Browse Sections

• Rochdale FC
• Rochdale Hornets
• Local football
• Local cricket

Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Rochdale 1

Richard Partington
12/ 4/2008

Rochdale had to make do with a point from a difficult game against Dagenham and Redbridge at Victoria Road.

A sodden pitch ruined by heavy showers at the start of the match provided a less-than-ideal surface for Dale’s passing game, the conditions much more suited to the physical approach of the hosts who, for all their limitations, were never short of commitment and fight.

Keith Hill reverted to the tried and trusted central defensive partnership of Rory McArdle and Nathan Stanton after both missed Tuesday’s win over Notts County.

Rene Howe partnered Higginbotham up front while Ben Muirhead started on the right.

For the home side, former Rochdale defender Jon Boardman started on the bench.

Victoria Road cut a less than luxurious setting even in the pre-match sunshine, but things took a turn for the worse for the visiting supporters when, just as the game kicked off, a heavy shower of hailstones rained down on the exposed Dale faithful.

The showers continued for the first 10 minutes of the game and as a result the surface was almost unplayable, the threat of abandonment crossing the mind until the conditions eased around the 12-minute mark.

The first effort of note came from Peter Gain, whose rising drive from wide on the right was beaten away by Tommy Lee.

Minutes later, the hosts missed a gilt-edged chance when the ball dropped to Jon Nurse eight yards out but his finish lacked composure and was blasted high over the bar.

Gain hit a looping shot from 20 yards that forced a scrambling save from Lee, who tipped the ball over his crossbar.

It was all Dagenham up until the 27^th minute when Dale grabbed a goal out of nothing. It was a rare route one strike from Hill’s men, a huge punt upfield from Lee allowed to bounce on the edge of the area and Higginbotham controlled before hitting a great shot from just inside the box, beating Tony Roberts in the hosts’ goal. One minute later Howe had a shot saved but just as it seemed Dale were about to take control, Dagenham and Redbridge equalised. Anwar Uddin advancing forward from the back and slipping a pass through to Strevens who carried the ball into the area in a central position before thumping a shot past Lee.

Dagenham wasted another golden chance on 37 minutes when Lee’s attempted punch clear skimmed off his glove into the path of Glen Southam, and with the goal at his mercy his screwed a poor shot wide.

Ben Muirhead got in behind the home defence on the right side of the area but failed to pick out a team-mate, Roberts saving at his near post.

Adam Rundle’s second half was cut short by a clash of heads with Shane Huke, the winger leaving the field with an egg-sized lump on his forehead. Adam Le Fondre replaced him in the 49^th minute.

Howe was close with a shot from just inside the box that flew just too high and in the 54^th minute the same player had a snapshot saved by Roberts from close range.

Gary Jones had an opening but was off target from 20 yards, but it was the visitors asking all the questions in the first 15 minutes of the second period.

Dagenham came back into it with a near-post effort from Paul Benson, and minutes later the same striker forced a save from Lee when he shot from a narrow angle.

Higginbotham was sent scurrying clear by Le Fondre and advanced into the area only to lose his cool with the finish, slicing it high and wide. Soon after, substitute Chris Dagnall almost scored, Roberts saving his effort from the left of the box.

Dagnall dribbled his way into a shooting position as Rochdale upped the tempo, Roberts blocking his path to goal and Le Fondre unable to turn the loose ball past the goalkeeper.

Dagenham and Redbridge: Roberts, Huke, Southam, Nurse, Rainford, Griffiths, Benson, Uddin, Strevens, Gain, Arber. Subs not used: Hogan, Sloma, Boardman, Saunders, Taiwo

Rochdale: Lee, Ramsden, McArdle, Stanton, Kennedy, Muirhead (Basham 62), Jones, Perkins, Rundle (Le Fondre 49), Howe (Dagnall 62), Higginbotham. Subs not used: Button, Holness

Referee: Ray East (Wiltshire)

2,032 (488)