Rivals cut down
ROCHDALE picked up that elusive second League One win of 2017 as they cruised to a 4-1 win over Gillingham on a wet afternoon at the Crown Oil Arena.
Nathaniel MendezLaing was the stand out performer for ‘Dale as he netted their first before providing the assist for Ian Henderson and Callum Camps’ goals, substitute Peter Vincenti adding a fourth late on.
“I think the last time we played bad was against Oxford, but we haven’t had the results and it is a results business and it puts everyone under pressure,” said boss Keith Hill. “I think the players will readily admit that it affects confidence and for Gilingham to get an equaliser on what was out first wobble sums up where we’ve been over the last month. But I thought the players responded well, we hit the crossbar and the post and looked a major threat. We always have an attacking intent and scored four at home having scored three in each of the previous two games.
“We arguably defended a little bit better on the day, though I wasn’t overly convinced by that.”
Gloomy though the day was, the return of Joe Bunney to the first team was a welcome boost, while Matt Lund returned from suspension and Conrad Logan was reinstated between the posts.
Mendez-Laing broke the deadlock for the home side just 10 minutes.
He picked up the ball on the right flank, cut inside onto his left foot and rifled a shot into the far top corner, leaving Stuart Nelson in the Gillingham goal helpless.
The goal provided an early opportunity for the players to show their support for team-mate Joe Thompson, who is battling cancer for the second time, Mendez-Laing holding aloft the number 15 shirt ina show of unity from the squad.
Henderson, almost doubled the lead just five minutes later as he picked up the ball in the Gills danger area following a fortuitous rebound, though Nelson was quickly out to his feet to deny him.
Then, with their first real chance of the game, the visitors equalised after 17 minutes. Mark Byrne’s cross was met by Josh Parker, whose headed effort was brilliantly saved by Logan. However, Parker was there to gobble up the rebound and fire into the roof of the net.
Following the Gills equaliser both sides began to settle down, becoming accustomed to the difficult conditions.
In the 28th minute Henderson had another golden chance to score as he saw his glancing header strike the upright before Max Ehmer could clear for Gillingham.
The chance came from Bunney’s wicked cross from the left side, a facet of Dale’s play that has been missing since midJanuary and a reminder of why Keith Hill rates him the best left-back in the division.
Henderson went one better in the 33rd minute.
After latching onto Mendez-Laing’s flick on,
‘We haven’t had the results and it is a results business and it puts everyone under pressure’
he found himself through on goal and with Nelson rushing out to meet him he scored a delightful chip over the keeper to restore his side’s lead.
Following Henderson’s 10th goal of the campaign,