Remarkable comeback gives Dale three points

Rochdale 4 - 3 Shrewsbury

One the most remarkable and entertaining matches of recent footballing history took place on Saturday afternoon at Spotland. Rochdale supporters were treated to both the best and worst displays that their side has put in so far this campaign in two halves that were in complete contradiction to each other. After going into the half-time interval 3-1 down against an attack minded Shrewsbury outfit, an inspired second half performance in which Rochdale attacked from first whistle to last saw them overcome the deficit and go on to win a classic encounter.

Goals were always going to be on the cards as Rochdale manager went with three up front but his strikers could not find any fluency early on and Shrewsbury took advantage of some dire Rochdale defending on numerous occasions to lead Rochdale fans to believe that they were in for a long afternoon. Shrewsbury scored their first goal with just three minutes played; a decent cross was flicked on by Dave Edwards and Colin McMenamin forced the ball home from within the six yard box.

However, from one of their first meaningful forays forward Rochdale quickly equalised; The Shrews enjoying their lead for just three minutes as Grant Holt scored his first of the afternoon from the penalty spot after a Gary Jones effort was blocked by a hand in the box, sometimes they are given and sometimes they are not, Dale were thankful and perhaps fortunate that they had equalised so early on.

The decision, rather than spur Dale on to better things after the early set back, had the opposite effect as Shrewsbury looked to restore their lead. After the complaints over the penalty decision had ceased to be a problem in the minds of the Shrewsbury players they attacked once more and gained a corner from their right hand side. The Rochdale defenders stood by and watched Gavin Cowan rise and power a header into the goal.

Both sides then huffed and puffed with Rochdale enjoying the possession but without ever looking like they would trouble young goalkeeper Joe Hart or the Shrewsbury backline. The visitors enjoyed the occasional counter attack with Dale players pushing forward and they knew that another goal might secure victory. With half-time approaching that is exactly what happened as a long diagonal ball was taken up by McMenamin on the left hand side and he beat youngster Gary Brown all too easily before squaring the ball for Stallard who had the simplest of finishes.

The home fans were restless and the players were booed off at half-time after a dismal defensive display had seemingly denied Rochdale a vital victory. However, Steve Parkin had different ideas and many fans would have paid good money to have been a fly on the Rochdale dressing room wall at the half-time break. Whatever was said certainly had the desired effect as Rochdale’s second half display would have steamrollered most League Two outfits as they attacked at will.

Rickie Lambert scored a vital goal on the comeback trail with just a minute of the second half played. It was scored in trademark fashion, a twenty yard free-kick was fired low past both wall and goalkeeper into the bottom right hand corner of the net; if Rochdale were going to overturn their deficit they needed an early goal, Lambert supplied it and the game now hung firmly in the balance.

Rochdale were rampant and Lambert should have levelled matters minutes after his goal. An excellent piece of skill by the division’s third top scorer had the Shrewsbury defence reeling as he chested the ball down and fired a shot against the post with Hart a bystander.

The Shrewsbury goal was continuously attacked without relent and it lived a charmed life after a Jamie Clarke corner found Lambert in a crowded penalty box and he was again denied by the woodwork as his looping header crashed off the bar. Gary Jones was next to try his luck as the skipper continued to carry his side forward in a man of the match performance; his effort was drilled wide after Holt and Lambert combined to create the opening.

In what must have been their only attempt on the Dale goal after half-time Shrewsbury could not believe their luck, or indeed lack of it, in restoring a two goal cushion. An excellent individual foray by Tolley saw the midfielder create himself some space in the Rochdale area and he fired at goal from a tight angle. Tolley was in disbelief as what seemed a perfect drive into the far corner hit the upright and came back across face of goal with only what must have been a force-field preventing it from going in.

Rochdale intended to make the most of their good fortunate and normal second half service resumed as the barrage on the Shrewsbury goal continued. Hart spilt a low shot into Holt’s path but the striker could not get a shot away after taking the ball past the grounded stopper. The more attempts Dale the more it looked as though it would not be their day; Jamie Clarke had the next effort as his strike was deflected for a corner following Lambert’s chested assist. Lambert was then again denied by Hart he struggled into a near post save.

Eventually the equaliser came as Grant Holt notched his second of the afternoon after heading the ball home from a corner to cue scenes of joy amongst the home support, however, the best was yet to come as three minutes later Lambert scored the winner and his eleventh goal of the season. Lambert’s awesome skill again manufactured the opportunity and this time his finish was sublime, with Hart beaten almost before Lambert hit the shot. The sheer delight from the home ranks was unprecedented whilst the Shrews held their heads in shame and disbelief at the remarkable comeback.

Rochdale saw out the clock with considerable ease after good work in the corners by the substitute Paul Tait, helped by the other strikers, saw the home side maintain possession. However, there was an element of disappointment when Brown was sent off for what looked a harsh second bookable offence, and the youngster was clearly hurt by the decision as he trudged from the field. The remaining ten players held firm for the last five minutes to secure one of the most memorable Rochdale victories and one which sets them up nicely for a run of difficult fixtures which starts a week on Tuesday as Dale travel to Grimsby.