Strikers find their range to give Dale first win

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Adam Rundle celebrates his first half goal

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Rochdale 3 (Rundle 39, Dagnall 45, Shaw 72)
Barnet 1 (Birchall 2)

Rochdale kick-started their campaign with a convincing win over Barnet. They had to come from behind to do it after Adam Birchall’s fine early goal but emphatic finishes from Adam Rundle and Chris Dagnall saw them leading by half time.

Dale completely bossed the second half and Jon Shaw’s first goal for the club, another convincing strike, ensured that they recorded their first win of the season.

The home side continued to probe for more but near misses from Adam Le Fondre, Gary Jones and Clark Keltie was the closest they came.

The Bees got off to a perfect start. Nathan Stanton failed to deal with a high ball into the Dale box, Joe Tabiri got a flick on and Adam Birchall finished superbly from a tight angle across goalkeeper Sam Russell.

Minutes later and Rochdale hit the woodwork at the other end. Adam Rundle took a short corner with Kallum Higginbotham and Rundle’s cross come shot hit the frame of the goal and deflected over the top.

The home side began to impose themselves on the game following the early set back and Rundle again caused problems when he broke forward and hit another cross that turned into an effort on goal, the ball travelling just beyond the far post.

Rochdale had penalty appeals turned down when Gary Jones clipped the ball into the box and it appeared to strike the arm of Ismail Yakubu. The referee waved away the claims.

With half an hour gone the visitors squandered a glorious chance to double their lead when Luke Medley’s low cross was deflected to Tabiri eight yards out and with plenty of time to steady himself. Tabiri took aim and let Dale off the hook by firing wide.

At the other Dale were creating little in front of goal but the referee was again given the chance to point to the spot when Yakubu’s clearance struck the arm of his defensive partner Michael Leary.

Dale were level through their first real effort on goal. Jon Shaw took a quick throw in to Rundle, who exchanged passes with Chris Dagnall before rifling a finish that was equally as emphatic as Birchall’s second minute opener.

Dale had a sting in their tale just before the break and Dagnall got the goal that he has been in desperate need of. Gary Jones made a typical lung bursting run from midfield to latch onto a loose ball and the loft the ball over to Dagnall, who produced a stunning first time volley across keeper Robert Beckwith, who perhaps was not expecting the early strike.

The early stages of the second half met with little goalmouth action until the introduction of Ciaran Toner for the home side who almost made an instant impact with a stunning goal. He controlled the ball in the air, set himself and then hit a volley from outside the box just wide of the upright.

Dale were looking the more likely but a mistake at the other end allowed Luke Medley to march goalwards, turn inside Simon Ramsden and then test Russell with a low shot. The Dale keeper was equal to it with a fine save.

Another man in need of a goal to kick start his Dale career, Jon Shaw, answered his critics in perfect fashion with the fourth incisive finish of the game when he latched on to Russell’s long punt up field and rifled home his finish, giving Beckwith no chance.

Dale were rampant and Barnet looked dead and buried. The home side pressed for more and substitute Adam Le Fondre drew a fine save from Beckwith at close quarters and Clark Keltie came within a couple of inches with his well struck volley.

Shaw looked a different player after his goal, as many suspected he would, and he was at the heart of the best move of the game when he flicked the ball out to Le Fondre, whose incisive low cross found Jones, on one of those typical runs, who fired narrowly over the cross bar.

Le Fondre was having a fine late cameo and he should have had a late goal to go with it, after bursting in on goal, keeping his footing before firing at Beckwith from close range, the keeper making himself big and doing well to save.

Attendance: 2442

Rochdale 3 (Rundle 39, Dagnall 45, Shaw 72)
Barnet 1 (Birchall 2)

Rochdale: Russell, Ramsden, Kennedy, Stanton, McArdle, Higginbotham (Toner 60), Jones, Keltie, Rundle, Dagnall (Le Fondre 69), Shaw (Thorpe 82).
Subs (not used): Spencer, Wiseman.

Booked: Rundle

Barnet: Beckwith, Devera, Bishop, Yakubu, Leary, Adomah, Porter (St Aimie 68), Birchall (Hart 79), Medley, Tabiri, Carew.
Subs (not used): Harrison, Thomas, Akurang.

Attempts (on target): Rochdale 10 (6) Barnet 8 (4)
Corners: Rochdale 8 Barnet 2
Freekicks: Rochdale 20 Barnet 13
Offside: Rochdale 6 Barnet 4

Referee: O Langford.