Dagnall gives Dale draw against Blackpool

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Rochdale 1 - 1 Blackpool

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Rochdale 1 - 1 Blackpool

Rochdale finished off their home pre-season games with a decent display against Championship side Blackpool at Spotland.

Chris Dagnall levelled matters for Keith Hill’s side on the stroke of half-time with a terrific strike, just 2 minutes after Iain Evatt had given the visitors the lead.

Keith Hill picked what is probably his strongest starting 11 taking into account injuries for this clash against Ian Holloway's Blackpool. Youngster Craig Dawson impressed alongside Nathan Stanton in the heart of the Dale defence whilst Jason Kennedy joined captain Gary Jones in the centre of midfield. The energetic Dagnall and Joe Thompson spearheaded the attack.

The Tangerines named ex-Jamaica international Jason Euell in their starting line-up as well as fellow new signing Billy Clarke. Former Dale keeper Matt Gilks was an unused substitute.

With his intent clear from the outset, Keith Hill’s side went on the offensive from the off and good link up play from Thompson and Rundle saw the latter race clear down the left inside the first 90 seconds. Unfortunately Rundle’s cross was intercepted by Seasider's keeper Paul Rachubka as he looked to pick out the unmarked Buckley at the far post.

Thompson had a great chance to give Dale the lead after Gary Jones’ chipped cross was taken nicely by Thompson on his chest but he total misplaced his shot and fired horribly wide.

The Dale backline had been relatively untroubled until the former Hull striker Ben Burgess found himself through on goal but Arthur in the Dale goal closed him down quickly and the 6’3” striker fired just wide.

The first corner of the game went the Seasiders way with the imposing centre half Evatt getting a free header but he nodded the ball down and wide.

That should have acted as a warning shot for Hill’s men as just 2 minutes before the interval the visitors took the lead. Billy Clarke’s left footed effort was expertly tipped away by Arthur but from the resulting Vaughan corner, Evatt rose unchallenged but this time fired the ball past the Dale keeper who was appealing for obstruction.

The goal was tough luck on Dale who seemed to have done enough to go in at the interval at least on level terms, and as the fourth official's board went up Chris Dagnall fired Dale level. He stole the ball of the impressive Alex Baptiste, dropped his shoulder and fired a cracking shot across the face of goal and past Rachubka into the bottom corner.

The visitors made a number of changes at the interval and the fresh legs were nearly in front after just three minutes of the restart. Substitute Demontegnac’s shot looked comfortable for Arthur but somehow the ball squirmed from his grasp but thankfully wide the post for what would have been an embarrassing goal to concede for the new Dale stopper.

As the half wore on the Dale back line started to get a little stretched and it took an incredible block from youngster Craig Dawson to prevent experienced striker Brett Ormerod from bagging Blackpools second. Great work from Devriese saw Ormerod connect to a left wing cross at the near post but Dawson made up some ground to block the former Leeds strikers effort wide.

At times Dale played good football with some great inter-changing of passes between Jones, Tom Kennedy and Rundle, with the latter firing into the side netting.

The Dale fans were appealing to referee Mr Bates in the last few minutes as Joe Thompson appeared to be held in the box but the Staffordshire official waved away the appeals.

The last action of the game came at the Sandy Lane end of the ground as Dale looked to net the winner. Tom Kennedy played a delightful ball into Dagnall who rather unselfishly squared for the oncoming Jones whose shot was blocked by a last gasp Baptiste lunge.

All-in-all a decent performance that Keith Hill will have been much happier with than the two previous games, and a good 90 minutes from his first choice eleven.

No substitutes were brought on for the home side but I suppose that is all preparation for the lads that are more than likely going to start at Port Vale in a fortnight.

Two away games before then as Dale travel to Dark Lane to take on Rossendale on Wednesday whilst next Saturday they travel to Southport in their final pre-season friendly.

Rochdale: Arthur, Wiseman, T. Kennedy, Dawson, Stanton, Rundle, Buckley, Jones, J. Kennedy, Dagnall, Thompson.

Subs (not used): Higginbotham, Shaw, Holness, Brown, Byrne, Brizzell, Edwards

Blackpool: Rachubka, Coid (Obeng 11), Crainey, Southern, Evatt, Clarke (Deveriese 46), Burgess (Ormerod 46), Vaughan (Martin 46), Taylor-Fletcher (Demontegnac 46), Baptiste, Euell (Nardiello 46)

Subs (not used). Mitchley, Gilks