Dagnall Earns Dale Essential Draw

Rushden & Diamonds 1 - 1 Rochdale

A late, late equaliser from young striker Chris Dagnall earned Rochdale an unlikely point at Rushden & Diamonds on Saturday. A hard fought contest met with little creative play and when the home side scored mid-way through the second half it looked like that would be enough for the relegation threatened Diamonds to leapfrog the visitors and leave them in severe trouble. However, Dale equalised with the game entering its ninety-third minute, maintaining Dale’s two-point cushion above the relegation zone.

It’s a good job for Rochdale that games last for ninety minutes; their last three points have all be gained thanks to injury time equalisers and without them they would be staring Conference football straight in the eye. Rushden had chances to put this game beyond the reach of the visitors but the football gods smiled on Rochdale once more as they were given yet another opportunity to save themselves; Dagnall finishing the late chance with style after beating a defender on the edge of the box. Beyond the sounds of celebration from the away end could be heard the breaking of Rushden fan’s hearts.

The home side had the better chances early on with Rochdale looking lethargic. Simeon Jackson had the best opportunity but fired a free-header wide at the back post after good work by Stokes to find the unmarked striker. Rushden continued to press with Rochdale struggling to compile anything meaningful going forward and mid-way through the half it looked as though they had taken the lead through a freak goal. Tony Stokes ran through on goal before rebounding a low shot off the post, the ball ricocheted of the back of the grounded Matt Gilks and hit the crossbar before bouncing down for Drewe Broughton to tap in. Broughton wheeled away to celebrate only for the linesman to raise his flag for what appeared to be an unlikely offside decision.

The home side seemed frustrated by the decision as a flurry of bad tackles followed; Caskey flew in on Goodall before Hatswell took out Dagnall who looked to be through on goal but the referee deemed both tackles only worthy of bookings whilst some believed Hatswell was lucky to remain on the field. Broughton was the next name to be entered into the referee’s notebook for persistent fouling, such is the physical nature of the forward’s play.

Rushden still looked to be in control of proceedings but it was the visitors who had the better chances towards the end of the half and Rickie Lambert should have given them a lead going into the interval. Rushden right back Ronnie Bull got himself into all kinds of needless trouble on the edge of his own area and was robbed by Lambert but Tynan denied the striker with a good low save, although Dale’s top-scorer knew he should have done better.

Rochdale started the second half brightly and again Lambert should have given them the lead. An excellent run by Dagnall allowed him to get to the by-line before cutting the ball back to the unmarked Lambert just eight yards out for what looked sure to be a certain goal. Lambert hit the ball goalwards only for Ashley Nichols to appear, as if by magic, to block the effort; an excellent piece of defending but again Lambert knew he should have scored.

Rushden seemed determined to make Lambert pay for his missed chances either side of half time and they had a flurry of chances of their own; one of which resulted in the opening goal. Jackson squandered another golden opportunity but minutes later he played a major part in the goal; his well-struck volley was brilliantly saved by Gilks only for Broughton to put the ball into the unguarded goal with the Dale defence on its heels; no offside flag to save them this time.

The late chances fell to Rushden and it looked as though the game was over; Jackson missing yet another chance to make absolutely sure of the result. However the home side were punished for not taking their chances and some of the home supporters incurred the wrath of the football gods with their taunting chants of ‘you’re going down’ towards the visiting section; the away fans had their revenge as Dagnall’s equaliser sent them wild and left the home fans sat disbelieving in their seats. It was hardly a performance worthy of a point but it was an essential point for Rochdale nonetheless; meanwhile Rushden fans will be better advised to pray to the gods rather than to taunt them as they continue to stare down the barrel.