Dale hold out for
ROCHDALE held out for a goalless draw at the Racecourse Ground to secure a replay against Wrexham.
Dale were comfortable on the ball throughout the tie but rarely tested Rob Lainton in the Dragons’ goal; Wrexham by contrast twice hitting the woodwork and being denied by a series of good saves by Dale stopper Robert Sanchez, while also spurning a litany of good chances carved out.
Dale arrived at the Racecourse with two former Wrexham players in their starting XI.
Rekeil Pyke, who was first brought to the Dragons by Dean Keates during his first spell in charge, and Matty Done either side of an attacking front three for the visitors.
For Dale, Paul McShane was ruled out, meaning MJ Williams dropping into the centre of defence and Jimmy Ryan coming in to take his place in midfield. Goalkeeper Sanchez returned from injury with Jay Lynch on the bench.
Pyke wasted a good chance for the visitors inside the opening 10 minutes as he delayed on the ball after getting the better of Jake Lawlor, allowing James Jennings and then Carrington to get back and cover, albeit the ball only finding Aaron Morley to cross for Jimmy Keohane who hit a first time volley that was easily dealt with by Rob Lainton.
That chance coming a few minutes after Wrexham should have taken the lead themselves, Ben Tollitt taking advantage of a mix up between Eoghan O’Connell and MJ Williams to find space in the Dale box only to drag his effort disappointingly wide of the mark.
Tollitt went even closer moments later, embarking on a mazy run after being sent free by Akil Wright’s flick, and unleashing a wicked effort that cannoned back off the corner of the post and bar.
Dale were looking comfortable in possession, but Wrexham were more than matching their higher league visitors, but needed to survive an anxious moment as a free kick from Aaron Morley was narrowly the wrong side of the post, Lainton scrambling to make his ground had the ball been on target.
Callum Camps flicked an effort way over the top of Lainton’s bar as the Dale moved the ball quickly to create space, before Bobby Grant fired a free kick tamely into the hands of Robert Sanchez, the Dragons’ striker looking to pick out a runner to the near post with his delivery.
Rochdale had claims of a penalty waved away by referee Trevor Kettle as the ball seemed to leap up at Luke Young before the midfielder could clear his lines from Camps’ header back across goal, before Carrington made a perfectly timed tackle to halt a flying Ian Henderson from getting a sight of Lainton’s goal.
The visitors had looked comfortable without really testing the Dragons in the opening half, and that seemed to give Wrexham a sense of impetus after the interval, Keates’ side going close with a number of good chances in the opening exchanges.
First Jennings needed to be alert to head an Ian Henderson cross away as the striker raced clear following a mistake by Jake Lawlor, before the Dragons gained the upperhand in proceedings.
Grant should have at the very least tested Sanchez in the Dale goal with a volley he sent disappointingly wide from close range after being sent clear by an excellent flick from the busy Paul Rutherford before Mark Harris, sent on at the interval in place of Tollitt, fired inches over the bar with a volley as he reached Jennings’ deep cross.
Jennings headed just over the top as he reached Carrington’s cross, while Wrexham also saw two