Shay point fills boss with pride
JIMMY Mcnulty praised his players and the travelling supporters after Rochdale picked up a point at FC Halifax Town on Saturday.
Dale drew 2-2 at The Shay, with goals from Ian Henderson and Jimmy Keohane coming either side of Halifax’s four-minute double.
Head coach Mcnulty felt his side were wronged by some officiating but praised them for their response to going behind.
“I thought it was an amazing game – very, very entertaining,” said Mcnulty.
“Both teams gave it a go in the different ways that we play. I’ve got massive respect for them and I think they have for us.
“It’s a result that is difficult to take, based on what I’ve seen from the officials. It’s something I try to avoid, but the first goal was one of the most difficult I’ve watched. He’s not half-a-yard or a yard, he’s six metres offside.
“It changed the flow of the game and before I knew it, it was 2-1. There was an amazing travelling support which lifted us, but I have to commend the players, driven on by the fans, for finding the strength to come back.
“We lost bravery when we went 1-0 up and allowed Halifax back into the game. The players were wrong by a decision and lost either courage or clarity, and I didn’t like us at that stage in the game. We reset and found courage, took a point of out of the game.
“We had some fantastic breakaways in the secondhalf, Hendo hit the post, Cam John had the chance after the one-two in and around the area. The officials had a massive impact on the game, but all-in-all, the performance built excitement for the club’s Boxing Day game at home to AFC Fylde.
“I think the club have put on a fantastic initiative, which is why we’ve seen a brilliant level in uptake of tickets for the game. I’m really excited for it.”
There was one change to the starting line-up from last weekend’s goalless draw against York City.
Finlay Armstrong, who joined on a month’s loan deal from Fleetwood Town, announced earlier in the day, came straight into the team, replacing the injured Adam Clayton.
Armstrong joined up with the squad during the week and started at leftback, with Cameron John starting in midfield, where he played the majority of the game against York.
Dale worked themselves into some good crossing positions early on, and after a few attempts that were dealt with by the hosts, they couldn’t prevent the opener.
Keohane broke into the area and laid the ball for Jesurun Uchegbulam, who crossed to the back post area..
Tyrese Sinclair leaped to get something on it under pressure from two defenders, with the ball falling for Henderson who slammed home his 144th Dale goal.
The hosts responded well and forced Louie Moulden into action twice from close-range headers, but there was nothing the goalkeeper could do prevent Aaron Cosgrave’s equaliser, when he turned home a low cross from six yards.
The Shaymen took the lead four minutes later, when Moulden has judged to have brought down Max Wright in the area. Jamie Stott stepped up and converted to complete the turnaround ten minutes before the break.
There were a few halfchances for either side early on in the second period, before Dale levelled matters midway through the period.
The hosts’ attempts to build from the back were thwarted by Keohane, who stole it high and drove into the area, skipped past a defender, and finished low with his left foot.
The Shaymen had a
great opportunity to restore their leads minutes later when Jamie Cooke dispossessed Ethan Ebanks-landell on the edge of the Dale area but he rolled his effort wide with Moulden scrambling across his goal.
Dale then had a great chance of their own
moments afterwards. Harvey Gilmour, facing his former club, found Uchegbulam with a great through ball, who fired a cross into Henderson. He controlled well but fired his effort off the upright.
Debutant Armstrong flashed one narrowly wide from 25-yards, before the opponents almost got in a couple of occasions but for excellent defending from Ebanks-landell and Gilmour.
Moulden was called into action again in added time, saving the ball on the line after a low cross was diverted goal wards.