Imps hit back to
AN 86th minute equaliser denied Rochdale all three points against Lincoln City on Tuesday night – though even the most blinkered of home supporters would have been hard pushed to deny the visitors deserved their share of the spoils.
It was the preverbial game of two halves, the first period belonging to Dale, second very much Lincoln’s.
Stephen Dooley had given Dale an early lead in the opening period, but Harry Toffolo’s cross from the left four minutes from time – possible touched home by Tyler Walker – nestled in the far corner to earn the visitors a point.
Brian Barry-Murphy made one change from Saturday’s game at Peterborough United, with Ollie Rathbone replacing Aaron Morley in midfield.
The home side came into the contest on the back of a 6-0 drubbing at Peterborough at the weekend, but there was little to suggest their confidence had taken a knock in what was a bright opening.
Dale had Lincoln on the back foot from the off, } Callum Camps seeing a decent shout for a penalty turned away, Dooley’s shot blocked and a fine run from Rathbone ending with a rising drive which flew narrowly wide.
It came as no great surprise when Dooley broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, pouncing on a spill from Lincoln goalkeeper Josh Vickers, who couldn’t keep hold of Callum Camps’ turn and shot. Dooley fired goalwards, finding the back of the net via a slight deflection.
With Lincoln struggling to get a foothold in the contest, Dale pushed for a second and went desperately close when
Rekeil Pyke blasted into the side netting after Camps saw a shot blocked.
Vickers later held on to a well-struck effort from Dooley.
The visitors gradually came into the match, though their only effort of note in the first period was an ambitious free-kick from Jason Shackell, who fired well over.
Rhys NorringtonDavies sent an effort wide whilst Camps had a deflected effort spilled, but collected at the second attempt by the visiting stopper, Lincoln relieved to get to the interval with just a one-goal deficit to make up.
Credit to Jamie McCombe, the Imps’ caretaker boss, who successfully devised a plan to quieten Dale’s threat and increase Lincoln’s output going forward.
The visitors created the majority of chances in the second period, with Robert Sánchez holding well to an effort from Bruno Andrade, before the Lincoln man’s low ball across the face of goal somehow missed everyone.
Sánchez then produced a fine one-handed save to beat away Jack Payne’s dipping effort, before he and Eoghan O’Connell combined to block another effort from Panye, this time from close range.
The Dale stopper held on to Joe Morrell’s dipping effort, shortly after Jimmy Keohane had fired off target from distance.
With four minutes of normal time remaining, the visitors grabbed an equaliser, when Toffolo’s superb delivery from the left found its way in at the far post – McCombe said after the game that Walker was claiming the goal having got the feintest of touches – but that took nothing away from Toffolo’s contribution.
Morell saw another dipping effort comfortably held in three minutes of added time as both sides tried to create a winning opportunity, but ultimately had to settle for a point apiece.