Colchester United 1 - 0 Rochdale

Rochdale’s charge towards the playoffs took a stumble as Colchester scored late to steal an undeserved 3 points.

Home stopper Ben Williams was the busier of the 2 keepers as he made 2 fine saves from Chris O’Grady whilst Substitutes Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro and Joe Thompson both hit the bar as Hill’s men tried to level the game.

The Dale boss named an unchanged side for the fifth successive game as he tried to extend the unbeaten run to 8 games. Former Dale favourite David Perkins missed the game for the U’s with a hamstring strain.

In glorious sunshine, the visitors started the game very brightly with Matt Done seeing his shot saved whilst Chris O’Grady perhaps should have done better with a glancing header after good work from Wiseman & Adams.

The homes side’s best chance of the half fell to Ashley Vincent but his drive from the edge of the area deflected wide.

Dale skipper Gary Jones saw two shots from distance flash wide whilst Nicky Adams’ first half stoppage time shot at an angle was easily saved.

Colchester made a change at the interval with Odejayi replacing the ineffective David Mooney, and the change gave the home side the impetus. Steven Gillespie had the ball in the net early in the second half but his goal was ruled out for offside. Dawson blocked another Gillespie strike with the home fans appealing for a spot kick but referee East waved away appeals.

Hill’s men had a glorious opportunity to open the scoring when Atkinson turned smartly down the left to cross but Adams couldn’t get his shot away and when the ball fell to Done on the penalty spot he shot wide.

At the other end Craig Dawson played a short backpass which Fon Williams had to be quick to smother the danger as Gillespie was about to pounce.

Jones was denied by some last gasp defending when he met an Adams cross whilst O’Grady forced Williams into a fine low save when he turned and shot.

Around the hour mark the opposing managers started to show their hands with changing their personnel. Henderson came on for the U’s whilst Akpa-Akpro and Joe Thompson came on for Dale. With his first touch, Akpa-Akpro fired into the side netting whilst Henderson also hit the side netting with an acrobatic effort.

With the game opening up in the closing stages as both teams looked to gain an advantage, it was the home side that edged into the lead. A long ball over the Dale defence caught Scott Wiseman napping and Henderson stole in to nick the ball past the on rushing Fon Williams and despite the best attempts of Dawson on the line, the ball crept into the net.

Dale boss Keith Hill threw Dawson up front as he tried to get a leveller and his players almost got him the crucial goal. Akpa-Akpro smashed a shot against the cross bar whilst Joe Thompson sent a follow up header also against the bar as the ball just wouldn’t cross the line.

In the end it was a defeat that in the grand scheme of the league table, doesn’t alter Dale’s task as Bournemouth above and Leyton Orient below also lost.

Dale still sit 2 points outside the playoff’s with a game in hand; a game that comes on Tuesday when Southampton visit Spotland.

The Dale boss spoke after the game, he said: “I’m disappointed to lose after a mistake from one of our players. It was a pressure game, all the pressure was on us today, there was no pressure on Colchester.

“We played well without being clinical in front of goal so it was about respecting the point at half time and I wasn’t expecting to lose that game. Their goalkeeper was the busier of the two but games change on mistakes and one of our players makes the mistake. I would have taken a point today as it would have taken us closer to Bournemouth. It was a good pitch and they are a good side but they could play with no pressure in mid table but they got the points which takes them closer to us.

“It was a good game for them but we were comfortable, they changed it at half time and matched us up in midfield. We changed it and got some momentum back but to lose a goal like we did, it hurts but we have to move on.

“We are still confident and high in spirits and we have to take that into the Southampton game on Tuesday. There isn’t too much to analyse from this game other than I thought we did enough for a point.

“We need to relax between now and Tuesday, I want to take the pressure off myself and the players. We have achieved everything we wanted to this season but now we have a different agenda to make a late surge for the playoffs. I’m relatively happy with the season so far and also the points we have got”


Attendance:4052 (273 away)

Rochdale: Fon Williams, Wiseman, Dawson, Holness, Williams (Widdowson 61), Adams (Akpa-Akpro 81), Jones, Kennedy, Atkinson (Joe Thompson 61), Done, O’Grady.
Subs (not used): Edwards, Josh Thompson, Barry-Murphy, Dickinson


Colchester United: Williams, Clarke, Vincent (Henderson 75), O’Toole, Izzet (c), Bond, Gillespie (White 90), Mooney (Odejayi 46), Wilson, Coker, Smith
Subs (not used): Cousins, Wordsworth, James, Heath


Referee: Mr R East
Assistant Referee’s: Mr M Dexter & Mr O Saliy
Fourth Official: Mr DK Rock