High-flyers are second best to impressive Dale
ROCHDALE signed off from League Two duties for 10 days with a fine performance and a decent result against high-flying Exeter City.
With an icy wind whistling through the rafters of the Crown Oil Arena throughout Saturday, conditions were always going to be difficult for both teams.
But if either of the teams on show looked like a title-chasing outfit, it was the home side rather than the visiting Grecians, who started the day in second spot.
Robbie Stockdale suggested as much after the game and was spot on – he also felt his side had done enough to win the game. Again, difficult to argue against.
With Alex Newby unavailable, Stockdale was forced to shuffle the pack and opted for formation which saw Abraham Odoh employed as left wingback, a role in which he shone.
Dale bossed the first half and, not for the first time this season, went in at the break ruing the fact their superiority was not reflected in the scoreline.
They created the first opening of the game in the ninth minute when a delicious pass down the right flank from Corey O’keeffe sent Josh Andrews clear. His clipped cross was too deep for Jake Beesley, but Odoh collected and teed up Conor Grant for a shot – his effort blocked on its way to goal, as was Aaron Morley’s follow up attempt.
A sweeping crossfield pass from O’keeffe set Dale on the way again in the 15th minute, Odoh again teeing up Grant and once again the Exeter defence were in the way of his goalbound effort.
When an Exeter move broke downon 24 minutes, Liam Kelly shifted the ball through midfield into Morley’s feet and he expertly picked out the run of Beesley only for the striker’s angled drive to be charged down by Alex Hartridge. From the corner that followed, Andrews was narrowly wide with a snapshot on the volley.
Dale had a golden opportunity to take the lead on the half hour when they were awarded a spot kick, Josh Key having taken Grant’s legs from beneath him after the Dale man had cleverly checked back in the area. Beesley stepped up to take the penalty and sent Scott Brown the wrong way only see the ball strike the foot of the post and run across the face of goal before the visitors were able to scramble clear.
Jay Lynch’s first real action of the day came soon after the penalty when he blocked an Archie Collins shot but still the chances came for Dale; Andrews, through on goal, shot tamely at Brown and a smart turn and run into the area from Grant deserved better.
Matt Jay tested Lynch with a well-struck effort from just inside the area early in the second half while Andrews and Odoh linked up well on the edge of the Exeter area with the latter seeing a deflected shot run just wide.
Exeter, who improved with the wind at their backs in the second half, took the lead in the 59th minute. Jay floated a delivery into the area and George Ray – forward for a long throw-in from Hartridge which started the attack – climbed highest to guide a header wide of Lynch.
The Dale goalkeeper plucked a fierce volley from Jay out of the air before the home side settled again and started to reapply pressure to the Exeter backline, Grant seeing a shot saved from a tight angle.
When the equaliser came it was from a most unexpected source – a rocket from the edge of the area by Max Taylor in the 69th minute. After patient build up play from Grant and Andrews, Morley teed up the defender to rifle home from 25 yards.
Smith’s goal led a charmed life again as a thumping drive from Andrews smacked against the woodwork, while at the other end Padraig Amond was one-on-one with Lynch, the goalkeeper winning the duel with a superb stop. Exeter manager Matt Taylor admitted a late winner would have been more than his side deserved – it would indeed.