Youngsters get their chance to impress
Date published: 01 August 2007
Droylsden 4 (Banim 2, Denham, Fearns)
Rochdale 2 (W. Buckley 2)
As expected Keith Hill gave some of the Rochdale youngsters and fringe first team players a chance to work their way into his plans for the season and although Dale went down to a well drilled Droylsden side, who played plenty of flowing football, the younger players, particularly the front two, performed admirably.
Kallum Higginbotham continues to look a good acquisition as a fourth choice striker with his livewire enthusiasm, neat touches and no lack of skill and he was joined up front by another exciting prospect, 17 year-old first year youth team player Will Buckley, who grabbed a brace with two good finishes and took the game in his stride.
The defensive side of things was more problematic for Dale against a Droylsden outfit that played an at times excellent brand of football, which, if continued, could see them hold their own in their first season in the Conference or Blue Square Premier Division, as it is now known.
Nathan Stanton made a welcome return to the Dale side as he bids to get as many games as possible under his belt with the season just a week and a half away. He played as though he had been injured for a few months, which was obviously all that could be expected and it is unlikely that he will be match fit for the season’s opener at Peterborough but he and his manager would have been content at this stage just to see him take to the field.
Alongside Stanton, in Dale’s 3-5-2 formation, were two raw youngsters in Raphael Evans and Kristian Bowden. Neither were afraid to put themselves into tackles, particularly Bowden who made two goal saving block tackles in the second half but at times they were a bit naïve against the older heads of the clever and fast paced Droylsden attack.
It was a Droylsden attack that started brightly and did not let up throughout the ninety minutes due to the introduction of second half trial players that were eager to impress. The Dale attack added to a rapid start that brought plenty of chances but Keith Hill wanted to give all of his first team players a break and this meant no second half substitutions causing the young side to tire in the second half.
After early chances at both ends and with some fine football on display neither side seemed to be far away from a goal and it was not long before Droylsden scored the opener. Bowden was caught out and Tandy beat him into the box and the winger’s cut back for Banim was crying out to be finished and it calmly was by the grateful striker.
However, Dale’s attacking endeavour had deserved a goal of its own and they got one immediately to bring the scores level. Watt whipped in a fine low cross and Buckley showed an experienced head on young shoulders to get in front of his marker at the near post and nudge the ball over Phillips.
Having had no chance with the goal, Dale keeper Lloyd Rigby got the chance to define his aspirations as Dale’s number two keeper when he produced an excellent stop from Tandy’s close range effort which came about thanks to a superb volleyed cross from Robin Gibson.
More goals were in the offing and it was not long before Droylsden regained the lead. Ged Murphy produced a wonderful deep diagonal cross which, with young Evans isolated and out of position, found Banim and he brought the ball down and produced the tidy finish that the cross deserved.
Higginbotham could have had a first half hat-trick with his chances but his quick feet and ability to create openings did not meet with a corresponding ability to finish. The final chance of the half again came his way and again it was all his own making but he blazed narrowly over the crossbar after cutting inside two defenders and creating room to shoot.
With the start of the second half not long gone Droylsden’s impressive substitute Chris Denham took the match away from the visitors by scoring the best goal of the game. Stanton proved that he was far from full fitness when he was outpaced to the ball by Fearns, something that certainly would not have occurred had the defender been fully operational, and Denham was on hand to slam Fearns’ cut back into the top corner.
With Dale tiring most of the half was played with Droylsden looking to add to their tally. Rigby produced a fine stop to turn Jamie McGuire’s volley over the crossbar but again he was helpless when Gavin Salmon got to the byline and crossed for Fearns to score.
Chances at the other end were rare but for the third time in the evening Higginbotham should have scored after Rory Prendergast made the most of a two on one situation to put the striker clear but everything went wrong with an attempted fancy finish and substitute keeper Andy Robertson was able to smother the ball as Higginbotham tried to get past him.
Dale were not to be denied a consolation however and it came when Higginbotham raced clear and played in his strike partner who was again calm in front of goal and Robertson was given no chance with the slide-rule finish.
Droylsden: Phillips, Hotte, Warner, Allen, Murray, Morris, Tandy, Murphy, Fearns, Banim, Gibson. Subs (all used): McGuire, Lynch, Salmon, Denham, Pritchard, Robinson, Cryan, Robertson.
Rochdale: Rigby, Bowden, Evans, Stanton, Watt, Flitcroft, K. Buckley, Warburton, Prendergast, Higginbotham, W. Buckley.
Booked: Warburton
Attempts (on target): Droylsden 14 (6) Rochdale 10 (3)
Freekicks: Droylsden 14 Rochdale 14
Offside: Droylsden 5 Rochdale 4
Corners: Droylsden 5 Rochdale 4
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