Chesterfield 1 - 1 Rochdale

Rochdale were cruelly denied their first win of the season after Jack Lester’s equaliser deep into stoppage time earned a share of the spoils. Andrew Tutte’s stunning 30 yard effort looked to have sealed the 3 points until the veteran striker headed home a near post corner.

Dale boss john Coleman named an unchanged side that which drew with Northampton on Saturday.

The opening exchanges were fast and frenetic as both sides looked to net their first win of the new season. The hosts almost took the lead as early as the 4th minute when Bowery was put through on goal. The home striker lifted the ball over the on rushing Lillis with Ryan Edwards on hand to clear off the line.

Jason Kennedy picked up a loose ball before curling an effort just wide from 20 yards whilst Ryan Edwards again denied Chesterfield with another goalline clearance from Bowery’s header.

Former Dale defender Neil Trotman saw a close range header saved by Lillis and from the keepers clearance Adebola beat the offside trap but fired wide when really he should have done better.

Lillis had to be alert again when he raced out to smother a Richards shot which look destined to open the deadlock. At the other end Tommy Lee got down to save a low Pearson strike.

Coleman’s men started the second half the brighter and took the lead inside 4 minutes. Andrew Tutte’s stunning 30 yard strike whistled into the top corner giving Lee no chance.

Rochdale revelled in their position of being in front and bossed the game for the majority of the second half. Their passing and ball retention was excellent which frustrated the home fans and players alike.

All attacking was by Dale with Grimes shooting wide when well placed whilst a great bit of play ended with substitute Putterill through on goal but his shot was lifted over the bar.

The introduction of veteran Jack Lester for the home side gave them the lift they needed. The striker was denied a shot at goal by some tremendous defending by Ryan Edwards whilst Edwards was again called into action when sub Craig Clay lifted the ball over Lillis but the on loan Blackburn defender cleared off the line for a third time.

The home side threw everything at Dale and should have equalised on 90 minutes. A Westcarr freekick was headed towards goal by Trotman and with Lillis caught in no man’s land the stopper was relieved to see the ball go wide. Lillis was again called into action seconds later when Bowery was played through but he couldn’t get the ball past Lillis.

Bowery thought he had levelled the score with seconds remaining after good hold up play by Lester but Lillis pulled off a world class save to deny him but the joy of the Dale fans was to be short lived. From the resultant corner, Lester met the ball with a near post header that beat Lillis to send the home fans into jubilant celebration.

It was cruel on Dale who looked in cruise control once they took the lead but a battling display from Chesterfield meant Coleman is still looking for his first away win since taking charge.

The manager said: “It feels like a defeat. We have got to learn how to win and at this moment in time we don’t know how.

"We’d killed the game off, we were so much in control but the last 5 minutes we’ve let them back in. They haven’t been near our goal for the other 44 minutes. We’ve given the ball away cheaply.

"Tutteys strike is great strike and one that wins any game as does the save from Josh at the end but it’s no point making a world class save like that and then conceding from the corner at a near post area.

"I’ve got to try and lift my own head. I’m at the stage now where I don’t know if I can take anymore disappointments as it seems to be happening time and time and time again.

"We have to learn how to win. I’m not a quitter but I’ve got to teach them how to win and if I can’t teach them then they will have to go and I will have to get players in who know how to win”

Att:4595

Rochdale: Lillis, McIntyre, R Edwards, P Edwards, Pearson, Tutte, Cavanagh (c), Kennedy, Donnelly, Grimes, Adebola (Putterill 66)

Subs: (Not used) Rafferty, Barry-Murphy, Bennett, Curran, Craney, Smith

Chesterfield: Lee Forbes, Trotman, Hird (c), Smith, Talbot, Whittaker (Clay 75), Togwell, Randall (Westcarr 75), Richards (Lester 64), Bowery

Subs: (Not used) O’Donnell, Allott, Darikwa, Hazel

Referee: Mr R Clark
Ass Referee: Mr R Wigglesworth & Mr D Storrie
4th Official: Mr D Benton