Play-off finalists play out dull goaless draw

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Kallum Higginbotham was unable to unlock the Stockport defence

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Rochdale 0
Stockport County 0

Rochdale took on Stockport at Spotland in a pre-season friendly that was a far cry from when the two sides last met at Wembley less than two months ago.

Chances were at a premium in a game that was all about giving the players a run out, with the scoreline, and indeed at times the mere thought of scoring, very much playing second fiddle.

For want of a better footballing metaphor, one might just about get away with calling this a game of two halves. If Stockport did not have the better of the possession in the first, then they certainly had the better chances. Matty McNeil fired straight at Dale keeper Sam Russell from just six yards out and he fired just wide from the edge of the box after Tom Kennedy had conceded possession cheaply.

Dale passed the ball around nicely but without penetration and the next chance went once again to the visitors. Anthony Pilkington, who tormented Dale in the play-off final at Wembley, whipped in a low free-kick but Gary Dicker missed out on an open goal by failing to make contact with the ball.

Keith Hill made five changes to the side which overcame Rossendale on Saturday and while the passing remained crisp, the chances were much harder to come by. Dale had the better of them in the second half, even hitting the cross bar with a rasping effort from Ciaran Toner, yet Owain Fon Williams was pretty much a spectator in the County goal.

The Dale boss made second half changes to freshen things up and give more members of his squad some time on the pitch. Raphael Evans’ learning curve continued as he came on for Tom Kennedy, while Clark Keltie was given a first run out on the Spotland turf, replacing the impressive Toner. Will Buckley, impressive against Rossendale, is another of the younger players hoping to make an impact this term and he was given half an hour to show himself against far stronger opposition.

The substitutions had their usual impact in pre-season friendlies, making a dull game even duller and there was nothing to report until the final minute when Stockport had a penalty shout turned down after Nathan Stanton appeared to trip Pilkington.

Dale went up the other end and managed to register their only shot on target of the ninety minutes, Chris Dagnall’s curled attempt providing a comfortable bit of catching practice for Fon Williams.

Next up Dale take on Bolton at Spotland on Friday night in a game that will hopefully give the fans more to cheer. Pre-season friendlies are always more for the players benefit than the fans and this one emphasised that fact more than most.