Rochdale 2 - 2 Fleetwood Town

Rochdale progressed to the second round of the Football League trophy after beating Lancashire rivals Fleetwood Town on penalties. Dale led 2-0 after a penalty from Bobby Grant and a tremendous strike by Ray Putterill but Fleetwood pegged them back with two from skipper Jamie McGuire. Keeper Ben Smith was the Spotland hero saving two spot kicks as Dale went through 4-2 on penalties.

John Coleman made five changes from the side that beat Barnet on Saturday. Ben Smith got his first start in goal whilst Rhys Bennett also made his debut. Ray Putterill, Bobby Grant and Ian Craney were all given the chance to stake a place in the first choice starting 11.

The opening 30 minutes flew by as both teams played a high tempo game.

George Donnelly was played through on goal but Davies was quick off his line to smother and clear.

Former Dale loanee David Ball almost marked his return to Spotland with a goal when he cut onto his left foot but Smith was equal to it with a smart save.

Dale took the lead from the penalty spot. Ray Putterill picked up a loose ball inside the area and as he tried to round Davies, the keeper hauled him down with referee Bond pointing straight to the spot. Bobby Grant stepped up to send Davies the wrong way from 12 yards.

This was the first ever competitive match between Rochdale and Fleetwood and the visitors could have gone in at the break level. Smith had to be alert to deny Beeley when the full back sent a powerful drive at goal whilst Marrow sent a free header just over from a corner.

The second half was played at a slower pace than the first with Coleman’s men looking relatively comfortable, especially when they doubled their lead. Putterill picked up wide on the left and cut across the edge of the area before unleashing a superb curling effort that beat Davies at full stretch.

The second goal stunned Fleetwood into life and they halved the deficit six minutes later. A right wing corner was met by McGuire at the near post with a bullet header.

Rochdale started to turn the screw and pressured the visitors back. Tutte’s drive was pushed away by Davies and another short corner routine ended with Bennett shooting from 12 yards but again Davies pulled off a fine save.

That save was to prove crucial as moments later Fleetwood were level. Another set piece wasn’t dealt with by the Dale defence and McGuire was on hand at the back post to steer the ball home.

With the game heading for penalties, Dale upped the tempo again. Putterill fired a ball into the area that Davies could only parry, with nobody in a blue shirt on hand to turn the ball into the net, whilst the pace of Putterill saw him clean through and but for some excellent defending from Eastham who got back to block he would have had his second.

With that chance went the final whistle and a penalty shoot out would be needed to separate the two sides.

Ben Smith made two terrific saves from Mangan and McGuire whilst Tutte missed for Dale but it was left to Bobby Grant to take the final penalty that saw Coleman’s men progress to the second round.

Att: 1256

Rochdale: Smith, Pearson, P Edwards, Bennett, McIntyre, Barry-Murphy (Rafferty 82), Tutte (c), Craney, Donnelly, Grant, Putterill

Subs: (not used) Lillis, Grimes, Adebola, Byrne

Fleetwood Town: Davies, Beeley, Nicholson, Goodall, Mangan, McGuire (c), Gillespie (Titchiner 63), Atkinson, Ball, Marrow (Milligan 56), Eastham

Subs: (not used) Maxwell, Kinsella, Backuizen

Referee: Mr D Bond
Assistant Refs Mr N Smith & Mr B Toner
Fourth Official: Mr M Bristow