Dale Take Points after First Twenty Minutes!

Rochdale 3 - 0 Notts County

It took Rochdale just twenty minutes to seal a win in their home game against Notts County as they fired in three goals. Facing a side that was clearly fatigued after taking part in extra training this week as punishment for poor performances, Rochdale’s fast-paced start was more than the Magpies could handle. The win takes the team up to the dizzy heights of second in the division after Wycombe could only draw at home with Rushden and Diamonds. There were many positives to be taken from the game, not least the pleasing attendance with nearly 3,000 home fans descending on Spotland.

This was one of Rochdale’s most important games of the campaign so far as a win, coming off the back of the amazing Chester victory, would really cement their place as contenders for honours this season. They achieved that win with considerable ease against a poor visiting side that simply could not get anything right.

Jon Boardman was restored to Dale’s starting line-up as the injury Tommy Jaszczun picked up against Chester forced him out of the game and forced Steve Parkin to make changes to his left hand side. Enter Man of the Match Alan Goodall who was pushed up to left midfield and made an excellent case that he should play there more often. Tony Gallimore was moved to left back as Boardman took up his familiar role in the centre of defence.

In strong contrast to recent weeks Rochdale produced a lightning paced start to the game. Rochdale set out their stall from the first whistle with some excellent passing enabling them to make the best use of Goodall on the left and the industrious Cartwright on the right. On two minutes such passing created Dale their first opening as Gary Jones fired wide from Grant Holt’s cross. Minutes later and Rochdale took an early lead from a common source, an awesome Rickie Lambert free-kick. Thirty-yards out, Lambert steps up, fires the ball over the wall and into the top corner, it was as simple as that.

Dale were already looking comfortable against team bereft of any attacking ideas bar the runs of Tyrone Berry who caused Warren Goodhind problems all afternoon without ever creating many chances for his strikers who were clearly not at the races. With just twelve minutes gone the home side bagged their second and again their spreading of the play created the chance. The ball was played out to Goodall and he produced a superb first-time cross that deserved for one of the strikers to nod the ball comfortably past Pilkington and into the County goal, Rickie Lambert duly obliged for his second of the afternoon.

Two soon became three when Lee Cartwright notched his first for the club. Goodall again was the provider as his left sided cross was poorly dealt with by the Notts defence; three attempted clearances, none of them successful and all of a sudden the ball hits the back of the net, as Cartwright fires home from close range. With the locals beginning to wonder when the last time was that they had felt so relaxed at a Rochdale game, the team too began to relax and slow the pace. However, despite their now patient play, they were still finding it rather easy creating chances so, in short, they chose to occupy themselves with attempting to score some more goals for the rest of the afternoon without particularly troubling Pilkington in the County goal.

Having secured the points, next on the agenda was to try and secure Rickie Lambert his hat-trick as Grant Holt busied himself with nothing in particular, providing the perfect foil for Lambert’s various hat-trick attempts. His first chance to notch his third came on the half hour as County again had difficulties in propelling the ball from their goal area following a corner. Griffith’s won a header and Lambert got on the end of it but failed to register Rochdale’s fourth.

Half time arrived and Notts County made some mandatory changes to their weak starting eleven. Indeed, they had made their first change with just half an hour gone, to the clear and vocal anger of David Pipe who was removed. The second half kicked off and Lambert continued his enjoyable sport of hat-trick chasing. Again it was the left side that was causing the problems and Goodall again supplied Lambert with his next opportunity. Goodall crossed low to Lambert’s feet at the back post but the former Stockport man failed to get a short away and the ball was hacked clear.

With the points in the bag Rochdale became happy to see what Notts County could do with the ball and they began to look competent in possession. Zadkovich’s mazy run from half way gave him a half chance but Gilks saved the tame attempt with ease. Rochdale still looked dangerous when they did get the ball and Goodall nearly scored a deserved goal at the other end. Holt’s perfect lay off sent Goodall through but Pilkington loomed large in the County goalmouth and did well to block Goodall’s attempt. Goodall was at it again minutes later when Gareth Griffith’s long ball was headed past the defender by Dale’s new-found left midfielder, who latched onto the ball and fired across goal from the left hand edge of the box.

Lambert continued in search of his third and there will be no prizes handed out for guessing the player who provided him with his next chance on sixty-five minutes. Another superb Goodall cross presented Lambert with a free header but he was denied by Pilkington when he should have done better. This proved to be Lambert’s last chance, as he and Holt were withdrawn from the action as Steve Parkin had the luxury of saving them for another day. The clock ran down with both sides seemingly content that the game was going to finish three-nil and there would be little either team could do about it. Berry could have scored a consolation for Notts but for a good Gilks save, who was surprisingly still awake in the Rochdale goal.

Although the home fans may have been hoping for a cricket score, Rochdale dispatched of Notts County comfortably. One sour point came with a poor Gary Jones tackle late on which was high and two footed on the shin of a County midfielder; Jones was fortunate to only be booked for the offence. However, it was one a few talking points from a controlled and measured second half display. The game certainly was not of the same calibre as the Chester fixture but fans will settle for relaxed, perhaps even dull, 3-0 home wins.