Dale dealt blow
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ASTOPPAGE time own goal saw Rochdale succumb to a late defeat in the Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday night, as Port Vale emerged as 1-0 victors from the group stage tie.
It looked like the game would head to penalties until the home side took the lead three minutes into added time in fortuitous circumstances, a cross from the right evading Jim Mcnulty’s attempted clearance and striking the knee of Max Taylor, facing his own goal just five yards out and able to do little about the ball creeping over the line into Jay Lynch’s net.
There were nine changes to the side that lined-up against Bradford City at the weekend, as manager Robbie Stockdale made wholesale changes for the match.
The first half was played out in terrible conditions, as strong, blustery winds and heavy rain battered Vale Park.
Rochdale came close to taking the lead five minutes into the game but were denied by the woodwork.
After Conor Grant and Liam Kelly combined on the right, the latter delivered into the area and Jimmy Keohane saw his strike on the volley come crashing back off the post. The rebound fell to Alex Newby, who struck over the bar.
The Valiants had a couple of half-chances as the game progressed but good defending by Mcnulty kept them at bay. He firstly turned a dangerous low ball into the area behind for a corner, before getting a block on George Lloyd’s powerful effort from inside the box.
Lynch then had to be on hand to punch away
Danny Amos’ awkward swirling strike from the edge of the area, after it got held up in the wind.
Ten minutes before the break, the home side were denied on the line by Mcnulty, as he made a goal saving clearance to keep out Mal Benning’s back post header.
Soon after, George Broadbent then latched onto a ball over the top and attempted to pull it back across goal at the byline, but Aidan Stone got down well to hold at his feet.
And in stoppage time Lloyd was through oneon-one with Lynch, but Aidan White got back to put in a last ditch tackle to dispossess him and the chance was gone.
Weather conditions eased for the the start of the second half, as the rain subsided, although the wind still proved problematic.
Three minutes after the restart Matty Done was in on goal, when Newby sent him through one-on-one with Stone, but after being pushed wide, the ‘keeper pulled off a strong save to divert his shot wide, once he got his shot away from a tight angle.
A minute later Done fired narrowly wide of the upright as he got in again.
Port Vale grew into the second half but still neither side could break the deadlock.
After substitute Lewis Cass delivered a low ball into the area from right, Lloyd came bundling in at pace to meet it but could only turn it wide.
Lynch then got behind Dennis Politic’s powerful free-kick from 25-yards to hold well.
Rochdale’s first substitution of the game followed in the 64th minute, as Corey O’keeffe made way for Jeriel Dorsett.
The Valiants should have been ahead in the 73rd minute but they squandered the opportunity. After David Amoo got up the right, he delivered low across the face of goal but Benning, somehow, couldn’t turn it home from two-yards.
Three minutes later, Benning was denied by the post as he curled an effort from a corner off the far upright.