Sharp Dale ease
ROCHDALE were quick to snuff out any threat of a firstround FA Cup exit at the hands of National League opponents Bromley.
Keith Hill’s men tore out of the blocks and could have been two up by the time they opened the scoring – just nine minutes into the clash.
The early goal settled any nerves among home supporters and at the same time scuppered Neil Smith’s gameplan. The Bromley boss revealed his intention was to frustrate and contain the home side for the opening twenty minutes, but by his own admission, Dale were far too sharp for his side to handle.
Bromley’s first attempt to upset the applecart was to switch Dale around on winning the toss so that Hill’s men were attacking the Sandy Lane end in the first half.
But, if anything, it did Dale a favour – better to attack the populated Sandy Lane rather than the empty TDS Stand.
Joe Rafferty got in behind Luke Wanadio down the right, exchanging passes with Camps to go clear into the area. His low cross was almost turned in by Ian Henderson but Bromley managed to scramble that one clear.
Kgosi Ntlhe, replacing the suspended Joe Bunney, enjoyed a lot of time and space from the leftback position in what was probably his best game for the club so far.
Ntlhe teed up Brad Inman, inside the area and with time to line up a shot, but he held his head in his hands after pulling his effort wide – a good opportunity missed.
Wanadio had Bromley’s first effort, a 25-yard drive charged down by Callum Camps, Frankie Raymond’s resulting corner running dangerously through the packed Dale penalty area.
Inman opened the scoring in the ninth minute, latching on to a fine pass inside full back Alan Dunne from Ntlhe and beating one man before sliding a neat finish beneath David Gregory in the visitors goal.
Neil Smith’s side responded positively to conceding, Brett Williams driving a 20-yard free-kick into the Dale wall after Wanadio’s fine run from the halfway line carried Bromley deep into home territory.
But Dale continued to look the far more threatening side and went close again when Camps brilliantly picked out Ntlhe’s run towards the back post with a lofted cross which the full back met with a flush header – unfortunately his effort struck the foot of the post.
With Bromley finding themselves pushed further and further back, their occasional threat came via the breakaway and Wanadio’s run from the edge of his own area and pass for Williams ended with the striker seeing a shot diverted wide by Jim McNulty.
Bromley were seeing one or two potential openings as the half wore on, but they were dealt a huge blow when Rochdale were awarded a penalty in the 30th minute.
Calvin Andrew played in Rafferty down the right and he was brought down by Wanadio as he shaped to cross the ball. Henderson dispatched the spot kick coolly, sending Gregory the wrong way to double his side’s lead.
Bromley’s best effort of the half came in the 38th minute when Williams got above Dale keeper Josh Lillis to meet a free kick from Josh Rees, the striker unable to direct his header on target but it was a threat to the home goal.
Olly Rathbone blazed a shot over the top before the interval and Rees did likewise eight yards from goal at the other end of the field.
Inman had a good chance to make it three, minutes into the second