Stanley frustrated on Coley’s Rochdale return
SKY BET LEAGUE ONE JOSH COOK
STANLEY recorded their second defeat in as many matches on Saturday when Ian Henderson scored the only goal of the game in what was a scrappy affair at Spotland in freezing November temperatures.
The Dale Skipper’s 11th of the campaign came just after the hour and John Coleman’s men were made to pay for wasting first half chances whilst in the ascendancy.
Dan Barlaser looked to set the tone immediately from kick off, striding past Henderson in the centre circle he continued his run to see Josh Lillis tip his effort just wide after only 20 seconds.
The resulting corner produced a goal mouth scramble with Rochdale just managing to clear their lines and the 640 travelling fans who had made the short trip from Accrington found their voice.
Rochdale hit back, Joe Rafferty forced a block from Mark Hughes minutes later in the Stanley box.
This was a sign of things to come in the first half with both teams creating ample chances, Stanley just edging it over their Greater Manchester counterparts.
Both Jordan Clarke and Nick Anderton had shots just wide of the post for the Reds, whilst Stanley were causing havoc from set pieces in the air.
It wasn’t all one way and Connor Ripley gathered a header from the hosts whilst Brad Inman will be disappointed not to have done better in front of goal.
Then, Billy Kee should have opened the scoring in front of the Rochdale singing terrace. Jordan Clark found space in the middle and spooned his weak shot into the backtracking defenders.
It took all by surprise, no least Billy Kee who unexpectedly found the ball pushed into his direction. 12 yards out he could only find Lillis who saved well to his righthand side.
The follow up could have gone anywhere, unfortunately for Stanley, it hit the keeper once more and was booted away from danger.
As half time approached, Callum Johnson set Offrande Zanzala away on the right-hand side of the box. His hopeful cross found an otherwise quiet Sean McConville.
The winger’s cute touch meant he had the keeper to beat at a very tight angle, and Lillis once again came out the victor to send the teams in at half time goalless.
Barlaser had more shots deflected when the teams emerged but it never really looked like Stanley would find the breakthrough.
Zanzala headed just over before the hour in what would be the last real chance of the game for Accrington.
On 63 minutes the home side broke through. The ball was floated in from a corner and met by Henderson at the near post, nestling in the bottom of the net to the dismay of Ripley.
Stanley will be disappointed to concede from a set piece as the hosts had yet to offer much from open play during the second period.
Sam Finley was introduced in an effort to shake things up for Stanley after the goal.
The best he could muster was a well met effort that went inches over the crossbar in what was a disappointing last 30 minutes for the men in red.
The away side couldn’t find any breakthrough as Rochdale held firm and stomped out any sign of a comeback.
It made for a frustrating return to the Crown Oil Arena for John Coleman and Jimmy Bell, who managed Dale for a year between January 2012 and 2013.