Wrexham 3-2 Rochdale

Goals from Ashley Grimes and trialist Jason Jarrett were not enough to stop Dale losing at Wrexham as the Conference side capitalised on a number of defensive frailties from Rochdale.

Steve Eyre named 4 trialists in his starting 11 as his preparations ahead of the new season continued with a trip to Wrexham. Goalkeeper Matt Duke started for the second game running whilst central defender Chris Doig partnered Marcus Holness in the heart of defence. Stephen Darby and Marc Twaddle filled the full back roles. Jason Jarrett and Paul Marshall played in a 5 man midfield alongside Gary Jones, Jason Kennedy and Nicky Adams. Ashley Grimes was the lone striker in the absence of the injured Chris O'Grady who was given the weekend off.

In the early stages, Eyre's men looked comfortable with the ball but it was the hosts that took the lead, somewhat against the early running. Duke received a back pass from his defence but the trialist keeper dwelled for too long and his clearance was charged down by Danny Wright and the ball looped towards the unguarded goal and over the line to open the scoring.

Paul Marshall almost grabbed an immediate equaliser for Dale but his left footed shot grazed the wrong side of the post.

With Eyre’s men responding well to going behind, it was a shock when Dean Saunders’ men doubled their advantage. Full back Johnny Hunt put in a dangerous low cross that Holness diverted beyond his keeper from 2 yards out under pressure from 2 strikers.

If Duke was at fault for the first goal then he made up for that mistake with a fine save just before the half hour. Tolley’s deft lay off found Wright but his instinctive shot was turned around the post.

Rochdale got back into the game moments later through new signing Ashley Grimes. The former City striker was quickest to react when a Gary Jones pile-driver was fumbled by home stopper Mayobi and Grimes slotted home from close range.

Steve Eyre’s men got back on level terms on the stroke of half time. Marc Twaddle got down the left before crossing deep for Jarrett whose header evaded the best attempts of the defenders on the line for 2-2.
Rochdale started the second half with same team that ended the first but it was Wrexham who started the brighter. Chris Blackburn’s shot was deflected over by Doig and from the corner a header was cleared off the Dale line.

Eyre made 3 changes on 57 minutes, Neal Trotman for Stephen Darby, Jason Kennedy for Paul Marshall and Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro for Simon Hackney and soon after former Shrewsbury man Jamie Tolley scored what turned out to be the winner. A foul by Holness who had switched to left back led to Tolley firing a powerful free kick into the top corner from an acute angle that deceived Duke.

Things could have been worse for the travelling support when Duke tipped another freekick against the post and the rebound was turned in but an offside flag spared Dale blushes.

More changes were made by both managers with Eyre bringing on Widdowson, Tutte and Gray for Twaddle, Jarrett and Jones.

The Dale keeper almost gifted more goals to the Welshmen when again he dwelled too long on a backpass but just cleared and when he and Widdowson had a lapse in communication, sub Obi Anouro almost capitalised on a loose ball but the defender just managed to block the shot.

In the late stages, Steve Eyre gave run outs to youth team products Jordan Fagbola and Sam Minihan with Minihan showing real grit with some meaty challenges against far larger opponents.

In the end it wasn’t enough for Dale as the game ended in defeat. The Rochdale gaffer will be looking for an improvement when Premier League West Brom arrive at Spotland on Tuesday with a certain Craig Dawson in their ranks.

The Dale manager wasn't happy with his sides performance when he spoke after the game: "Pre-season or not, I’m really disappointed with that performance.

“It was a shared game of football but there was a real lack of desire to stop goals and that’s what wins football games. We haven't kept a clean sheet yet and we looked a little green at times. I can’t fault the effort but we didn't show enough determination to stop goals going in. Matt Duke has held his hands up in there but it was a bad day at the office from his point of view. Marc Twaddle had a lot of the ball in the first half but I want him to get down the line more and put in crosses like he did for our second goal more often.

“Had the performance been a little more positive then perhaps I could be offering the trialists contracts but after that I will want to see them again. Sam Minihan came on late in the game and I will put him on earlier next time as he showed tackling and competing in 4 minutes than we saw from some of the pro's in 85 minutes.

“Chris O'Grady was left at home today as we knew he was going to be out for 6 days or so with a very sore heel pad, that was my call so he's had a weekend with his family.”