Rochdale rue host of wasted chances
JIM Mcnulty was left to rue a host of wasted chances as his Dale side were held to a 1-1 draw against Dorking Wanderers at the weekend.
Despite creating a host of golden opportunities, Dale were denied by goalkeeper Slavomir Huk while also being guilty of profligacy themselves in front of goal.
The visitors took the lead against the run of play via Charlie Carter early in the second half but Devante Rodney replied within minutes, leaving Dale plenty of time to win the contest.
However, they had to settle for a share of the spoils, the point not enough to save Dorking from relegation.
“I was surprised we didn’t win the game, we had a multitude of chances,” said Mcnulty.
“Dorking came here to fight and give the travelling fans the best effort they could,. We were able to open them up in the first half when they were sitting in a mid and low block which comes with the territory at home, teams show us respect and we have to try to take our time in breaking them down.
“Credit to them for hanging in there, but as the game wore on our chances just got better and better.
“By the last period of the game there was almost a very good chance with every single attack and it became a bit remarkable we didn’t win it. Some of the chances we missed I was really surprised at but that’s football and it’s about how many times you can get the ball into the goal, not near the goal.
“You have to do that final bit – on other days we have done that final bit very well, on Saturday we didn’t manage to convert what, when we look back, will look like unreal opportunistic moments.
“Our profligacy on the day meant that we only drew a game we could have been out of sight in.
“The scoreline isn’t the ultimate indiation of how a team is doing and on the day the scoreline didn’t reflect the game at all because we completely dominated once we got into our stride.
Even going a goal down against the run of play we continued to play our own way and no one can say we didn’t create ample moments to go and win the game.”
Dale held their annual End of Season Awards evening after Saturday’s game with Harvey Gilmour the big winner on the night.
The midfielder picked up four awards in total, including the prestigious Dale Supporters Trust Player of the Season.
He was also named Players’ Player of the Year and Brent Wilkinson Club Player of the Year, as well as winning the South Manchester & Cheshire (SMAC) Supporters Club award.
Gilmour, who joined last summer from FC Halifax Town, has made 44 appearances – starting them all – for Dale in all competitions so far this season, missing just two games, which were through suspension.
Elsewhere, George Nevett picked up two awards.
He was named Wilson Family Young Player of the Season and Dale Dragon’s
Community Trust Player of the Season.
Cian Hayes picked up the Goal of the Season award for his wonder strike away to Dagenham and Redbridge back in November. The winger
narrowly beat Kairo Mitchell’s strike against Eastleigh, by just two votes.
The Dale Women’s Player of the Season was Shannon Gill, who has already scored 30 goals
this season with more matches to come, as well as providing a number of assists.
Youth Team Player of the Season went to Brooklyn Bailey, whilst John Dunlop won Goal of the
Season, for his strike against Morecambe back in September.