Morecambe 1 (Taylor 48) Rochdale 1 (Dagnall 19) - Full Time Report

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Rory McArdle goes up for a header.

27 More Image(s) In Gallery

Rochdale and Morecambe played out a draw at Christie Park as Chris Dagnall’s first half strike was cancelled out by Aaron Taylor’s header.

The result leaves Dale still in mid-table and without a win from their last three games. They will reflect on this one as three points missed.

Keith Hill said as much after the game. “It is definitely two points lost. We’ve thrown the game away and it feels a bit like a loss.

“We are not converting good play into winning football matches and at the moment we are becoming a bit of an also ran.

“The game should have been killed off before half time.

“From a football aspect we are doing nicely but success-wise we are struggling a bit.”

Rochdale settled well into what was a quiet opening period and they were ahead from the first real attempt of the half through Chris Dagnall.

Dagnall stole the goal from Joe Thompson, whose back post volley was practically over the line when the Dale striker smashed the ball into the net.

Morecambe had goalkeeper Barry Roache to thank for keeping his side’s arrears down to one has he made a fine triple save to deny first Gary Jones from range and then Lee Thorpe twice. Thorpe looked to have the simplest of tasks to finish the rebound but twice he hit the legs of Roache.

Dale were looking comfortable but the conceded a golden chance for the equaliser when Rene Howe broke away from Scott Wiseman’s challenge to feed an excellent cross to Aaron Taylor at the back post but his header was weak and straight at Sam Russell.

Morecambe began to enjoy more possession and a couple of free kicks tested the Dale defence but Russell was never really tested. The Dale keeper was almost tested as the half came to a close when Henry McStay got on the end of a corner to lash a powerful volley just over the top.

Within minutes of the restart Morecambe were level. The Dale defence stood static thinking the ball had gone out on the left touchline. Ex-Dale man Howe did not give up the chase, kept the ball in and produced a pin point cross to leave Taylor, on his full debut, with a simple header.

Dale had chances of their own as the game opened up and they worked themselves into good positions in and around the Morecambe box but failed to test Roche. Thompson cut a bal back from six yards evaded Jones and then Thompson failed to convert Dagnall’s dink into the six yard box.

Jones was waiting for another cut back as Dale countered once more but it never arrived from Will Buckley, who had instilled some pace and urgency to Dale’s attacks once he had come off the substitutes bench in place of an ineffective Adam Rundle.

Tom Kennedy stung the hands of Roche with a dipping free kick as the pendulum swung in Dale’s favour once more.

Both sides continued to push for the winner and although Morecambe had plenty of the ball it was the visitors that were looking the more likely to find it. Adam Le Fondre came off the bench and tested Roche within minutes of coming on as his curled effort was deflected and forced Roche to tip over the bar.

Attendance: 2572

Morecambe: Roche, Yates, Bentley, Stanley, Curtis, Howe, Wainwright (Hunter 89), Drummond, Taylor (O’Carroll 70), McStay, Adams.
Subs (not used): Davies, McCann, Parrish.

Booked: Howe

Rochdale: Russell, Kennedy, Wiseman, Stanton (Holness 51), McArdle, Thompson, Jones, Toner, Rundle (59), Thorpe, Dagnall (Le Fondre 77).
Subs (not used): Jones, Spencer.

Attempts (on target): Morecambe 5 (3) Rochdale 9 (6)
Freekicks: Morecambe 21 Rochdale 23
Offside: Morecambe 4 Rochdale 8
Corners: Morecambe 4 Rochdale 6

Referee: C Boyeson