Dale bouncing back from Shots defeat
RYAN East says Dale will be working hard to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat at Aldershot Town when they play host to Dagenham & Redbridge today.
In their first match for three weeks, Dale suffered a 3-1 defeat at the EBB Stadium as The Shots moved into the play-off places at the expense of Jim Mcnulty’s men, who slipped down to ninth.
East admitted last weekend’s performance wasn’t good enough but insists there’s a desire to put it right next time out.
“We’re disappointed,” East commented.
“We know as a group that we weren’t good enough. I don’t want to make too many excuses, but three weeks is a long time [without a game]. We maybe needed a break, but it was a bit longer than anticipated, with the games being called off.
“It disrupted what we were doing, but it’s a game of football. We know we have to play better than that if we’re going to win games.
“The fight in the team, I don’t think anyone can question that. We’ve shown that all season, on limited numbers, we’ve fought for each other and got results. It’s going to be no different.
“We don’t like letting the fans, the gaffer or the staff down. A week on the training ground will be good, and we’ll work hard to put it right throughout the week.
“We’ll be listening to what the gaffer says in meetings and on the training pitch, and we’ll try to put things right.
“Our home form has been really good.
“We’ve not conceded a goal and haven’t lost at home for a while. We’ll be aiming to keep that going.”
Dale return to the Crown Oil Arena this afternoon looking to maintain that home form against the Daggers. ●●MICHAEL Afuye got 84 minutes under his belt on Saturday as he started for Guiseley AFC.
The winger, who is on loan from Dale, was making his second appearance for the Lions in the Northern Premier League Premier Division fixture.
Guiseley looked like they were going to take a point at home against Macclesfield Town, but conceded in the 83rd minute to lose 2-1.
That result leaves the Lions in seventh place, just one below the Silkmen. Andy Welsh’s men do have a game in hand on Macclesfield and are only two points behind the Cheshire side.
Worksop Town are also level on points with Macclesfield and have played the same amount of games as them, meaning that Guiseley still have plenty to play for in their remaining 17 games.
Afuye will be hoping to feature again in the Lions’ next game, which is against league leaders Radcliffe Borough this afternoon.
●●DALE’S Youth Team were beaten 4-1 at Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Youth Alliance League at the weekend.
Leo Cooper scored Dale’s only goal of the game.
That result now means that Bolton have extended the gap between themselves and Dale to seven points.
Despite that, Lee Thorpe’s side still sit sixth with two games in hand on the Trotters.
Next up for the Youth Team is a home game against league leaders Accrington Stanley today.
Rochdale Women exited the Lanc Lancashire County Cup on Sunday after Lee Atkinson’s side were beaten by Wigan in the last eight.
The Lactics were unbeaten prior to Sunday, leading their league by claiming maximum points in their opening eight games.
Unfortunately for Dale, Wigan continued their unstoppable form, beating Dale 10-1.
Shannon Gill scored the only goal for Lee Atkinson’s side, who exit the competition at the quarter-final stage.
Dale will be wanting to bounce back tomorrow against Atherton Laburnum Rovers Ladies in the quarter-final of the Women’s Challenge Cup.