Trophy interest ends in heavy home defeat
ROCHDALE ....................... 1 GATESHEAD .................... 5
DALE were knocked out of the Isuzu FA Trophy after a 5-1 defeat against Gateshead.
Brad Kelly made his professional debut for Dale, in one of four changes from the club’s last outing at Bromley. Max Taylor, Tyrese Sinclair and Kwaku Oduroh also came in.
Jesurun Uchegbulam saw a couple of dangerous crosses turned behind for Dale corners, whilst Kelly was forced into action twice, denying two efforts from Tom Allan with his feet.
Ian Henderson, captain for the night, was inches away from opening the scoring when he headed a cross off the bar.
Adam Clayton was denied by a fine save from Harrison Bond, when his first-time strike from 25-yards was tipped over the bar, minutes before the visitors were awarded a penalty.
However, they wasted it, when Connor Mcbride fired his spot kick well over the bar.
Mcbride did make amends in added time of the first period though, when he finished off a fine Gateshead move to open the scoring.
Two goals in three second-half minutes took the game away from Dale, through Billy Chadwick and Callum Whelan.
Michael Afuye came on for Dale and saw a near post shot saved, before Sinclair pulled one back from the penalty spot for Jimmy Mcnulty’s men.
Mcnulty handed debuts to scholars Luke Mann and Isaac Burgess, who both equipped themselves well, but two stoppage time goals from Heed substitute Marcus Dinanga turned it into a scoreline that was harsh on Dale.
B Kelly, Oduroh, Taylor, Nevett, Keohane, Clayton (71’ Mann), Gilmour, Sinclair (77’ Burgess), Uchegbulam (62’ Afuye), East, Henderson. Unused subs: Moulden, John, Ebanks-landell, Edwards.
●●DALE Women have picked up six points from their opening two league games following their 2-1 win against Mancunian Unity Women Reserves on Sunday.
Georgia Cocking and Darcey Griffin scored the goals for Lee Atkinson’s side on Sunday.
With the weather causing havoc this past weekend, postponing multiple games, the Women’s game had to be moved from Rochdale St Clements to Kingsway Park High School, with the game taking place on the 3G pitch there.
Despite the challenges, Dale came away with a 2-1 win in what was only their second league fixture this season.
Their opening game was a 14-1 win against Tiki Taka Women.
Even though Lee Atkinson’s side have only played twice, they sit fourth in the table, with each team in and around
them having played twice, if not three times as many matches.
Dale are in quarter-final action tomorrow (Sunday 17th December) as they face Athletico Middleton Ladies in the League Premier Cup.