Norburn ensures winless return to the road
IT was a frustrating return to the road for Rochdale as they surrendered a 2-1 lead at Shrewsbury to lose out by the odd goal in five.
It was almost a month since last Keith Hill’s side played away from the Crown Oil Arena, a 3-0 loss at Wycombe Wanderers on October 23rd.
Up against a side which had disposed of their manager, John Askey, days earlier, this was always going to be a tricky one to call.
The home side took the lead from the penalty spot shortly after the half hour through Ollie Norburn, but Bradden Inman drew Dale level in added time at the end of the first half.
Jordan Williams scored his first EFL goal to see Hill’s men come from behind to take the lead, but two goals in seven second-half minutes secured the points for the Shrews.
There were two changes to the side that lined-up against Gateshead last weekend, as Magnus Norman and Calvin Andrew replaced Brendan Moore and Matty Done.
Aaron Holloway struck an effort wide of the upright after just two minutes, while Williams, who was played in after some good work by Joe Rafferty up the right, dragged a shot wide of the target from the edge of the area on eight minutes later.
The Shrews drew the first save of the match, though, when Fejiri Okenabirhie forced Norman to keep him out at the near post with a curling effort.
And for all their attacking intent, it was the only save the Dale goalkeeper had to make during the first 45 minutes.
Midway through the half, Sam Hart rattled a speculative effort at goal from distance which took a deflection, seeing it drop just over the bar. From the resulting corner, Callum Camps had a powerful volley held by Steve Arnold.
The hosts opened the scoring shortly after the half hour mark, when Norburn netted from the spot, after Hart has been adjudged to have brought down Okenabirhie inside the box.
The Shrews midfielder struck his penalty low into the bottom corner of the net.
Okenabirhie sent a powerful effort wide from the edge of the area just moments later, but Rochdale ensured they’d go in level at the break, as Inman netted in added time.
Stephen Dooley’s ball found Inman who took a touch before finishing beyond Arnold from the edge of the area.
End to end at times during the second half, Rochdale came from behind to take the lead just before the hour, when Williams netted his first EFL goal. After having an initial effort blocked, he made no mistake in striking past Arnold on the follow up.
The hosts drew level six minutes later, and despite big appeals for offside, Okenabirhie’s finish from close range stood.
Dale’s first substitution of the match came soon after, with goal scorer Inman making way for David Perkins.
Shrewsbury went on to regain the lead with 72 minutes on the clock, as Norburn’s strike from distance took a wicked deflection, taking it past Norman in the Rochdale goal.
A double change was made seven minutes later, as Aaron Wilbraham and Matty Done replaced Williams and Hart.
Before the game was out, Andrew hit past the post from 20-yards, while Camps struck a speculative effort wide of the target from range and Shrews substitute Abo Eisa hit high over the bar.