Frustration offset by salvaged point
ROCHDALE ....................... 2 OXFORD CITY ................. 2
ROCHDALE salvaged a draw against bottom of the league Oxford City, at Spotland on Saturday.
It was a game they would have been expected to win but once again left their supporters disappointed, to put it mildly, and frustrated.
Jim Mcnulty’s men like the proverbial curate’s egg were good in parts. The opening exchanges were evenly matched and when Kairo Mitchell gave Dale an 11th minute lead it looked like this was a game they would go on and win.
However, they then wallowed in a sea of mediocrity with too many passes going backwards and to the side. Many of these were misdirected and the turnover of possession encouraged Oxford onto the front foot; poor defending allowing the visitors two soft goals to take them into the break ahead.
Fortunately, the final 30 minutes saw Dale burst into life with a major contribution from man of the match Cian Hayes whose surging runs were a thorn in the side of the Oxford defence.
And, having skinned several defenders he got to the by-line and provided Sam Mather with a tap in for the equaliser.
Dale could and should have gone on to win the game with seven minutes to go, Devante Rodney missing the best chance having raced clear of his markers only to miss the target.
Jimmy Mcnulty made four changes from Tuesday’s trip to Barnet. Harvey Gilmour returned from suspension with Jesurun Uchegbulam and George Nevett back into the starting eleven. Manchester United loanee, Sam Mather also made his first start after coming off the bench midweek. Rodney was back on the bench..
Dale were slowly into their stride and the first chance fell to Mather, who pulled Cameron John’s pull-back narrowly wide..
The hosts took the lead in the 11th minute when Ethan Ebanks-landell’s incisive long ball was neatly controlled by Kairo Mitchell who showed strength and balance as he slotted the ball home to register number 12 for the season.
Dale survived a scare, moments later, needing a tremendous last-ditch challenge by Cameron John on Josh Parker, who was clean through on goal, to prevent a goal.
Dale were creating chances, Cian Hayes cutting in onto his left and curling his shot narrowly wide of the far post.
Ebanks-landell went close his a header just wide of the target after a cross from Hayes.
Then, inexplicably, Dale went off the boil and Oxford City began to build in confidence, Dale stopper Tiernan Brooks called into action to tip Josh Parker’s header over his crossbar.
It was a short reprieve as from the resultant corner the ball was delivered to the far post. An unmarked Charlie O’connell headed into the path of Harvey Greenslade, who tapped home from close range.
Eight minutes later, Oxford were ahead. Brooks failed to deal with Harry Birtwistle’s cross come shot the ball falling kindly to top-scorer Parker who slid it home.
Once again the opening exchanges of the second half were evenly matched,
Ryan East’s powerful effort from the edge of the area well blocked and, just after the hour mark, Oxford City’s Lewis Coyle sizzler flew just off target.
From then on Dale took control and when Hayes set up Mather for the equaliser with 15 minutes to go only one team looked likely winners; the Dale.
That moment looked to have arrived when substitute Rodney showed electrifying speed to leave three defenders for dead and a clear run on goal. Sadly his composure didn’t match his speed and he blasted his shot
high and wide.
Two late half chances fell to Gilmour and Mather, but it wasn’t to be and Mcnulty and his men were left to rue two more dropped points.
ROCHDALE: Brooks, Gordon, John (64’ Keohane), East, Ebanks-landell, Mitchell, Uchegbulam (56’ Rodney), Nevett, Hayes, Gilmour, Mather. Unused Subs: Clayton, Sassi, Henderson. Yellow cards: Mitchell.
OXFORD CITY: Watson: Ashby, Burley, Humphrey-ewers (Smith 78), O’ Connell, Greenslade, Kirby (Fleet), Parker, Birtwistle, Coyle (Kabongolo), Philips. Subs unused: Roddy, Lumeka. Yellow cards: Ashby, O’connell, Parker, Phillips. HALF TIME 1-2
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