Not so good for Goodall

Swindon 1 - 0 Rochdale

Dale defender Alan Goodall had the sort of game he’d love to forget after nodding home the winning goal for Swindon Town at the County Ground on Saturday.

Goodall’s nightmare continued in the second half after he gave away a soft penalty, though ‘keeper Matt Gilks who has been in inspired form this season saved Roberts’ spot kick.

It was the first of two penalty saves by the Dale stopper with the second coming after Ernie Cooksey was harshly adjudged to have handled when the ball rebounded of his out-stretched leg.

Steve Parkin had opted to go with a five man midfield in a bid to frustrate Dennis Wise’s side and it worked a treat as the Dale enjoyed vast amounts of possession despite chances on goal being at a premium.

Just before the break Swindon were gifted their one and only goal of the game after Roberts scampered down the left flank and fired a cross into the area.  Goodall arrived to meet the centre and seemed caught in two minds with what to do with the ball.

In the end he opted to try and cushion a header back to Gilks, but his neck muscles hadn’t received that message and duly helped power the ball into the top corner.

Rochdale boss Steve Parkin described the goal as a sickening blow to his side and it was one they never recovered from.

The second half started well enough for Dale but their hosts soon got into the swing of things and dominated the second period almost throughout.

Nathan Stanton and his defensive partners were more than a match for Swindon’s best though and from open play Gilks had his quietest half of the season.

His energy went into a pair of penalty saves, the first from Roberts, which to be fair was one your grandma could have saved, was stopped by Gilks diving to his left.  The second however was taken by Paul Evans and he opted to smash the ball into the back of the net from 12-yards.  Gilks, diving to his right managed to get enough body parts on the ball to divert it away for corner before receiving congratulations from his team-mates.

Gilks’ heroics couldn’t inspire his side to find the equaliser they so thoroughly deserved over 90 minutes and Rochdale slipped to their third one-nil defeat on the trot.

A deflated Steve Parkin said after the game: “The lads gave their all again and again we fell short through what was, in my mind, a ridiculous own goal. 

"Matt Gilks was superb again and he put in a goalkeeping shift he should be very proud of.”