Port Vale 1 (Richards pen 75) Rochdale 1 (Thompson 66) – Full Time Report

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Joe Thompson celebrates his goal in front of the Dale fans.

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Rochdale and Port Vale shared the spoils on opening day, a result that on the reflection of play would suit the home side more than it would Dale.

The sides went into half time break goalless but Joe Thompson broke the deadlock on 70 minutes with a well placed back post header. The home side had offered absolutely nothing in front of goal up to that point, but they bucked their ideas up after falling behind and equalised in controversial circumstances. Nathan Stanton was adjudged to have handled James Lawrie's cross in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Marc Richards scored the penalty.

As expected Keith Hill picked the same eleven that started Dale's last pre-season game at Southport last week and both sides still looked to be in pre-season mode in the opening stages.

Joe Thompson's goalbound glancing header from Will Buckley's corner sparked some life into proceedings, with a Vale defender forced to clear the ball from under the nose of Chris Dagnall, but by and large the opening twenty minutes were bereft of any quality in front of goal.

Dale looked the side more likely to drag the game away from the dull early season stereotype, and Chris Martin was tested twice in quick succession by first Dagnall and then Adam Rundle. The keeper comfortably held both attempts.

The visitors continued to probe and Thompson again came close as Port Vale switched off to a quick free-kick as Tom Kennedy found Rundle, whose low cross was guided past the post by the young winger.

Martin was forced into a much more meaningful save as Dagnall carved out another Dale chance. Things looked tight in the Vale box following a half cleared corner but the Dale forward found a yard to get away a curling shot destined for the far corner until Martin intervened.

The half was nearly up before the home side crafted anything meaningful and Gareth Owen might have done better than to drill a shot well wide when well placed on the edge of the box. Vale had played like a visiting outfit, such was their backs-to-the-wall long ball approach in the opening period.

Vale were more lively at the start of the second half but the novelty soon wore off and Dale were camped in the home side's territory before long. Goalscoring chances were still hard to come by but Kenny Arthur was a virtual spectator in the Dale goal such was the visitor's ascendency.

It was no surprise when Dale finally opened the scoring. Tom Kennedy released Buckley down the left inside channel and he pulled back a perfect back-post cross for Thompson to nod home.

The goal awoke Vale from their slumber and finally they exerted some pressure on the Dale goal. They had a goal chalked off after Arthur dropped a cross, with the linesman coming to the keeper's rescue, only for the same linesman to award Vale a penalty minutes later when James Lawrie's cross was adjudged to have struck the arm of Nathan Stanton. It looked a harsh decision as the Dale defender had his arm in front of his chest and could hardly be expected to move it out of the way in time. Marc Richards comfortably dispatched the spot kick.

From offering next to nothing, the home side became the more likely outfit to win it. A couple of late corners gave the Dale defence something to think about but the back line held firm and Dale got the point; the least their performance deserved. 

Attendance: 6158

Port Vale: Martin, Stockley (Lawrie 70), R. Taylor, Griffith (Fraser 70), McCombe, Loft, Richards, Collins, Owen, K. Taylor, Horsfield (Dodds 59).
Subs (not used): Lloyd Weston, Yates.

Rochdale: Arthur, Wiseman, T. Kennedy, Stanton, Dawson, Rundle, Jones, J. Kennedy, Thompson, Dagnall (Shaw 80), Buckley (Le Fondre 72).
Subs (not used): Edwards, Toner, Higginbotham, Holness, Brown.

Attempts (on target): Port Vale 6 (3) Rochdale 9 (7)
Free kicks: Port Vale 8 Rochdale 14
Offside: Port Vale 2 Rochdale 2
Corners: Port Vale 7 Rochdale 11

Referee: J Waugh