Le Fondre pen rescues point against rivals

Le Fondre wheels away after scoring Dale's equaliser from the penalty spot

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Bury 1 (Adams 56)
Rochdale 1 (Le Fondre 90 pen)
Adam Le Fondre came off the bench to score his seventeenth goal of the season and secure a point for Rochdale against local rivals Bury, beating Rochdale's best ever total points in a season in the process.

Bury had taken the lead mid-way through the first half when potential Rochdale transfer target Nicky Adams rifled into the roof of the Dale goal but Le Fondre sent nearly 2,800 travelling fans when he converted from the spot just two minutes before full time.

Bury might be the more disappointed with the result having played against ten men for large parts. Elliot Bennett drew a foul from Nathan Stanton and the referee adjudged Stanton to have denied a goal-scoring opportunity and sent the Dale defender for an early bath.

Things were evened up as Rochdale pushed for an equaliser late on. Ben Futcher, having already been booked for a foul, appeared to lash out at Rory McArdle ahead of a Dale corner and the referee issued a second booking. The referee's decision seemed to be justified by the fact that McArdle had to change his shirt because of blood.

Despite Dale's late equaliser the action was far from over. Rene Howe had a goal ruled out during injury time after Efe Sodje had collided with his own goalkeeper, Jim Provett, and the keeper spilled the ball to present Howe with a simple finish. The referee dictated that Howe had pushed Sodje into the keeper.

Bury went straight up the other end and came close to winning it when goalscorer Adams' shot was blocked at close quarters by Nathan D'Laryea, the Dale substitute who was forced on when Dale had to sure things up at the back following Stanton's dismissal.

The home side had the balance of the play in the first half and perhaps, if they had been in the lead, as they should have been, at half time and with Dale down to ten men they might have secured a memorable double over their local rivals.

As it is the Rochdale support might have been the happier of the two having avoided defeat in the knowledge that their season will extend beyond next Saturday afternoon. Ahead of the game Rochdale still had outside hopes of an automatic finish but they were dashed by the fact Hereford overcame Brentford by a convincing three goals to nil.

The clearest of the first half opportunities fell to Bury as one-time Rochdale loanee Andy Bishop failed to convert when presented with a one-on-one with Dale goalkeeper Tommy Lee. Lee saved well with his legs but Bishop should have finished a nice move off.

Fortunately for the visitors their Macclesfield loan goalkeeper was in fine form and he produced a spectacular double save minutes later as Glynn Hurst looked to steer a loose ball into the net. In truth Hurst should have taken the goalkeeper out of the equation from such close range.

The home side almost paid the ultimate cost immediately after Hurst's failure to convert when, just a minute later, Gary Jones stung the hands of Provett and Chris Dagnall, making his first start for Dale for more than six months, drew a fine save from Provett as he followed up Jones' parried attempt.

The game then witnessed its major turning point when Stanton hacked down Bennett and the referee sent the Dale centre-half off. Bennett had already beaten three Dale men and was heading menacingly towards goal when Stanton ruthlessly took him out. It was unquestionably a foul but the sending off was perhaps surprising with the offence having been committed a full forty yards from goal.

Keith Hill brought on D'Laryea, in place of the unfortunate Kallum Higginbotham, to sure up the Dale defence and the change worked as the visitors saw the game through to half time quite comfortably. Bury had squandered their best chances before the sending off occurred.

The game continued in the same vein during the second half, with no side dominating despite Bury's one man advantage. The game went from end to end with no clear chances but the home side took the lead all too easily when Bishop was allowed to turn on a throw-in and feed Adams who slammed the ball into the top corner. If it had not been an opening goal in the derby the Dale fans might well have been impressed with what they had seen.

Dale responded to the set-back strongly with Howe causing the home defence problems up front. An equaliser looked to be on the cards when Howe broke clear and squared for Dagnall but the striker to could only find the hands of Provett from close range.

Rochdale brought on Le Fondre for Dagnall in the hope their top scorer could rescue a point and Will Buckley also came off the bench as Dale converted to three up front in search of a goal.

Dale were right back in it after Futcher was sent off and they got the equaliser, that, on the balance of things, they probably deserved, when Buckley was brought down in the box and, after some deliberation, the referee pointed to the spot. Le Fondre stepped up and it was a sign of the quality of the penalty that, even thought Provett dived the right way, the ball still found the net.

The points were shared, certainly a fair result on the balance of play, and Rochdale avoided succumbing to a double defeat against their local rivals. Not much more could be asked of the Dale side, who grafted hard throughout, and the fact that Hereford won in essence made the result immaterial.

Attendance: 6,271

Bury: Provett, Haslam, Futcher, Sodje, Buchanan, Bennett, Scott, Baker, Adams, Hurst (Stephens 80), Bishop.
Subs not used: Rouse, Rooney, Anane, Belford.

Booked: Futcher, Bishop.

Sent off: Futcher.

Rochdale: Lee, Ramsden, Stanton, McArdle, Kennedy, Higginbotham (D'Laryea 32), Jones, Perkins, Rundle (Buckley 67), Dagnall (Le Fondre 63), Howe.
Subs not used: Muirhead, Montrose.

Booked: Jones, Rundle.

Sent off: Stanton.

Attempts (on target): Bury 7 (5) Rochdale 9 (5)
Freekicks: Bury 17 Rochdale 16
Offside: Bury 8 Rochdale 2
Corners: Bury 1 Rochdale 5

Referee: M Jones.