Davies double
DEPLETED though their ranks undoubtedly are, Rochdale had more than enough to ease past Maidstone at the second attempt with a routine victory at the Crown Oil Arena.
On slick pitch which suited their up-tempo passing game, Dale raced out of the blocks with great intent and, by Stones’ boss Jay Saunders’ own admission, caught the National League side by surprise.
There very were few holes to pick in what was a thoroughly professional performance – perhaps the fact a third goal eluded them could be cited as one area for improvement.
There was a brief spell at the start of the second half and towards the end of the when Maidstone threw caution to the wind and created a couple of potentially dangerous scenarios which could have yielded something. A foothold in the game would have been a travesty in truth, for Dale had been far superior.
But the third goal which would have taken the contest beyond all reasonable doubt never came, despite several good opportunities.
But criticism of such a positive display – especially in the circumstances, with the club enduring a torrid run of injuries, suspension and international call-ups – would be churlish and in the end the home side were good value for the win.
The visitors were back in the north west for the second time in four days, their last trip ending in a 3-2 defeat against Southport. Stones boss Jay Saunders shook things up by making four changes to his starting line-up while injuries and suspensions limited Dale boss Keith Hill’s ability to tinker with his team following their 4-0 loss at Bradford at the weekend.
Seth Nana Twumasi had the first half chance of the game during an untidy opening from both sides, the Maidstone fullback flashing a first-time effort narrowly over the crossbar from 20 yards.
The home side had claims for a penalty waved away by referee Nigel Miller in the ninth minute when Steven Davies’ shot was deflected into the path of Joe Thompson and the Dale man went down under a challenge from Kevin Lokko.
There was more brave defending from the National League side when Twumasi brilliantly cleared Joe Rafferty’s cross from beneath his own crossbar. But there was no halting the Rochdale tide and Hill’s men edged ahead in the 14th minute, Rafferty’s delivery touched home by Davies from close range.
Davies should have had a second within minutes when met Reuben NobleLazarus’ centre only to volley over the top with Lee Worgan’s goal at his mercy.
But Davies had his second of the night in the 22nd minute when Dale were awarded a spot kick, Bobby-Joe Taylor having been penalised for a tug on Joe Bunney’s shirt as the left-back raced to the byline. Davies calmly stroked the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of Worgan’s goal with the keeper diving the opposite direction.
Davies, on a hat-trick inside 20 minutes, was close to a third when Callum Camps picked him out with a delicious lofted pass, the striker just failing to connect with his attempted flicked finish.
Worgan then denied him when Davies fired towards the near post after more good work from Rafferty down the right.
Before the interval Noble-Lazarus drilled an effort inches wide of the upright and the only blot on Dale’s copybook was a