Rogerson to the rescue as RDSFL beat Ashton in penalty shoot out

Eight players withdrew from the Rochdale squad due to a variety of reasons, hence defending champions Rochdale travelled to Ashton with a limited squad having had to call up several Under 21's to fill the gaps.
 
In a tentative start the experienced Ashton side took control of the early stages. Smith and Barthol firing wide. Despite tireless work from Shelmerdine up front, Rochdale did not mount any serious attacks.

Ashton came close to opening the scoring after 25 minutes when Smith met a Staines cross but was thwarted by a fine save from Milton’s U21 keeper Rogerson. The 'close shave' gave Rochdale the wake up call they needed and they dominated possession for the rest of the half. However, though Shelmerdine had a good shot on target well saved, and Luker headed just wide, the game remained goalless at the half time interval. 

In the second half the Rochdale management team changed what had been a decidedly lopsided formation, bringing off Jackson and Riley and sending on Milton midfielder Leonard and Star's Kumar, and moving Rowland into the centre. The tactical change nearly paid off immediately when Leonard sent Kumar through, however, his effort was weak.

Leonard also had a golden opportunity to capitalise on the Rochdale possession but his drive went inches wide.

Rochdale continued to push and probe and create chances and Shelmerdine had two good chances to score. His first effort was wide before Dowsing played him in one-on-one with the Ashton keeper and this time his effort was thwarted by the Ashton keeper.

Despite their domination and proliferation of goal attempts, Rochdale could not find a way through the well organised Ashton defence and the game went to extra time.

Evans (Success to the Plough) was sent on to try and break the deadlock and found himself immediately through on goal, one-on-one with the Ashton keeper, however, caught in two minds he poked his shot wide.

Shelmerdine had another chance but again to no avail as he shot across the face of goal.

With minutes remaining Rochdale forced three corners: Davey Luker had a header cleared before John Luker thought he'd snatched it, but his header scraped the top of the crossbar.
 
The game went to penalties and disaster loomed for Rochdale when Mike Shelmerdine compounded the many chances he had spurned during the game by missing his penalty for Rochdale. He, and the rest of the Rochdale team, was mighty relieved to see Ashton's first penalty also miss.

Davey Luker stepped up, and though his kick hit a bobble, the ball fortunately eluded the keeper to give Rochdale the lead in the shootout.

Rochdale goalkeeper Rogerson then pulled off a good save to deny Ashton before John Luker stepped up to make it 2-0 to Rochdale.

With Rogerson saving another Ashton penalty things were looking good for Rochdale, however, Leonard, who if he'd scored would have settled the tie, had his kick saved by the Ashton keeper. It served only to jangle the nerves a touch longer as the hero of the hour, Rogerson, saved a third Ashton spot kick to put Rochdale through.