76 minutes. Boston finally began to enjoy some of the ball and some maintained pressure on the Rochdale goal and it told when Alan White hit a speculative shot from just inside the area. Gilks looked to have things under control as he dived to save but he was helpless when the ball hit Jamie Clarke and went in the opposite corner.

Many believed that White was lucky to be on the field to score the crucial goal, further adding to Boston’s fortuitous afternoon. The defender had earlier appeared to kick the ball at referee Penn, an action that the official did not even punish with a caution. Throughout the game the referee lacked the conviction to send off players; a punishment that could be forced on any player seen to handle the ball in order to prevent a goal, kick out at a grounded player or kick the ball at the official, offences that Boston players were all guilty of through the course of this game.

At 3-2 down Dale again looked to press by changing to the 4-3-3 formation that gained them their last two victories, with Rickie Lambert and Blair Sturrock joining Holt in attack. The game had taken on a much slower pace, however, and there was nothing the two substitutes could do to generate further Rochdale chances.

The game slowed to a final halt and despite an encouraging display, not least from Man of the Match Jamie Clarke who has struggled to fit in at right-back so far this term, Rochdale’s efforts had gained them no points. Boston knew that they were lucky to get their first win of the campaign and whilst Dale can not win every game they play, performances like this will see them win more games than most, although unfortunate defeats such as this could affect the mentality of a decent looking outfit. The Rochdale attack continues to find the net but the team will not be rewarded for their goals whilst a shaky looking defence concedes them, something which is a growing concern for Steve Parkin. A clean sheet next week against the struggling Mansfield will be just what the doctor ordered.