Chester 0 Rochdale 2 (Thompson 55, McEvilly 65) – Full Time Report

Photo: Jon Coluccio

McEvilly celebrates.

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A professional display saw Rochdale through against Chester. Second half goals from Joe Thompson, a fourth in two games, and Lee McEvilly gave Dale what was ultimately a convincing three points.

It was Dale’s third win in a row and it moves them up to fourth in League Two with many other games in the division postponed.

The sides went into the half time break goalless after a half of very few chances.

It took forever for the game to get started and it was half an hour before any meaningful chances arrived. Chester should be ahead after Ryan Lowe missed a couple of gilt-edged chances while Dale’s only clear effort came when substitute Adam Rundle hit the keeper from eight yards out.

Neither goalkeeper was given much to warm themselves in the opening quarter of an hour of a freezing cold night at the Deva Stadium. A couple of Dale corners and a Nicky Adams header on target were the only moments to speak of as both sides tried to adjust to the sub-zero temperatures.

The game was still void of incident after twenty-five minutes but Dale were forced into a change when Adams was involved in nasty looking clash of heads with Kevin Roberts. The Leicester winger was forced off in place of Adam Rundle with blood pouring from a cut to the forehead.

Chester keeper John Danby made the first meaningful save of the encounter with 35 minutes gone. Will Buckley stole a march on the Chester backline and when he squared the ball low across the box Rundle looked certain to open the scored. The shot came first time low and hard but Danby was equal to it, turning the ball around his near post.

The home side finally got themselves into the game as the half came to a close. Their increase in pressure should have seen them take the lead and Ryan Lowe was guilty of two bad misses. He blazed horribly wide after Ritchie Partridge’s cross come shot came back off the crossbar and then his slide rule finish, when put totally in the clear, travelled the wrong side of the post.

Dale were slow out of the starting blocks in the second half and Keith Hill knew he needed to change things around after Partridge had drawn a fine save from Fielding as Chester made a bright start to the half.

The change worked instantly as Dale took the lead within a minute of Lee McEvilly entering the fray. The striker played a lead role in the goal, flicking the ball down for Buckley to turn it into the path of Thompson, who fired in a controlled finish.

Dale went for the kill and McEvilly rubber stamped his contribution to the game with a goal. Chester could only half clear a corner and when Rory McArdle flicked the ball towards goal from Tom Kennedy’s header, the big striker was on hand to turn it in off the far post.

With the win secured Dale pushed for more and before time was up McEvilly should have made it three after superb work from Scott Wiseman. The full skipped inside two men before cutting back for the striker to shoot, the ball cannoning back off the crossbar. 

Attendance: 1357

Chester: Danby, Vaughan, Roberts, Linwood, Kelly, Partridge (Ellams 85), Barry, Harris, Ellison, Lowe, Rutherford (Smith 90).
Subs (not used): Jones, Owen, Ablett.

Rochdale: Fielding, Wiseman, Kennedy, Stanton, McArdle, Adams (Rundle 26), Toner, Jones, Thompson, Buckley (Le Fondre 75), Dagnall (McEvilly 55).
Subs (not used): Ramsden, Keltie.

Attempts (on target): Chester 9 (3) Rochdale 11 (7)
Free kicks: Chester 12 Rochdale 21
Offside: Chester 8 Rochdale 4
Corners: Chester 1 Rochdale 13