Dale rise to test
ROCHDALE twice came from behind to eventually earn comfortable passage into the second round of the competition.
While the final scoreline suggested otherwise, the home side did not have things their own way for much of this contest.
For the first hour of what was an entertaining clash, stubborn Bolton provided a real test for Brian Barry-Murphy’s side, one they are sure to benefit from in the long run.
Their faith and patience in the new playing system was put to the test when Wanderers twice took the lead, particularly so when, two minutes into the second period, they edged ahead at 2-1. But a Dale held true and with a couple of telling substitutions, their superiority eventually told.
Much was made about how the majority of Bolton’s line-up was made up of their under 23 squad, sprinkled with experience – but that’s par for the course at Rochdale and on the night BBM’s squad contained 12 players aged 23 or under, including five Academy graduates and a 16-year-old starter in Luke Matheson.
After containing Bolton’s initial enthusiasm, Dale’s patient passing game started to take hold of the contest.
Callum Camps’ pass inside the fullback sent Rhys Norrington-Davies into the penalty area but he opted to square the ball rather than chance his arm with a shot across the boughs of Remi Matthews and in doing so was denied by a timely tackle which deflected off the Dale man and behind.
Matt Done’s volleyed attempt was saved by Matthews and just as it
seemed the home side were taking control, Bolton hit them with a sucker punch on 14 minutes.
Ronan Darcy’s low drive from 25 yards didn’t appear to have the power to beat Robert Sanchez, who seemed to slip as he launched into a dive, the ball running wide of the Dale keeper and into the bottom corner of the net.
Sanchez was then forced to make a superb save at full-stretch to deny Dennis Politic after good approach play from James Weir as Bolton’s confidence soared.
But Dale levelled on 26 minutes when Camps was fouled by Yoan Zouma as he collected MJ Williams’ lofted pass into the area, Ian Henderson comfortably stroking home the resulting spot kick.
The home side were almost ahead seven minutes later when Done sent a thunderous drive over Matthews but his shot thumped against the crossbar.
And the woodwork was struck again when Jim McNulty rose to send a looping header at target, the crossbar once again proving Matthews’ ally.
There was a half chance for Henderson before the interval, but his attempted backheeled finish did not quite come off as intended and the teams went in level at the break.
Bolton regained the lead two minutes into the second period.
Politic was beaten in a chase to the corner for a loose ball by debutant Tyler Magloire, but the on-loan Blackburn defender had his pocket picked, Politic nicking the ball off him and advancing into the area before slamming a shot past Sanchez.
Having fallen behind for the second time on the night, this was now becoming a test of Dale’s faith in the system BarryMurphy has implemented, based as it is around patience.
And they breezed through that test, keeping their cool and sticking to the gameplan.
Dale’s second equaliser came in the 65th minute courtesy of substitute Rekeil Pyke, who had only just entered the fray when