Rochdale 2 (McEvilly 67, 82) Shrewsbury 1 (Holt 60) - Full Time Report

McEvilly scores the winning goal for Dale (Rochdale v Shrewsbury 26-12-08)

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Lee McEvilly was the hero, coming off the bench to score twice, as Rochdale came from behind to snatch all three points from Shrewsbury’s grasp.

Grant Holt’s sublime goal gave the visitors the lead on the hour but McEvilly struck back with a low freekick, before a lucky ricochet of the striker gave Dale the win.

The sides went into the break goaless after a half of few chances. Dale had the better of the opportunities on offer, Jon Shaw coming within inches of the finding a far corner and Joe Thompson saw his goalbound shot deflected wide, meanwhile Shrewsbury came close from Shane Cansdell-Sheriff’s header.

After a quiet opening ten minutes, Rochdale crafted the first chance and it was one from which Adam Le Fondre should have given them the lead. Jon Shaw beat Shrewsbury keeper Luke Daniels to Clark Keltie’s free kick but his strike partner snatched a volley over the top of the unguarded goal.

The visitors came equally close with their first effort. Again it came from a free kick and with the Dale defence concentrating their efforts on ex-Dale talisman Grant Holt, it was another former Rochdale player, Shane Cansdell-Sheriff, who rose unopposed to head narrowly over the top.

The visitors began to get a grip on proceedings, keeping things tight when Dale were in possession, and carving out some football that was easy eye, but without creating too many problems for Sam Russell.

Rochdale finished the half strongly and could have taken the lead after Shaw turned well in the box and fed Joe Thompson, whose stinging low drive was somehow deflected wide by Kelvin Langmead.

In the dying stages Shaw came within inches of opening the scoring as Shrewsbury were caught on the break. Shaw was given the space to shoot 18 yards out and fired his low left foot drive just past the post.

Russell kept things level early in the second half as Holt found Walker with a deft flick. Walker’s shot was destined for the top corner before the Dale keeper palmed it clear at full stretch. Holt went close seconds later as the visitors looked to turn the screw but Dale had some pressure of their own as the game opened into a lively encounter.

With the game stretched Shrewsbury took the lead with a fine solo effort from a man who scored so many similar goals in his time at Spotland. Dale looked to have plenty of cover but when Holt chipped the ball inside Simon Ramsden he was able to rifle a shot beyond Russell.

Dale hit back immediately as they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box for a blatent shove on Le Fondre. Almost the entire Shrewsbury team were in the wall but that did not stop the bull-like Lee McEvilly taking a huge run up and then placing the kick low beyond Daniels.

McEvilly was causing the Shrews backline all kinds of problems and he should have given Dale the lead when he peeled away at the back post to latch onto a deep free kick but he could only power the header over the top.

The Dale substitute was almost single-handedly responsible for Dale’s up-turn in fortunes and he gave the home side the winner with ten minutes to go. Adam Rundle flicked Clark Keltie’s corner to the back post, the ball was cleared off the line but cannoned straight into McEvilly and into the net.

Attendance: 4,159

Rochdale: Russell, Ramsden, Kennedy, Stanton, McArdle, Keltie, Toner (Jones 90), Rundle, Thompson, Le Fondre (Dagnall 69), Shaw (McEvilly 54).
Subs (not used): Holness, Spencer.

Booked: Keltie, Ramsden.

Shrewsbury: Daniels, Moss, McIntyre, Coughlan, Cansdell-Sheriff, Langmead, Murray (Symes 87), Davies, Humphrey (Leslie 79), Holt, Walker (White 71).
Subs (not used): Garner, Herd.

Attempts (on target): Rochdale 11 (5) Shrewsbury 13 (4)
Free kicks: Rochdale 14 Shrewsbury 9
Offside: Rochdale 1 Shrewsbury 1
Corners: Rochdale 6 Shrewsbury 4

Referee: D Foster