The good and the bad for Batista

Wycombe Wanderers 1 (Easter 51)
Rochdale 1 (Etuhu 80)

Rochdale, in Keith Hill’s first official game in charge of the team, netted a hard earned and well-deserved point against League Two playoff contenders Wycombe. The home side took the lead early in the second half but the new found spirit that has come with Hill’s management saw Dale haul themselves back into the game and they would have secured all three points in the last minute but for goalkeeper Ricardo Batista’s world class save to tip Chris Dagnall’s volley onto the crossbar.

After a first half in which Dale did well to contain the visitors, most of the chances came in the second half as the game opened up on the sodden Adams Park pitch with both goalkeepers having to be on their toes throughout and each having to pick the ball out of the net.

Wycombe always looked dangerous in the first half with their, by League Two standards, all-star attack but for all of their forays it was Batista who had to produce the save of the half when he turned Glenn Murray’s volley over the crossbar as the half drew to a close.

On a frustrating afternoon for the home side, Jermaine Easter could have had a hat-trick and in the end his second half opener, slotting home comfortably after Kevin Betsy’s run and square ball, was not enough to earn his side victory as Dale fought back late on.

In the first half Matt Bloomfield produced the best from visiting goalkeeper Matthew Gilks when, not for the first time his team beat the Dale offside trap and raced clear, Gilks denied the Wycombe winger with a superb save with his legs. Earlier Easter was denied when Gilks stopped Tommy Mooney’s low cross from reaching Wycombe’s top scorer, diving at Easter’s feet to collect the ball.

In similar fashion, Easter had only Gilks to beat having already opened scoring. He could have made the points safe for his side but with all the time in the world to think about the finish after latching onto Mooney’s superb through-ball he hit a tame effort straight at the Rochdale goalkeeper.

For all of Batista’s impact on the game, the Rochdale boss was quick to mention the performance of his own goalkeeper. He said: “Their keeper made a great save at the end but while we talk about keepers we must talk about Gilks as well. He made three one-on-one saves and when we were 1-0 down Easter went through and if he’d scored at that point it would have been game over. Gilks stood his ground and delayed making a decision, which helped him make a very important save.”

The miss proved to be a turning point. Keith Hill introduced young Manchester City loanee Kelvin Etuhu from the bench and he gave Dale the extra impetus they needed to get back into the game. Etuhu was credited with the visitor’s equaliser when he skipped passed two men in the Wycombe box and his cross-come-shot was diverted into his own net by the weak wrist of keeper Batista. With William Mocquet having returned to Sunderland, Hill looked to replace him quickly with a wide man of similar ilk and he looks to have found the ideal candidate in the fast and direct Etuhu and he may be in line for a start at home to Bristol Rovers next week.

Rochdale should already have been on level terms when Murray squandered an excellent, if fortuitous opportunity to register his fourth goal in as many games. Simon Ramsden’s deep cross was volleyed by Russell Martin but his attempted clearance hit his own man and bounced down kindly for Murray who volleyed high over the crossbar with the target easier to hit.

The home keeper had some making up to do and he made amends in fine style, tipping Gary Jones powerful drive from the edge of the box around the post, and then producing a save that deserved to be witnessed by more than the 4,067 people inside Adams Park. With the game well into stoppage time, Chris Dagnall turned on an Alan Goodall throw in and when the ball sat up nicely he struck a superb volley that looked for all the world to be destined for the top corner before Batista’s intervention, the ball bouncing down off the crossbar and away to safety.

 “I’m not disappointed to come away with a point because Wycombe are one of the best footballing sides in the division, especially at home,” reflected Hill. “We are in a run of games and we are unbeaten and that puts a good spirit in the camp. We know how to win games and know how not to lose them and our changing room feels like we have just won today.”

Man of the Match
Ricardo Batista – The young Portuguese goalkeeper may have been at fault for Rochdale’s equaliser but fans of both sides will not see many better saves than his stoppage time tip onto the crossbar and fine saves to deny Jones and Murray ensured his side gained a point from the game. If the Wycombe front line had been as effective as their keeper it would have been all three.

Attendance: 4067

Wycombe: Batista, Martin, O’Halloran, Crooks, Palmer, Betsy, Bloomfield, Doherty (Torres 70), Grant, Easter, Mooney (McParland 90).

Subs not used: Young, Christon, Anya.

Booked: Martin, Easter.

Rochdale: Gilks, Ramsden, Goodall, Crooks (Jackson 46), McArdle, Jones, Doolan, Rundle (Thompson 76), Brown (Etuhu 56), Dagnall, Murray.

Subs not used: Rigby, Cooksey.

Booked: Crooks, Doolan.

Attempts (on target): Wycombe 11 (4) Rochdale 11 (4)
Free kicks: Wycombe 23 Rochdale 17
Offside: Wycombe 9 Rochdale 5
Corners: Wycombe 3 Rochdale 5

Referee: D Drysdale