Dominance is undermined by sucker punches
Get ruthless in both boxes call from Kelly
ROCHDALE twice fell victim to the sucker punch in a contest where they should have been out of sight by half time.
Positives first – Dale were superb at times, especially in the first half when their game was full of attacking intent, purposeful play and inventive passing.
They scored twice in the opening 45 minutes – but in between the goals they conceded one to a side who spent virtually the whole opening period on the ropes inviting the knockout blow.
It wasn’t delivered and after Stevenage manager Robbie O’keefe switched formation at the break, they competed on a more even footing in the second period, levelling the scores just two minutes in.
The home side had taken the lead after five minutes, Liam Kelly’s corner nodded into the mix by Corey O’keeffe, flicked on by Jimmy Keohane and turned home by frontman Jake Beesley.
Another fine move forward saw the ball worked to Alex Newby on the edge of the area but he fired over the bar, within a minute Newby was on target but this time his stinging shot was blocked by the legs of a defender.
Andrews headed on to Beesley at the back post and he had time to pick his spot – unfortunately, in attempting to steer his header wide of Adam Smith and inside the far post he directed his effort across the face of goal and narrowly wide.
Having utterly dominated the opening 25 minutes, Dale were dealt a body blow in the 27th minute when Stevenage levelled. The visitors pounced when Kelly lost the ball just inside in his own half, Elliot Osborne making him pay with a superb pass to send Elliott List sprinting towards goal and he slammed a decisive finish wide of Lynch.
Parity was short-lived as Dale’s dominance continued and produced a second goal in the 35th minute. O’keeffe was involved again, this time sending a curling delivery in behind the retreating Stevenage backline where Josh Andrews poked the ball against the post before scrambling it past Smith from close range.
Keohane was forced off with injury soon after, with Stephen Dooley switching to wing back and Conor Grant taking his place in the midfield.
The visitors had the occasional break forward at pace but never troubled Lynch and it was Dale who closed the half the dominant force they’d been pretty much throughout the first 45 minutes.
Before the break, Kelly and Andrews linked up well before the former fired over the top while Smith gathered a near post delivery from O’keeffe with Andrews’ considerable presence lurking.
The visitors were no doubt relieved to get in at the break trailing by just one goal.
Dale were straight back at it after the interval, Dooley sending a dangerous delivery across the face of goal.
But they were quickly pegged back, yet again by an all-too-simple goal for Stevenage. Andrews was robbed of possession and Stevenage worked the ball up the right flank, Jake Reeves sending a pass over the top for List to chase and he out-muscled Taylor in the penalty area, sidestepped Lynch and stroked home into the unguarded goal.
The goal offered Stevenage hope of actually winning the game. Jeriel Dorsett was in the right place to clear Osborne’s effort off the line as the visitors started to show more ambition and the game became stretched.
Reeves’ raking crossfield pass was collected by Jamie Reid and he tested Lynch with a fierce low drive.
Dale came back with Newby feeding Andrews and his shot on the turn flew the wrong side of the upright.
An even better chance followed – Andrews holding the ball up with his back to goal eight yards out fed O’keeffe and he passed up a great chance to score, his attempt to find the roof of Smith net ending with the ball in among supporters behind the goal at the Sandy Lane end.
Smith pulled off a terrific save to deny Andrews a second goal, diving to his left to push clear the frontman’s header.
Grant raced towards goal in the 74th minute and was just about to pull the trigger when he was brought down just outside the area, Kelly’s resulting free-kick saved by Smith.
Late Stevenage pressure saw and a firm drive from Bradley Barry that had Lynch at full stretch while Eoghan O’connell’s headed attempt from Kelly’s corner landed on the roof of the net.
Credit Stevenage for hanging in there and using List’s pace to full effect – but as the players left the field it felt like an opportunity missed for the home side.
LIAM Kelly believes Rochdale are finding the kind of rhythm sure to deliver winning results – providing they become more ruthless in both boxes.
The 26-year-old midfielder is coming into a fine run of form from a personal perspective having missed out on much of pre-season.
And he reckons the team as a whole are not far off hitting top note.
“Everyone was down (after Tuesday’s 2-2 draw) but we know how well we played and we know Exeter had been on a decent run of form so it will be another tough game but we can take positives from the games against Stevenage and Walsall, we know we are playing well as a team, we have good rhythm in the team and we’re looking forward to it,” he said. “The gaffer likes to dominate the ball and we have players who can do that.
“Everyone enjoys having the ball and Tuesday showed how well we can play – now it’s just about developing that ruthless edge in both boxes, scoring and defending.
“If you look at their goals it was very disappointing to concede two similar goals. So we have to be more ruthless in both boxes because in between the boxes I don’t think there are many teams better in the league.
“It was a point in the end but it felt like a loss, it felt more than just the two points dropped.
“We had 26 shots and I think the encouraging thing is we are creating chances, if we weren’t it would be something to look at but it’s just about putting them away, killing games off early and not letting teams back into it.”
Kelly was voted player of the month for October and man of the match on Tuesday but insists the team takes priority over personal accolades.
“It’s always nice to be recognised from the outside but for me it’s all about doing my job for the team,” he said.
“I came in late into pre-season and it was tough to get going.
“I knew how hard I had to work because with the players we have in here it’s hard to get into the team. Once I’d got in I had to work even harder to keep my place. But I’m just enjoying my football and playing matches.”