Dale End 2005 with Fifth Straight Defeat

Carlisle United 2 - 1 Rochdale

Rochdale ended their final game of 2005 with an unfortunate loss at the hands of an in form Carlisle outfit. The postponement of the Bury fixture in midweek meant the side played back to back away fixtures over the Christmas period as they visited Brunton Park on New Years Eve. The postponement of the local derby meant that Grant Holt served the last game of his three match ban and his absence was all too evident against Carlisle where the visitors created numerous chances, especially in the first half, but failed to find the killer blow and succumbed to a fifth consecutive defeat.

Steve Parkin found the blow hard to take after an improved display, similar to that of the Wrexham game. The first half could have seen Dale out of sight as Blair Sturrock and Rickie Lambert, in particular, caused problems for the Carlisle defenders. Sturrock opened the scoring inside three minutes with a well taken goal but the visitors failed to extend their lead in the opening period, whilst Carlisle struggled for a foothold in the game.

Things changed in the second half after Carlisle manager, Paul Simpson, made some tactical changes in the hope of changing the game in the home side’s favour. It did the trick as Carlisle’s defence began to come to terms with the Dale strikers, so their colleagues at the other end began to increase the pressure on a defence that is renowned for conceding goals. Carlisle punished Dale for not taking advantage of their chances and scored two goals to add all three points to their promotion challenging total.

As per usual with Rochdale fixtures, the game began at a swift attacking pace. In the opening exchanges Gilks saved well from a Peter Murphy free-kick before Rochdale scored with their first attack. The ball was played in to Blair Sturrock on the edge of the box and the striker turned with his back to goal and stole a yard on his marker before placing a wonderful curling effort into the far corner. The goal stunned the home side and the crowd were silenced for the remainder of the half as Rochdale frustrated the struggling home side as Sturrock put in his best performance for the club.

It was Sturrock, and his strike partner Rickie Lambert, who had frequent joy against the Carlisle defence but neither could add to the goal tally. Lambert looped a header over the bar after some good work down the left channel before Sturrock should have scored his second with just a quarter of an hour played, firing a snap shot over the bar with the home defence stood watching. Rochdale continued to press as their three strikers continued to cause problems; Steve Parkin bravely deciding to keep the same formation despite the recent run of defeats.

With twenty minutes played Carlisle had their first meaningful attack and Michael Bridges, the former Premiership player who once demanded a five million pound transfer to Leeds, should have levelled matters. The chance came after good work down the left flank as Dale’s right back, Warren Goodhind, was beaten down the wing. The cross was half cleared to Bridges who struck the ball wide on the volley with Gilks well beaten; the home crowd were dismayed as they fully expected the net to bulge.

The attempt seemed to be a flash in the pan for Carlisle as Rochdale continued to have the better of the possession and the chances. Goodall was next to try his luck after getting to the edge of the box by beating three defenders, but he was put off balance by the final challenge and his weak shot was easily saved. Lambert then had a better opening, creating space for himself with some trickery outside the area and hit a well timed effort that was well saved by Westwood.

Rochdale continued to have the better of things and this prompted the home manager into making a change with half an hour gone and it would prove to be a crucial substitution as the home side created more chances which would eventually win them the game. The immediate impact, however, was minimal as Sturrock continued to torment; beating his man with a neat turn before crossing from the by-line, the ball would have reached Paul Tait for a tap-in had the cross not deflected straight to the keeper.

With the half time whistle approaching Carlisle should have drawn level as the change in formation began to bear fruit. Again the chance came down the left where Goodhind was being continuously beaten. The cross reached Adam Murray who rose well but his header was weak; allowing Gilks to make a good low stop.

Rochdale seemingly did not let the half time break affect them as they continued in the same vein. Sturrock could have scored his second as he stole in behind the Carlisle backline and got a flick goalwards to beat Westwood, who had left his goal, but the ball sailed wide of the upright. The chance seemed to finally wake the home side and for the first time they put extended pressure on the Rochdale defence. The increased possession stirred something in the home supporters and they played their part in willing the home side forward. For once, however, it looked as though the Rochdale defence might hold firm as chances were not turned into goals.

On the hour Carlisle finally stole an equaliser and it was typically the defence of a set piece that was Rochdale’s undoing. A corner from the right found Kevin Gray who beat Gilks but not the crossbar as the ball rebounded into the danger zone for former Dale loanee Danny Livesey to fire home. Carlisle now had their tails up and they sensed that a win was there for the taking but Rochdale responded well to the setback and created chances of their own. A good move gave Gary Jones an opportunity and he struck a firm drive to Westwood’s near post but not for the first time the Carlisle goalkeeper was equal to the task and pushed the ball wide.

Rochdale seemed determined to end their run of defeats with a victory but man of the match Livesey and his colleagues were determined to limit the visitor’s opportunities. A draw seemed the minimum reward for Rochdale's best display in over a month but Carlisle displayed one of the true signs of a side capable of promotion, they stole the game when they had not played particularly well. The goal came against the run of play as Bridges showed his pedigree and showed what the Rochdale strikers had sadly lacked since Sturrock’s opener; the art of cool finishing. Lumsdon stole the ball from McArdle before slotting the ball in for Bridges who rounded Gilks and put the ball into the empty goal.

Dale had lost both of the holiday fixtures but the results did not tell the whole story as performances were much improved and had their luck been in they might have remained in the play-off positions going into the New Year. In hindsight the sending off of Grant Holt at Wycombe proved crucial; as the league’s top marksman might have done better with Rochdale’s chances. As it is everyone at Spotland will be glad that December is finally over and that Grant Holt will return for the crucial home game against Northampton for Rochdale’s first fixture of 2006.