Dagnall stops the rot

The teams run out before in the game in front of the Rochdale fans

Accrington Stanley 1 Rochdale 1

Chris Dagnall ended Rochdale’s run of no goals and four defeats from four league games with his first half strike, which was later cancelled out by Gary Roberts second half penalty for League two newcomers Accrington Stanley.

The game played out in similar to fashion to Dale’s other games as they had to put in a long defensive stint, only this time they managed to get on the score sheet with what was their only meaningful attempt on target.

At the other end Stanley were camped in the Dale half for long periods but could not make their possession pay thanks to a combination of poor finishing and first rate defending as Nathan Stanton continued the form that has already made him a favourite with the Dale faithful.

When Stanley did breach the Dale backline they had Matthew Gilks to contend with, who showed why he has been Rochdale’s best player of the season so far with a string of fine saves, the first of which came in the first minute from Paul Mullin’s header as the home side began the game strongly.

It proved to be a lively start as Rochdale went straight down the other end and created an opening for themselves. The ball was played out to Simon Ramsden and the Dale right back whipped in a good cross but Darrell Clarke couldn’t get enough on his free header to cause Dunbavin problems in the Accrington goal.

From there it was all Accrington and they put the Dale defence under pressure with a string of corners but the backline stood up to the task and kept Stanley at bay; the only real moment of danger came when the lively Romuald Boco turned inside the box and hit a dipping effort which had Gilks scrambling across his goal as the ball flew inches past the post.

With nineteen minutes played the visitors took the lead very much against the run of play but the travelling support weren’t complaining as they celebrated their team’s first league goal of the campaign. It was a goal made and scored by Chris Dagnall as the forward picked the ball up on the left wing and was brought down for a free kick. Lee Crooks whipped the ball across and a static Stanley defence watched as Dagnall prodded the ball home from close range.

The goal seemed to settle the visitors as the home side lost their way following their bright opening. Accrington continued to look threatening up to the edge of the Dale area but their final ball or lack of composure was to blame as Gilks remained reasonably untroubled.

Stanley enjoyed the better of the late first half with Rochdale defending deep and struggling to find an outlet when the ball was cleared but as was the case throughout the opening forty-five, the home side failed to make their build up play count for anything.

Rochdale began the second half strongly, determined to defend their slender advantage and to try and build on it; a lesson learned from Tuesday night’s Carling Cup encounter when the defence collapsed at the start of the second period.
In contrast to the first half the Accrington front two looked isolated and it was Dale who enjoyed the possession and the chances in a good fifteen minute spell for the visitors. Lambert linked up well with Goodall to unleash the pressing left-back but an excellent Peter Cavanagh challenge stopped Goodall from getting a shot away.

As the half continued Accrington got stronger and by seventy minutes they were camped in the Dale half in search of the equaliser. The Dale defence continued to cope with the pressure but it seemed to be only matter of time before Accrington started creating chances with Dale unable to keep the ball; the introduction of Iyseden Christie from the bench proved ineffective as he continued his poor start to the season.

It looked as though Dale might hang on as their defence remained strong but Accrington were back in the game with fifteen minutes to go when Jon Doolan produced a clumsy challenge on Ian Craney and the Accrington midfielder stumbled to the ground and the referee awarded a spot kick. Gary Roberts sent Gilks the wrong way with his penalty and Stanley had a deserved equaliser.

After the game Steve Parkin agreed that it was a penalty: “Their lad got the wrong side of John [Doolan] and there was always the fear that their midfielders would start bombing on and trying to get a goal. We can have no complaints.”

Stanley pushed on for the winner with Dale on the ropes and looking a spent force. A Roberts freekick sailed just over the bar and the home side then had a goal disallowed after a brilliant save by Matt Gilks to stop Welch’s low drive, the ball fell to Craney, who squared for Mullin to tap in but the linesman already had his flag raised.

Dale were hanging on and it took another inspired save from Gilks to keep his side in the game. Boco fired in a shot after picking up Welch’s knockdown from a corner and it looked a certain goal, only for Gilks to turn the ball away with a flailing left leg.

Dale had survived and in the dying stages it was Accrington who were clinging on when Dale won a succession of corners and enjoyed their most enterprising spell in the game. Dunbavin had his defence to thank as his goal went untroubled at the death but it would have been different had the referee awarded Dale a late penalty as all 930 Dale fans behind the goal shouted for handball but the official waved away the protests.

Dale’s only shot on target in the game had given them their only goal of the season and they were able to hold on for a point. Stanley were the better side but it looked as though they might pay for their lack of cutting edge until Doolan felled Craney with fifteen minutes to go. Once again it was a case of Dale’s defence doing the majority of the work as the attack struggled to create any sustained pressure on the Accrington backline.

However a first goal and a first point is a step in the right direction for Steve Parkin’s men who believed it was a case of a  point gained rather than two lost for his team: “It was a point gained I think, away from home. First half I was really pleased not only that we got a foothold in the game but that we got the goal as well. Second half we started really brightly, far more brightly than Accrington I thought for ten or twelve minutes and then just lost the belief to keep playing the way that we were playing.

“I think it’s disappointing that we lost the lead but to get off and running, get a point hopefully that will give us some confidence going into the game next weekend. We’ll take the point but we’ve got to make sure we get three at home next week.”