Rochdale 0 Darlington 1 (Convery 35)

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Rochdale v Darlington - 13 April 2010

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Rochdale's limp towards the haven of a first promotion in 41 years continued as the league leaders lost to the bottom side in the division.

The champagne remains on ice at Spotland as Keith Hill's men remain one win away from the League One promised land.

The home side battered Darlington for almost the entire 90 minutes but somehow their goalless streak stretched to a fourth successive game. Mark Convery's headed goal was the difference between the two sides as Dale huffed and puffed at the Darlington house but it simply would not be blown in.

Dale made most of the running but lacked confidence in the final third having not scored in three games. Darlington had only two shots of note to show for their efforts but one of them proved crucial as Convery nodded an unlikely winner.

As expected Keith Hill rung the changes from the side that went down 5-0 at Torquay with Jason Taylor, Craig Dawson and Temitope Obadeyi all coming into the side. Taylor in particular made a bright start for Dale, winning plenty of ball in midfield to set the home side on their way, and when Dawson spread a beautiful long ball to Joe Thompson Dale were presented with their first chance of the evening. The young winger exchanged passes with Chris O'Grady and then fired inches beyond the far post.

The opening quarter of an hour was all Dale as they sought a crucial early goal. Gary Jones tested Shane Redmond from range and then Thompson looked to release Chris Dagnall six yards out but a Darlington man just about managed to clear.

Dale's spell of early pressure was ended when Taylor was temporarily forced off the field after suffering a deep cut to the eye. Dale played a good five minutes with ten men but were soon back on top once the tough-tackling midfielder rejoined proceedings.

The home side had pushed hard for an opener without ever doing enough to get one and they were punished when the league's bottom side opened the scoring with their first attack 35 minutes in. Gary Jones could only half clear a corner as far as Gary Dempsey on the right wing and he whipped in a superb cross for Mark Convery to glance home. This would now be a confidence test for the league leaders, who had not scored in their three previous outings.

Suddenly there did not seem to be as much room on the pitch from which Dale could ply their trade while the visitors sought to waste time at every opportunity. The home side came close to an instant reply as Obadeyi skinned his full back and rifled a shot turned cross inches away from the feet of O'Grady.

Dale bombarded the visitors from the first minute of the second half. They won six early corners and swarmed the Darlington box but still Redmond was not tested. The introduction of Kallum Higginbotham for the ever frustrating Obadeyi looked to add impetus but still it looked as though it would be evening of frustration for Keith Hill's men.

The second half was defence against attack but Dale just could not find a way through. Disaster nearly struck for the home side when, from rare attack, Darlington won a corner that fell to Convery at the back post. The goalscorer lashed his shot and somehow Frank Fielding palmed it away.

The regular pattern of play was soon restored and Redmond was forced into an unconvincing save with his legs from Jones' blistering drive. The waves of attacks continued and the most presentable chance of the game came with ten minutes to play as Jones released Dagnall into the box but the striker fired too close to Redmond, who gathered at the second attempt.

Home frustrations continued to grow as Thompson fired weakly at Redmond when well placed. Two minutes later and quite how Dale did not equalise was surely beyond anyone in the entire ground. Scott Wiseman cut right along the byline, his cut back fell for Thompson to overhead back towards the marauding full back two yards out, whose shot was somehow blocked on the line. Two corners later and again the ball came back off the line as O'Grady's glance was hacked clear.

Darlington were made to pay for their time-wasting when the referee indicated their would be seven minutes extra at the end of the game but Dale could not capitalise. There seemed to be a forcefield around the Darlington goal all evening and that continued when Redmond dived full stretch to keep out O'Grady's curling shot.

Attendance: 5,371

Rochdale: Fielding, Wiseman, T. Kennedy, Stanton, Dawson, Taylor, Jones, Thompson, Obadeyi (Higginbotham 55), O'Grady, Dagnall.
Subs (not used): Arthur, McArdle, J. Kennedy, Haworth, Holness, Toner.

Darlington: Redmond, Arnison (Milne 37 (Bower 73)), White, Miller, Dempsey, Gray, G. Smith, Purcell, Giddings, Convery, Mulligan (Moore 83).
Subs (not used): Liversedge, Diop, M. Smith, Groves.

Booked: Miller, Redmond.

Attempts (on target): Rochdale 12 (9) Darlington 3 (2)
Free kick: Rochdale 11 Darlington 15
Offside: Rochdale 5 Darlington 0
Corners: Rochdale 16 Darlington 7

Referee: O Langford.