Konstantopoulos constantly thwarts Rochdale’s FA Cup bid

Hartlepool United 0
Rochdale 0 (After Extra Time)
Hartlepool United win 4-2 on penalties

Rochdale were cruelly knocked out of the FA Cup at the first round stage after defeat in a penalty shoot-out as the game remained goalless after extra time. Hartlepool goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos was the hero for the home side; keeping his side in the replay during normal time and saving Alan Goodall’s spot kick, aswell as watching Keith Barker’s sail over the bar, to leave Ben Clark to seal it for Hartlepool with his side’s fourth perfect penalty.

In a second half in which Rochdale rallied after an unadventurous first half showing, Hartlepool’s Greek goalkeeper was called into making some magnificent stops, none more so than a triple reaction save as the visitors mounted the pressure with the wind at their backs.

The moment of Konstantopoulos’ most important saves came from a freekick that followed the most controversial moment of the game in which Darren Williams should have been sent off for the home side after a high two footed tackle on Alan Goodall that left both players injured. Williams was fortunate to receive only a booking for his sins. The home keeper then kept out Gary Jones’ volley thanks to a spectacular dive and then somehow stopped  Glenn Murray’s follow up and saved Morike Sako’s attempt with his feet, although the latter was judged offside.

The Pools stopper, one of few fine performers in last season’s relegation to league two, made other telling contributions to keep his side in the game during normal time; he tipped over Murray’s near post flick from a corner and turned Gary Brown’s well struck shot from a free-kick around the post.

When Konstantopoulos was not on hand to thwart Rochdale, their defenders did so. Ironically it was Williams, given that he was lucky to remain on the field, who stopped Adam Rundle’s corner from sailing straight in by clearing it off the line and in the final minute Ben Clark ensured the tie went to extra time by blocking Goodall’s shot after a good interchange with Adam Rundle as Dale made one last break away. To add further irony, Clark would win it for Hartlepool in the shoot out.

The cup tie had finally sprung to life in the second half after both sets of players appeared shy during the opening period, in front of the Sky television cameras. Hartlepool had the better of a first half that was as uneventful as the game at Spotland. Rochdale could not get into their stride against the wind and were unable to build any meaningful attacks whilst the home side’s best efforts came when they employed the long ball tactic, the Rochdale defence looking distinctly unconfident with the ball in the air, as they had in Saturday’s defeat at Barnet.

After Hartlepool had spent the opening stages trying to play some football but, with only a long range James Brown effort that stung the hands of Matthew Gilks, they had little to show for it and they resorted to the long ball with the wind and it brought more joy. Hartlepool top-scorer Jon Daly should have given his side the lead as the ball over the top bounced over Nathan Stanton and then Daly turned too easily past Rory McArdle, making his first start since his return to Rochdale, but the former Stockport striker fired wide.

Minutes later and another long ball had the visiting defence on the back foot as Eifion Williams raced onto Darren Williams hopeless looking clearance. Williams looked to be in the clear but Stanton, by far Rochdale’s most competent defender, had the pace to get back at the Welshman and insure that Gilks was not troubled.

Further backline indecision lead to another Hartlepool chance as the half drew to a close as Matty Robson once more found the defensive numbers lacking but he could only direct his volley straight at Gilks. The home side’s wayward finishing continued in the second half; Daly could not generate enough power on his free header whilst Williams volleyed over when well placed in the Dale box.

Rochdale then enjoyed the second half spell that could have seen them through to the second round but they failed to hit the net and both sides had a chance to win it at the death. Gary Liddle’s volley was superbly struck but again Matthew Gilks was in the right place to save, before Goodall roamed free at the other end only for his shot to be blocked.

Rochdale had further chances to win it in extra time. From underneath the crossbar, Morike Sako somehow headed Gary Brown’s deep cross over it, whilst Murray was again stopped by a goalkeeper in inspired form as Konstantopoulos tipped his effort around the post.

Steve Parkin thought his side could have taken their chances better; “A couple of saves kept Hartlepool in the game but our finishing was not clinical enough. We needed that goal in the second half and that would have made it very difficult for Hartlepool.”

Rochdale had produced the best from the home keeper as he ensured the game went to penalties. Matthew Gilks was the less busy of the two goalkeepers but he had to make sure that Hartlepool did not get an undeserved late winner as he did well to palm Eifion Williams’ effort away.

After the none-event that was the first game at Spotland, there was always a chance that this game would go all the way to penalties and so it proved. The replay at Victoria Park provided more entertainment for Jeff Stelling and the Sky team to mull over but both goalkeepers had excellent games to ensure it remained goalless. “The goalkeepers came to the fore on both sides. Both of the keepers have been the top men tonight,” said Hartlepool manager Danny Wilson.

The home side looked by far the more confident in the penalty shoot out. Keith Barker’s effort for Rochdale was truly awful and Alan Goodall’s too close to the keeper, whilst Matthew Gilks could do little about Hartlepool’s inch-perfect penalties.

Rochdale went out of a second cup competition on penalties, following their defeat to Crewe in the Johnstone’s Paint Torphy, and they are left, to use the old cliché, to concentrate on the league. A cliché that Steve Parkin and his team would do well to take to heart given the desperate need, given their position just one point above the league two relegation zone, to improve their poor league form. Their first chance to do so is this Saturday, at home to Parkin’s former employers, Mansfield Town. “Nobody needs to tell me the importance of this weekend’s game,” said the under-pressure Rochdale boss.

Man of the Match
Dimitrios Konstantopoulos – Superb second half saves by the Hartlepool goalkeeper was the main reason that the tie went to penalties and he did his bit in the shootout by keeping out Alan Goodall’s attempt. Matthew Gilks did well at the other end but Konstantopoulos’ superb triple save alone was enough for him to have the biggest impact on the result.

Attendance: 2788

Hartlepool: Konstantopoulos, Darren Williams (Barron 116), Nelson, Clark, Humphreys, Brown (Bullock 88), Boland, Liddle, Robson (Gibb 71), Daly, Eifion Williams.
Subs not used: Provett, Strachan.

Booked: Darren Williams, Clark.

Rochdale: Gilks, Goodall, Stanton, McArdle, Brown, Jones, Cooksey, Rundle (Warburton 113), Sako (Boardman 111), Murray (Barker 104), Dagnall.
Subs not used: Rigby, Ramsden.

Booked: Cooksey, Goodall, Dagnall

Penalties:
Rochdale: Jones (scored), Barker (missed), Goodall (saved), Warburton (scored). 
Hartlepool (all scored): Humphreys, Boland, Daly, Clark.

Attempts (on target): Hartlepool 12 (8) Rochdale 11 (6)
Free kicks: Hartlepool 31 Rochdale 22
Offside: Hartlepool 1 Rochdale 8
Corners: Hartlepool 9 Rochdale 7

Referee: M Jones