Sluggish start proves costly in home defeat
ROCHDALE ....................... 1 2
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE
ROCHDALE paid the price for a slow start against a dogged and workmanlike Dagenham & Redbridge outfit at Spotland on Saturday.
The visitors took the initiative from the off as the home team struggled for cohesion and seemed intent on giving the ball away in key areas.
Dale paid the price when, in the ninth minute, Sam Ling sent Inih Effiong clear in a crowded penalty area and the unmarked striker’s firm shot was out of the reach of Tieran Brooks.
It was the wake-up call the hosts needed and they worked hard to establish a rhythm and up the tempo.
Cameron John and Jimmy Keohane combined well on the right, the latter skinned his opposite number but his cross evaded his teammates.
It was to be the story of the day as cross after cross failed to bring a positive result. Even a bad mistake by Dagenham keeper Elliot Justham when he failed to control a back pass went unpunished as a lack of composure saw the chance go begging.
Dale were well on top but a lack of guile and an inability to pick out the front-runners saw few chances created.
Tyrese Sinclair gave a hint of what was to come as he cut in from the left only to see his shot blocked.
Undeterred, five minutes before the break he tried his luck again curling a superb shot into the top corner, Justham given no chance.
It was just the tonic the home team needed, a goal just before the break. However, the good work was undone four minutes into injury time when referee Sam Mulhall awarded what was at best a “soft” penalty when Ryan Hill went to ground after minimum, if any contact.
Effiong thumped home the penalty for his 12th goal of the season.
Dale started the second half strongly as Sinclair, John and Harvey Gilmour set up Kyron Gordon who pulled his shot wide.
Jim Mcnulty’s men continued to dominate but a lack of creativity and failure to find that killer pass proved frustrating.
Sinclair brought a tremendous save from
Justham who just managed to prevent his goal bound free kick from finding the top corner.
Frustration was the name of the game as stray passes, inaccurate crosses were the order of the day,. Dale also allowed the visitors gamesmanship and time-wasting to get under their skin as they niggled away.
Brooks was called into action with two great saves as Dagenham took advantage of the home team’s need to push forward.
The final whistle mercifully brought the game to a halt and there is no doubt Rochdale fans will see this as one that got away.
ROCHDALE: Brooks, Gordon, John,
East, Ebanks-landell (Armstrong 89), Sinclair, Keohane (Mitchell 59), Mellor (Uchegbulam 66), Gilmour, Ferguson, Henderson. Subs not used: Taylor, Mane. YELLOW CARDS: Ferguson, Gilmour. GOALS: Sinclair.
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE: Justham, Tavares, Eastman, Hessenthaler, Vincent, Rees (Phipps 90 + 4), Effiong, Hill (Johnson 56), Kedwell (Pereira 65), Ling, Forson. Subs not used: Remy, Sears.
YELLOW CARDS: Kedwell, Pereira. GOALS: Effiong 9, 45 + 3 Pen.)
HALF TIME: 1-2
ATTENDANCE: 2503 (64).