Joe’s at it again
DALE recorded their second win in as many pre-season friendlies with a 1-0 victory over Stockport County at Edgeley Park.
After a goalless first-half in which Ian Henderson sent a penalty wide, Joe Thompson’s goal 12 minutes after the break proved to be decisive.
The first chance of the game fell to former Stockport man Aaron Wilbraham, who headed an Ian Henderson cross wide.
Henderson then provided a through ball for Bradden Inman, who rounded goalkeeper Ben Hinchcliffe but put his effort into the side netting from a tight angle.
The hosts’ first chance fell to Darren Stephenson, but his shot was well held by Brad Wade at the near post, before Adam Thomas fired well wide from distance.
Dale were awarded a penalty when Matty Done was pushed to ground in the area, but Henderson dragged his penalty wide of the upright.
He then curled an effort straight at the goalkeeper two minutes later, before Wilbraham brought down Ollie Rathbone’s cross impeccably before firing a half-volley over the crossbar.
MJ Williams picked out Henderson with a perfectly weighted ball over the defence, and his nick goalwards was clawed off the line by the back-pedalling goalkeeper.
Stephenson forced Wade into another stop at the near post, whilst Williams fired well over from distance and Callum Camps sent a dipping free-kick into the arms of Hinchcliffe just before half-time.
Keith Hill made swapped the entire outfield at the break, with only goalkeeper Wade staying out for the second period.
Jordan Williams had the first effort on target of the period, curling one into the arms of the goalkeeper, before Dale broke the deadlock in the 57th minute.
Calvin Andrew found Joe Rafferty on the right side, and his cross was turned home by Thompson – whose goal on the final day of last season preserved Dale’s League One status.
Thompson then sent a looping header over the bar from Kgosi Ntlhe’s delivery, and Dale Academy product Nyal Bell sent two efforts off target shortly after coming on for the hosts.
Ntlhe then fired over, whilst Stockport substitute Jordan Downing headed over a wide free-kick. Dale thought they had doubled their lead with four minutes remaining, but Rafferty was adjudged to be offside when he powered home a rebound from Andy Cannon’s shot which was saved.