Gillingham 1 - 2 Rochdale

Goals from Andrew Tutte and Bobby Grant sealed a third straight away win for John Coleman’s men as they saw off league leaders Gillingham.

Tutte’s cross nestled in the bottom corner before the hosts were reduced to ten men when Danny Jackman was shown a straight red for a two footed lunge on Tutte.

Grant doubled Dale’s lead after the break but the Gills halved the deficit from 12 yards after Phil Edwards was adjudged to have felled Whelpdale in the area.

Grant had a glorious chance to extend late on but missed an open goal. 

There were two changes to Dale starting eleven. Matt Pearson replaced the suspended Kevin McIntyre whilst George Donnelly started ahead of Ashley Grimes.

Gillingham came into the game unbeaten in their opening 8 games having dropped just two points all season.

Rochdale took the lead through skipper Andrew Tutte after a training ground corner routine. Kennedy played a short ball to Tutte who clipped the ball to the back post which crept in leaving Nelson rooted.

The home side rallied a little after going behind, Fish fired over on a breakaway whilst Burton volleyed over from 6 yards when he should have done better.

Gillingham gave themselves a mountain to climb just after the half hour mark when Jackman lunged into a challenge with Tutte and was shown a straight red card.

Dale controlled the remainder of the first half with Ryan Edwards firing over from close range whilst Donnelly should have done better when through but dwelled too long, inviting the challenge from Flanagan.

Coleman’s men took control on the hour when Grant doubled the lead. Tutte picked out the striker with a raking cross field pass with Grant seeing his first shot saved but he fired his second chance beyond Nelson.

Gillingham responded well to going two down.

A long ball forward was punched clear by Lillis and with the stopper out of his goal, Joe Martin fired a shot which Ryan Edwards blocked. Phil Edwards then upended Allen on the edge of the area but The Gills wasted the resultant free kick.

The home side were given a lifeline in the game when the referee saw an infringement inside the area. Phil Edwards had been warned about tussling with Whelpdale as Dale defended a corner with Mr Phillips pointing to the spot. Danny Kedwell sent Lillis the wrong way to set up a grand stand finish.

Lillis denied Whelpdale an equaliser when he was quick to smother a through ball in the home sides last real chance of the game.

Dale had chances to extend their lead but Putterill and Donnelly fired wide whilst Grant missed a guilt edged chance after good work from Donnelly. Donnelly raced clear before pulling the ball across goal for Grant to slot home into an empty goal but he scuffed his shot and allowed Nelson the chance to block.

Dale are upto eighth in N Power League 2 after sealing a thirrd straight away win; the feel good factor seems to be returning to Spotland.

John Coleman spoke after the game: “We aren’t getting carried away, we played well; we can play better. I thought we took the game to them, I felt we could have put the game to bed earlier. It was similar to the Wimbledon game in some respects.

"You have to remember that the back four had a combined age of 73; you won’t find another defence in the football league with a defence that young. I have to take my hat off to them, they were magnificent.

"We could have buckled when they got the penalty but they didn’t they stood strong.

"It’s a shame we didn’t put the game to bed earlier then I wouldn’t have felt as sick on the sidelines as I did!

"If ever anybody leads by example, today was a classic example. I thought Andrew Tutte was absolutely magnificent. He looked like a proper player and if he carries on, the world is his oyster.

Att: 5874 (99 Rochdale fans)

Rochdale: Lillis, Pearson, R Edwards, R Bennett, Rafferty, P Edwards, Tutte ©, Kennedy, Donnelly, Adebola (Putterill 77), Grant

Subs: (not used) Barry-Murphy, Curran, Byrne, Smith, Grimes, Craney

Gillingham: Nelson, Fish, Martin, Flanagan, Whelpdale, Jackman, Montrose (Allen 46),Burton (Kedwell 46), Barrett ©, Wright, Findley (Weston 34)

Subs: (not used) Strevens, Frampton, Davies, Forecast

Referee: Mr D Phillips
Ass Referees: Mr C Hatzidakis & Mr J Hopkins
Fourth Official: A Crysell