Notts County 1 (Forrester 47 pen) Rochdale 2 (Thorpe 63, 73) - Full Time Report

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Chris Dagnall holds off Jamie Clapham.

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Rochdale came from behind to make it three wins in a row. Notts County had a penalty given for no apparent reason that Jamie Forrester despatched but a brace from Lee Thorpe gave Dale a deserved win with two excellent finishes.

Keith Hill spoke after the game about the disbelief of County’s penalty award but confirmed that his side are now challengers at the top of the league.

“For me we kept a clean sheet here tonight because it was an invisible penalty and an invisible goal. It was the wrong decision and it was a bogus penalty. We won 2-0 here tonight.

“It was difficult to keep going after that but to come here and get three points is testament to the player’s effort and it shows that we are contenders.

“These are the types of games that shape your season. We took control of the match in both halves and we deserved the three points.

“If we keep getting positive results we know that we will be up there so we do not need to look at the league table.”

The sides went into the break goaless. There were no clear cut chances in the half but Dale had the better of the possession and enjoyed more of the half opportunities that were on offer. Skipper Gary Jones came closest to opening the scoring when his volley clipped the foot of the post via a touch from Notts’ keeper Russell Hoult.

It was a quiet opening on a distinctly chill night at Meadow Lane. Rochdale earned the first half chance as Chris Dagnall fired narrowly wide from the edge of the box but then Notts hit back with a couple of opportunities of their own. Russell did well to keep hold of a long range Jamie Clapham free kick and then Delroy Facey struck a shot just wide of the far upright from a tight angle.

The home side proceeded to offer nothing as Dale settled into the game and began to play some of their characteristic passing football. It allowed them to carve out a couple more chances with Gary Jones coming closest to a goal when his volley clipped the post and went behind. The referee adjudged Notts keeper Russell Hoult to have got a touch.

Further long range efforts came from Tom Kennedy, Ciaran Toner and Jones once more but only Kennedy’s effort tested Hoult and Joe Thompson was called offside when the keeper spilled the shot.

The home side’s only other effort came when Kennedy conceded possession inside his own box but Myles Weston’s finish was high and wide and not very handsome.

Dale were soon back on top things as the home fans grew increasingly frustrated at their side’s efforts. Thompson was next to try his luck with a well placed header from Kennedy’s cross and Hoult did well to palm the ball out.

Within minutes of the re-start Notts County were in front after an absolutely shocking penalty award from Peter Gibbs. As the members of the press box, both Notts and Dale scribes alike, either fell about laughing or looked quizzically at each other, the referee was pointing at the spot after Delroy Facey tripped over the ball and went to ground. Jamie Forrester probably had a big grin on his face as he dispatched the kick.

Dale looked to hit back at the injustice straight away and Keith Hill replaced Thompson with Will Buckley to give some added pace to the visitor’s attacks. It almost paid off straight away as Adam Rundle found Buckley with a superb pass. The youngster raced into the box but fired a tame finish at Hoult.

Dale were deservedly level after continuing to push. Buckley put his stamp on the goal by setting up Lee Thorpe but there was still plenty for the big striker to do twenty yards from goal. Thorpe’s low finish left Hoult with no chance, placed as it was, right in the bottom corner.

The visitors were not finished there and they went looking for the winner that their football had warranted. It was a text book goal that gave them the lead as Buckley burst forward to turn provider once more. The wonderfully weighted pass from Buckley was magnificent, the finish from Thorpe equally so as he rounded Hoult and slotted home.

The remainder of the game was played at a high tempo but with few chances. If anything Dale looked the more likely to notch the equaliser with their pacy counter attacks.

As the clock wore down the win looked to be in the bag but the home side came on strong at the death and won a couple of corners to finally apply some pressure. Both resulted in good chances from free headers but they sailed over the bar and the points went to Dale. 

Attendance: 3610.

Notts County: Hoult, Beardsley, Clapham, Edwards, Thompson, Hamshaw, Butcher, Nowland (Smith 61), Weston, Facey, Forrester (Weir-Daley 80).
Subs (not used): Pilkington, Mayo, Fairclough.

Booked: Smith

Rochdale: Russell, Wiseman, Kennedy, Stanton, McArdle, Thompson (Buckley 50), Jones, Toner, Rundle, Thorpe, Dagnall (Le Fondre 67).
Subs (not used): Spencer, Keltie, Holness. 

Attempts (on target): Notts Co 9 (3) Rochdale 15 (9)
Free kicks: Notts Co 18 Rochdale 19
Offside: Notts Co 3 Rochdale 7
Corners: Notts Co 3 Rochdale 4

Referee: P Gibbs.