Rochdale 0-1 Hull City

Rochdale lost 1-0 in their second pre-season friendly after Robert Koren’s powerful strike was too hot to handle for Dale keeper Josh Lillis.

John Coleman again fielded 2 different sides with all players getting 45 minutes under their belts.

Trialist Matt Pearson was given start in the first half with new signing from Liverpool Joe Rafferty playing in the second period.

The game was an evenly contested affair with both teams wanting to pass the ball.

The first corner of the game was pulled back to Proschwitz who from 18 yards warmed the hands of Lillis.

Dale’s strike force of Grimes and Donnelly both had chances. Donnelly's shot from 20 yards didn’t cause too much trouble for Amos whilst Grimes should have done better from a Kennedy cross that he sliced well over.
 

Hull had a spell around 20 minutes, that yielded the only goal - Koren’s speculative long range shot should have been easy pickings for Lillis but the ball squirmed through his hands and into the net.

The Dale keeper will know he should have done better but as the manager said afterwards, it’s better to do that now in a friendly than once the season starts.

The second half saw 10 changes for Dale, trialists, Ian Craney, Ray Putterill and Danny Johnson were given another chance to impress, whilst the rest were younger members of the Rochdale first team squad.

Second year pro Reece Gray has impressed so far in pre-season and did so again with an accomplished performance. The youngster slipped a delightful ball through for Thompson but Amos was quick to smother the strikers' shot.

Gray had a sight at goal with 15 minutes to go but Amos was comfortable in catching.

It was another good workout for Coleman’s men and with games next week against Marine and Southport, it will be a different proposition as the build up to the league campaign continues.

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Rochdale: (First half team):Lillis, McIntyre, P Edwards (trialist), R Edwards, Pearson (trialists), Barry-Murphy, Cavanagh (c), Tutte, Kennedy, Donnelly, Grimes.
(Second half team): Lillis, Minihan, Byrne (c), Bennett, Rafferty, Watson, Putterill (trialist), Thompson, Craney (trialist), Johnson (trialist), Gray

Hull City: Amos, Dudgeon, Dawson (c) (Townsend), McKenna (Hughes), Chester (Cooper), Bruce (Bradley), Stewart (Cullen), Simpson (Devitt), Proschwitz (Aluko), Koren (East), McLean (Fagan),


Referee: A Haines
Ass Ref: D Markham and S Hudson
Fourth Official: P Newhouse