Aldershot 2 (Morgan 75, Davies 79 pen) Rochdale 4 (Thompson 17, 23, 34, Toner 45) – Full Time Report

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Thompson counts his goals.

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Joe Thompson’s 17 minute hat-trick and a twenty yard strike from Ciaran Toner saw Rochdale through against Aldershot. 

Dale led by an astonishing four goals to nil at the break but they made life difficult for themselves late in the game. Marvin Morgan fired in for the home side and then Scott Davies rifled in a penalty to make the last ten minutes more nervous than they should have been. Dale held out to record their first victory on the road since beating Brentford early in November.

The home side were shell shocked by two headers from Thompson, with a close range strike sandwiched in between, and just as they were hoping to make it to half time without any further setbacks, Toner rifled a shot into the top corner during first half injury time.

It was a quiet start to the game but one or two tasty challenges saw Rhys Day booked for the home side for one particularly late effort.

The first couple of half chances came the way of Aldershot. Rory McArdle left a header back to Frank Fielding short and the Dale keeper had to be quickly out to hack the ball away in front of John Grant. Defender Anthony Charles, up for a corner, saw his header loop well over the crossbar.

Dale’s first effort gave them the lead. Nicky Adams won Dale a corner, took the kick himself, and Joe Thompson rose to nod a header in off the far post. The woodwork was struck again barely a minute later, only this time it denied Dale as Chris Dagnall flicked Adams’ cross across goal.

Dale were giving the Aldershot defence the run around without having to do an awful lot. The Shots backline could not cope under strong pressure from the front and when Charles lost his composure in the box Dale made it two. Charles failed to deal with Gary Jones’ cross and Thompson poached his second.

Aldershot gave Dale far too much space in wide positions and they almost contrived to concede a third as Adams and Thompson linked on the right byline. Thompson fired the ball in low and hard and somehow the Aldershot defence scrambled it behind.

The remarkable first half saw Thompson complete a 17 minute hat-trick. Where the Aldershot left back had been for the first half hour was anybody’s guess but he was nowhere near Adams as he broke down the right once more and clipped his cross perfectly onto the young Dale winger’s head and he could not miss.

Aldershot’s first attempt on target was met with sarcastic jeers from the home fans as they could not believe their side’s predicament. Louie Soares it was who fired the ball straight at Fielding for a comfortable save.

Fielding was drawn into more meaningful action when Day connected with a free kick at the back post, the Blackburn loan goalkeeper did well to tip the ball over the top.

Dale had time for one more before the break. Again the attack came down the Dale right as Thompson cut a cross back that looked as though it would be easily fired home by Will Buckley. The youngter’s shot was blocked but when the ball came out to Toner on the edge of the box there was no stopping the midfielder’s shot as it flew into the top corner for the ex-Grimsby’s man’s first goal for Rochdale.

The second half was just as open as the first but it did not bring the chances as the first. Dale weathered a bit of an early Aldershot storm and then regained the ascendency with some intricate play in and around the home box. McArdle almost made it five when his header from a corner looped onto the top of the crossbar. 

Aldershot had a golden chance to pull a goal back when Grant broke the offside trap but the striker got the finish all wrong, dragging his shot across goal. 

For twenty minutes the game played out almost like a training exercise with Dale looking completely at ease and as if they could score another goal at will if they so wished. Dagnall almost did so when he stole a yard on the edge of the box and curled a beautiful effort inches past the post. 

Aldershot no longer looked interested but when they were allowed to spring an attack they managed a goal. Kirk Hudson broke down the right and his low cross was turned home by substitute Marvin Morgan. 

Aldershot looked to turn the consolation into something more than that and things became somewhat more interesting when Nathan Stanton tripped Morgan in the box. The referee pointed to the spot and showed the Dale defender a straight red card. Scott Davies had no problem converting the kick and the last ten minutes were needlessly turned into nervous ones for the visitors. 

Dale survived but not without more late penalty shouts as Tom Kennedy challenged for a bouncing ball in the box with Morgan. The rangy striker collapsed under Kennedy’s challenge but the referee saw nothing in it.

Aldershot: Jaimez Ruiz, Blackburn, Day (Sandell 58), Charles, Soares, Grant, Howell, Hylton (Morgan 45), Hudson, Newman (Donnelly 77), Davies.
Subs (not used): Straker, Elvins.
Booked: Day, Charles, Soares.

Rochdale: Fielding, Wiseman, Kennedy, Stanton, McArdle, Adams (Ramsden 81), Jones, Toner, Thompson, Buckley (Rundle 62), Dagnall (Le Fondre 72).
Subs (not used): Ramsden, Keltie, McEvilly, Le Fondre, Rundle.
Sent Off: Stanton.

Attempts (on target): Aldershot 8 (4) Rochdale 11 (6)
Free kicks: Aldershot Rochdale 9
Offside: Aldershot 3 Rochdale 1
Corners: Aldershot 3 Rochdale 3

Referee: C Penton.