JOE JOY AT HIS PERFECT WEEK...
Long-range effort stuns the Bantams
ROCHDALE’S midweek matchwinner Joe Rafferty was ‘over the moon’ after a week of memorable milestones he won’t forget in a hurry.
The 25-year-old, who got engaged last weekend, brought up his 250th appearance for Dale in their 2-0 win over near neighbours Oldham Athletic in the Checkatrade Trophy.
The right-back scored from the spot in the win over the Latics, banishing the demons of a penalty miss in League One last term that looked like it may cost the club their third-tier status.
Jubilant Rafferty feels their qualification for the third round of the competition, where they face an attractive tie against Manchester City Under-21s, can act as a catalyst for his side.
“I’m over the moon. Just about everything that’s happened this week has been good,” he said.
“The Trophy is a good competition for us. It’s a chance to play at Wembley at the end of it.
“The Oldham win was a great result for us and we look forward to facing Manchester City Under-21s in the next round.
“I assume they’ll play just like the City firstteam. They will be a bunch of young lads that are keen to impress.
“We’ve just got to match them and we’ll do our best.”
Luke Matheson smashed Rochdale’s record for youngest-ever debutant earlier in their Checkatrade Trophy campaign, featuring against Bury at the age of 15 years and 336 days.
Rafferty said: “Luke was incredible when he came on (against Bury) and then he started the games after.
“He’s a top lad and a top player. He comes in when he can because of school, works hard and he’s a very good player.
“I hope he has a long career in the game because he’s a great lad and I hope he does really well.”
PROUD Peterborough manager Steve Evans hailed the ‘class’ of Ivan Toney after the striker’s wonder goal – and hat-trick – in an FA Cup second round replay thriller at Bradford City.
On a night of eight goals and penalty shoot-out drama, the lasting memory will be Toney’s opening goal on 18 minutes.
After being fouled, the forward quickly got to his feet and hit a peach of a free-kick from just inside the Bradford half that flew over keeper Ben Wilson and into the back of the net.
It was a goal worthy of winning the FA Cup and two minutes later the 22-year-old had another one, heading home Marcus Maddison’s superb cross.
George Miller pulled one
Comeback
back on 22 minutes, but the Bantams were right back up against it when Maddison got the goal his display deserved in first half stoppage time.
At 3-1 down, most would have thought David Hopkin’s League One strugglers were out of it, but they staged a remarkable second half comeback.
Goals from David Ball, Paul Caddis and Miller, with his second of the night, gave the hosts a 4-3 lead with 72 minutes played.
There was yet another twist as Toney rose high to head home another superb Maddison cross on 84 minutes to complete his hat-trick and make it 4-4.
With no more goals in the extra 30 minutes, the tie went to penalties. This time, it was Posh goalkeeper Conor O’Malley who took the plaudits, saving from Karl Henry, Jack Payne and Caddis as the visitors triumphed 3-2 on spot-kicks to earn a visit to Middlesbrough in round three. It was relief for Posh, who had let slip a two-goal lead in the opening tie with just six minutes left.
Boss Evans was full of praise for marksman Toney’s display.
“His first goal was stunning, his second one was stunning and his header for the third was sublime,” he said. “His class was apparent, as was that of Marcus.”
Evans knows his side will have to raise their game when they head to the north-east to take on Boro in the New Year. “It should have been done and dusted ten days ago and again tonight,” he said. “You have seen the best and worst of us tonight.
“We’re very fluent going forward, but we give silly goals away. We have made it hard to earn a trip to Middlesbrough.
“I look forward to seeing (Boro boss) Tony Pulis, but he will think they can score every time they go forward if we play like that again, but we aren’t bad either going forward.
Pride
“We went 4-3 down, but we have to take great pride in ourselves. A lot of people would have thought we were out of the cup-tie, but we have good players.”
Newport County hammered Wrexham 4-0 in their replay to book a glamour home tie against Leicester.
National League outfit Wrexham were up against it when Luke Young was sent off on 12 minutes for a foul on Mickey Demetriou. They held on until half-time, but Michael Flynn’s Newport showed their class in the second period.
Padraig Amond, Jamille Matt, Dan Butler and a Mark Carrington own goal made up the Exiles’ tally.
The victory has ensured Newport at least a £200,000 windfall. They earned £54,000 in prize money for beating Wrexham and will collect a whopping £150,000 as a live broadcast fee for the tie against Leicester, which is to be screened on BBC One on Sunday, January 6.
Walsall will travel to Bolton in the third round after pulling off a fine 1-0 victory at Sunderland. Liam Kinsella thumped home a magnificent 25-yard effort early in the second half to bring the Black Cats’ 16-game unbeaten run to an end.