Luton 1 (Craddock 33 pen) Rochdale 1 (Rundle 56) - Full Time Report

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Rundle celebrates his equaliser with Le Fondre.

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Rochdale got the point they needed to confirm a play-off spot after Adam Rundle’s second half goal cancelled out Tom Craddock’s penalty.

Luton went ahead from the spot after Rory McArdle had pushed Chris Martin in the box but a change of formation for Dale at the start of the second half, reverting back to 4-4-2, brought a change of momentum and they drew level when substitute Rundle collected Simon Ramsden’s cross and fired home from close range.

With three men in midfield for Dale at the start of the game, Luton looked to exploit the space on the wings and early on they worked Craddock into a two on one situation on the edge of the box but the striker took too long over his finish and the shot was blocked by Ciaran Toner.

The home side enjoyed almost all of the early possession as Dale struggled to make their system work. Luton were camped in the visitor’s half for large periods but they never really tested Frank Fielding in the Dale goal.

Fielding had to be smart to gather at the feet of Martin but Dean Brill was the first of the goalkeepers to be called into real action after Lee Thorpe played in Chris Dagnall. The keeper was out quickly to smother the shot and eventually the ball came off Dagnall and went wide.

Just as Dale looked to be coming into things they fell behind from the penalty spot. Rory McArdle needlessly shoved Martin in the back and although penalties are not always given for such an offence, this one looked clear enough and Tom Craddock smashed home the penalty.

Luton were limited to half chances for the most part but the 4-3-3 formation was doing nothing for Dale and it seemed inevitable, with Will Buckley, Adam Rundle and Joe Thompson warming up vigorously on the touchline, that it would be changed at half time.

Thompson and Rundle were the two wingers brought on as Dale reverted to the tried and tested 4-4-2 formation, with Thorpe and Le Fondre forming the big man, little man forward line. They looked a lot more comfortable having made the change and created an early chance as Le Fondre flicked Rundle’s cross just wide.

The change brought Dale the equaliser as Simon Ramsden’s deep cross reached Rundle at the back post and the winger brought the ball down and finished comfortably beyond Brill.

Suddenly the game opened up. Luton would have gone ahead again after fine football down the right enabled them to put the ball across the six yard box and there would have been a tap in but for Toner’s intervention.

Seconds later and Dale should have had the lead themselves as Rundle latched onto Gary Jones’ through ball and the goalscorer played in Le Fondre, who took too long to shoot and eventually blazed the ball over the crossbar.

Rochdale looked a different side from that which laboured through the first half and again they came close to a second when Thorpe latched onto a near post Rundle cross only to fire over on the volley.

The last chance for the winner came the visitor’s way as Le Fondre turned on Thompson’s knock down to shoot and although the strike was firm, it flew straight at Brill. 

Attendance: 7,025 (385 away)

Luton: Brill, Keane, Pilkington, Henderson, Livermore (Parkin 76), Hall, Martin, Spillane, Craddock, Gallen, Howells.
Subs (not used): Davis, Roper, Jarvis, McVeigh.

Booked: Livermore.

Rochdale: Fielding, Ramsden, Kennedy, Stanton, McArdle, Keltie (Rundle 45), Toner, Jones, Dagnall (Thompson 45), Thorpe (Buckley 82), Le Fondre.
Subs (not used): Russell, Newey.

Booked: Thorpe, Dagnall.

Attempts (on target): Luton 9 (3) Rochdale 8 (3)
Free kicks: Luton 14 Rochdale 15
Offside: Luton 2 Rochdale 6
Corners: Luton 4 Rochdale 3