Home form doesn’t travel well for Dale
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ROCHDALE fell to defeat on the road on Good Friday, following a narrow 1-0 loss away at Stevenage.
Scott Cuthburt’s goal, three minutes after the break, proved to be the difference between the two sides at the Lamex.
There was one change to the side that lined-up against Walsall last weekend, as Jimmy Keohane came in for Liam Kelly.
Stevenage’s Ben Coker had an early free-kick held by Jay Lynch, in a half where clear cut opportunities were at premium for either side.
From a short corner routine, Keohane then had a looping header held from Max Clark’s ball into the box.
Soon after, there was some good defending by Jeriel Dorsett to step across Elliott List and defend out for a throw-in, after the forward had got in on goal.
Captain Eoghan O’connell clipped a ball to Clark, who sent delivery low across the face of goal, but with no-one there to get a decisive touch to turn it home, the dangerous ball dropped just wide.
Luke Charman then screwed a header wide from Corey O’keeffe’s cross, while Boro’s Jake Taylor struck wide of the upright.
Shortly after the half hour, Conor Grant hit Stevenage on the break and travelled up the middle of the pitch at pace before having a low shot from 25-yards held by Christy
Pym. The Stevenage stopper then held Danny Cashman’s curling effort, soon after.
Grant saw a header drop wide of the far post from Clark’s inswinging corner, before a Boro chance went begging in stoppage time.
From a dangerous ball across the face of goal, List came charging in at the back post but couldn’t get a touch on the ball to take it beyond Lynch, and the sides went in level at the break.
The hosts opened the scoring three minutes after the start, when Cuthbert headed home from Arthur Read’s corner, finding the top corner.
Rochdale enjoyed plenty of the ball after going behind, but they were unable to find a way past the resolute Boro side who looked content to sit back and defend their lead. The first change of the game came in the 67th minute, as Cashman made way for Josh Andrews.
Soon after, Charman saw his header from Clark’s ball to the back post deflected inches wide.
With Dale pushing forward, Stevenage’s James Daly got in on goal, striking across the face of goal and narrowly wide of the upright.
Two further substitutions followed, with Abraham Odoh replacing O’keeffe and Matty Done coming on for Clark.
Late on, Rochdale had a shot defended off the line before having a penalty shout turned down.
Grant had a first time shot turned round the upright on the line as the ball looked to sneak in at the post. From the resulting corner, Paul Downing was bundled over inside the area but the referee was quick to wave away the appeals.
And Boro stood firm to see out the rest of the game and claim victory.