Cutting edge proves the difference

ROCHDALIANS travelled to Kings Road to face reigning champions Whalley Range without the services of three strikers and eventually this cost them dearly as they were narrowly edged out of a closelyfought contest by the odd goal in three.

The visitors were forced to adapt from their usual 4-4-2 formation and set up with a five-man midfield with skipper Davey Luker as the lone striker.

The first half saw Rochdalians play the better football, particularly down the left flank where midfield men Darren Hedderman and Liam Murray linked well with Luker to create several opportunities.

Murray had the first chance, following a nice interchange of passes but his low shot lacked the pace needed to really test the keeper.

In the 22nd minute Dalians’ intelligent football was rewarded when Lee Kershaw slipped a lovely ball between the two centre-halves for Luker to run onto.

He calmly rounded the keeper and sidefooted home to open the scoring.

Range responded and threw a number of long balls and corners into the Dalians’ penalty area but were repelled with a display of resilient defending from the visitors.

Rochdalians had two more good chances to increase their lead before half-time with Murray’s low shot being saved and then he headed just wide following a free kick when he should have hit the target.

Rochdalians went in at half-time with a well deserved but narrow lead.

Whalley Range came out for the restart in determined fashion and threw everything they had at Rochdalians who were unable to retain possession like they had done in the first half.

Despite the mounting pressure the visitors organised defence denied Range any clear scoring opportunities.

The game changed dramatically in the space of eight minutes with Range scoring two goals, which were the result of two errors from Rochdalians.

In the 67th minute a good move from Dalians ended with a careless pass.

Range cleared the ball long, which led to hesitation for the first time in the visiting back four, and the ball was bundled home for the equaliser.

This lifted the Whalley Range players and they continued to press.

Minutes later they forced what proved to be the winning goal when a low cross into the box was intercepted by Michael Barker who should have cleared first time.

Instead he chose to beat an opposing striker but was then body checked and a supporting Range striker sidefooted home with the referee choosing to ignore the foul.

The final 15 minutes saw Rochdalians look for an equaliser but the closest they came saw full-back Callum Whitehead volley agonisingly wide with the keeper beaten.

The final result was harsh on Rochdalians who deserved to come away with a share of the spoils.

Next week they are on their travels again as they face newly promoted Parrs Wood Celtic in Stockport, kick off 2.30pm.