Rochdale 1 (Le Fondre 75) Rotherham 2 (Reid 50, Taylor 71) – Full Time Report

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Le Fondre collects the ball after his header gives Dale hope of getting back into the game.

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Rochdale remain in the automatic promotion places despite losing to Rotherham.

Second half goals from former Dale loan man Reuben Reid and a fine strike from Ryan Taylor secured Dale’s fate.

Adam Le Fondre pulled one back and then Reid missed a penalty to set up a tense finish but Dale could not find the leveller.

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

Dale had one or two moments in and around the Rotherham box but there was nothing to test Andy Warrington in goal, while Frank Fielding made a fine save at the other end from Mark Hudson, in what proved to be Rotherham’s only effort of the entire half.

Neither side could work anything of a passing game during the opening exchanges, with both teams unable to keep the ball beneath the swirling Spotland wind.

Rochdale had the better of the early half chances with Adam Rundle getting a lot of space to run into down the left. Mark Jones and Lee Thorpe both had shots on target, with Jones’ effort destined for the bottom corner before it was deflected away.

The next chance came the way of Adam Le Fondre as he latched onto Joe Thompson’s head down, the striker screwing his side foot shot wide of the far post.

Rotherham drew the only real save of the half with their first attempt 40 minutes in. The Millers broke down the right and substitute Mark Burchill broke into the box before cutting back for Mark Hudson to fire low and Fielding made a fine save to his right.

Dale ended the half strongly, winning a couple of corners, while Adam Rundle saw his well struck volley deflected wide, but in truth neither side had done enough to deserve a first half goal.

The home side made a lethargic start to the second half and it cost them. Burchill fired in a warning shot, straight at Fielding, but then Reuben Reid was much more lethal. The striker juggled the ball with his back to goal before turning and firing a fine finish into the far corner across the keeper.

Keith Hill looked to liven things up for Dale with the introduction of two new wingers in the shape of Nicky Adams and Kallum Higginbotham. Adams worked himself into one or two good positions on the left and fired in some decent crosses that had the Rotherham defence worried but there were no Dale men present to get on the end of them.

Dale were a far cry from the side that outplayed Bradford so comfortably in midweek and it showed as Rotherham grabbed a second. Scott Wiseman was lucky to get away with a short back pass, Fielding doing well to block tackle Reid on the edge of the box, but there was nothing the stopper could do about Ryan Taylor’s fine strike minutes later. Taylor picked the ball up wide on the right and cut inside to fire a fine left foot strike into the top corner.

Finally Dale awoke from their slumber to drag themselves back into proceedings. Adams produced a fine turn to get to the by-line and then picked out Adam Le Fondre, who couldn’t miss from six yards.

The home side were lifted by their goal, and went in search of the equaliser but their plans were almost scuppered when Rotherham were awarded a penalty for a needless trip by Rory McArdle on Taylor. Reid stepped up and smashed his spot kick against the bar. The ball looped up in the air for what seemed an eternity and then Rotherham bundled it into the net but the referee blew for a foul on the keeper.

The missed penalty made for a tense finish and Dale piled bodies into the box, with McArdle joining the strikers up front. Lee McEvilly’s looping header was the closest they came to a leveller and the ball sailed narrowly over the crossbar.

Attendance: 3201

Rochdale: Fielding, Wiseman, Kennedy, McArdle, Stanton, Jones, Keltie, Rundle (Adams 56), Thompson (Higginbotham 56), Le Fondre, Thorpe (McEvilly 74).
Subs (not used): Russell, Ramsden.

Rotherham: Warrington, Green, Sharps, Fenton, Hudson, Reid, Cummins, Tonge, Broughton (Burchill 37), R. Taylor, Harrison.
Subs (not used): Cann, Joseph, Holmes, J. Taylor.

Booked: Reid.

Attempts (on target): Rochdale 12 (3) Rotherham 8 (4)
Free kicks: Rochdale 13 Rotherham 13
Offside: Rochdale 2 Rotherham 5
Corners: Rochdale 10 Rotherham 2

Referee: M Russell.