Bournemouth 1-1 Rochdale

It was a game of 2 penalties as Dale came away with a point at Bournemouth. Referee Gavin Ward awarded both teams a spot kick either side of half time which were duly dispatched. Gary Jones gave Steve Eyre's side the lead on the half hour after Ashley Grimes was pulled back inside the area by Stefan Zubar whilst Michael Symes levelled  when Ward adjudged Jake Kean to have hauled down Wes Thomas.

The Dale boss gave starts to the 5 players rested for the midweek JPT game. Pim Balkestein, Gary Jones, Andrew Tutte, Nicky Adams & Ashley Grimes all started. Joe Thompson didn't travel as he is suffering with a thigh strain.

In a lively opening, both sides tried to take the game to their opponents with Ball shooting weakly for Dale whilst Thomas, under pressure from Balkestein, forced a good save from Kean.

The first talking point of the afternoon cam on 29 minutes when referee Ward awarded Rochdale a penalty after Ashley Grimes was pulled back by Zubar inside the area. Once the protests had calmed down, Jones stepped up to send Flahaven the wrong way for 1-0.

Grimes almost doubled the Dale lead moments later but his header was deflected wide but the best chance for a second came with 10 minutes of the half remaining. Nicky Adams' deep free kick was headed goalward by Balkestein which forced the Cherries keeper Flahaven into a smart save and with the ball dropping free inside the 6 yard box Trotman somehow contrived to fire over with the goal gaping.

Eyre's men were well on top and used the counter attack whenever possible. A Bournemouth free kick was defended well by Dale with Ball hitting the home side with a quick break. He sent a raking cross field pass to Adams who headed at goal before feeding Grimes but the ball was half a yard ahead of the striker and the danger was cleared.

With virtually the last kick of the half, The Cherries should have been level. Wes Thomas went on a surging run down the right before squaring for Pugh who was unmarked inside the area but the winger sailed his shot high over the bar with a virtually open goal.

The visitors looked to increase their advantage in the second period but were left frustrated by good defending and poor finishing. Firstly tenacious play from Adams in chasing down a lost cause earned a free kick which resulted in Balkestein seeing a header blocked on the line even though the home fans were incensed about the award of the free kick. The usually reliant Grimes then spurned a glorious chance when Akpa-Akpro sent a perfectly weighted ball over the home defence but Grimes fired over from the corner of the 6 yard box when he should have tested the keeper.

That miss proved crucial as minutes later, Lee Bradbury's side were level but in controversial circumstances. A long ball over the Dale defence, with more than a hint of offside, Thomas rounded Kean as he rushed to block but the Cherries striker fell to the ground even though Kean seemed to get plenty of the ball but Ward pointed again to the spot. Michael Symes stepped up to send Kean the wrong way to level the scores.

The home side took the game to Dale in the closing stages and in all fairness looked the more likely to snatch a winner.

Kean had to be alert when Thomas cut inside 2 Dale players but his shot was well blocked. With Bournemouth looking for the winner, Dale resorted to counter attacks and shots from distance which were comfortable for Flahaven.

The Cherries will be ruing a glorious chance deep into stoppage time when Symes beat the offside trap but his control and shot was just off target.

In the end it was a good point away from home and it’s now 3 unbeaten for Eyre's men in all competitions.

Dale manager Steve Eyre spoke after game: “I thought we should have 2 penalties because Ashley Grimes was bundled over just before the one he got but I felt ours was a definite penalty and whilst the second one looked a penalty our lads are saying he was 2 yards offside and that Jake's got the ball first.

“I thought the officials needed to be strong as they were coming under some serious stick off the crowd after some decisions that we thought were good decisions. We knew we would have to defend resolutely and be squeaky clean and whilst I thought we did OK, we weren’t squeaky clean.

“We know Ashley and that if there is a chance he can stay on his feet and score he will so definite penalty for me. We can  complain about the penalty but we had chances to put the game beyond Bournemouth. Neal missing from 5 yards and Ashley firing over when he would usually just slot the ball home. Peterborough are calling David Ball back but we are hoping it will only be for a couple of games and he will be back. The 2 clubs will talk and see how it goes from there.”

Att: 5345

Rochdale: Kean, Holness, Trotman, Balkestein, Darby, Jones (C ), Tutte, Ball (Barry-Murphy 84), Adams, Grimes(Kennedy 90), Akpa-Akpro
Subs (not used): Lucas, Twaddle, Gray
Bournemouth: Flahavan, Pugh, Peters(Fogden 88), Thomas, Zubar, Barrett, Cooper (Partington 79), Arter, Cummings, Purches, Gregory (Symes 38)
Subs (not used): Jalal, Fletcher

Referee: Mr G Ward
Ass Referee: Mr M Russell, Mr T Wood
4th Official: Mr T Robinson