Rochdale in fan-tasy land with Lund’s late leveller
THE noisiest celebrations to reverberate around the Crown Oil Arena in this strangest of seasons was not nearly loud enough for Brian Barry-Murphy’s liking.
Matt Lund’s second goal of the afternoon, in the 84th minute, secured a point for Dale at home to Crewe and completed a rousing comeback from the home side who came from 3-0 down at the break to draw 3-3.
The Rochdale bench and board of directors could barely contain their elation in the otherwise deserted stands – but the occasion deserved so much more.
“I don’t want to keep harping back to it, but my instant reaction to the equaliser was that I wondered what it would have been like with the supporters here, in that moment when you go from the despair of losing to such a scoreline to being back level and chasing the win,” said Barry-Murphy, whose side had seen their last three games postponed due to a Covid outbreak at the club.
“I thought we played well for long periods of the game.
“Worryingly for us, we were 3-0 down having been in no real danger but Crewe are a team that can do that to you.
“I’m just very happy that the players got the result I feel their efforts deserved.”
Crewe scored early through Oli Finney and that allowed them to twice pick off an adventurous Dale in the first half, Owen Dale doubling the lead before Finney scored again.
But Rochdale kept to their task and pulled one back in the 47th minute, Aaron Morley’s delivery touched home by Stephen Humphrys.
Lund’s side-footed effort reduced the arrears on the hour mark before he smashed home the equaliser in the 84th minute.