Front-foot Dale fail to finish off the Minstermen
ROCHDALE ....................... 0 YORK CITY ....................... 0
ROCHDALE fans were left wondering how their team failed to claim three points from a game which they dominated from start to finish.
The second half resembled a training ground exercise of attack and defence; Dale on the offensive, the visitors making infrequent visits into their opponents half.
The hosts, when they upped the tempo caused the York defence all kinds of problems particularly out wide.
However, the final pass and the inability to convert chances illustrating the problems facing Jim Mcnulty’s men with Ian Henderson the only recognised striker on the team-sheet. He as always gave his all, had a couple of efforts ruled out for offside but badly needed support with absence of the injured Kairo Mitchell clearly evident.
The major positive to take from the game was a clean sheet, very welcome after shipping five in their previous encounter with Gateshead.
The home crowd drew a sharp intake of breath with just 30 seconds on the clock when keeper Louie Moulden was at full stretch to turn Olly Dyson’s speculative volley over the bar.
Dale were stirred into action as Tyrese Sinclair’s trickery made space out wide but he was unable to find a man.
The ball was half cleared and Ethan Ebanks-landell’s long-range effort was blocked.
Dale’s injury woes continued as influential midfielder Adam Clayton limped from the field in the 17th minute, replaced by Kwaku Oduroh.
The home team continued to press and Ebankslandell was upended in the box, his claim for a penalty was waved away by referee David Macnamara and the Dale captain was booked for simulation. It seemed harsh and perhaps the exaggerated fall influenced his decision.
Ryan East then played in Henderson but once again the latter’s cross was cut out. York broke from deep leaving Dyson in a one-to-one with Moulden, who saved superbly.
York again went close as Callum Harriott’s curling effort skimmed the far post.
The final action of the half saw Ebanks-landell head over from a corner no doubt wondering where the next goal was coming from.
It was more of the same after the break.
Sinclair tried his luck from 25 yards, before being sent clear on the left by Ryan East’s incisive pass, he cut inside but his shot was straight into the arms of George Syke-kenworthy.
Cameron John’s brilliant ball sent Sinclair clear, is shot was blocked but looped up to Henderson who saw his header creep agonisingly wide.
On the opposite flank Jesurun Uchegbulam was equally troublesome with several fine crosses, his team-mates unable to capitalise.
Henderson was than ruled offside having chipped the keeper to score, it looked a clear cut decision.
It was shooting in for the remainder of the game as East, Sinclair, Jimmy Keohane and Henderson all trying their luck.
However, Dale wouldn’t be Dale without giving their fans a scare. It arrived in the 93rd minute when the ball somehow ricocheted off the head of Lennell John-lewis and was heading for the bottom corner. Moulden was equal to the task, a smart reaction save turning the ball around the post. It would have been “twilight-robbery”.
The resultant corner was cleared and the referee signalled an end to an entertaining and onesided contest.
This was clearly a case of two points dropped. With an iota of luck and a touch more guile around the box, victory was their for the taking.