Manager Mark Woodall took a squad of 13 for the long
trip to Barnet on Saturday. The team showed a number
of enforced absences including Chris Finn (knee
injury), Ryan Higginbotham (holiday), Simon Irvine
(travel sickness) and Liam Ratcliffe (christening.
Not his own!). In came David Veevers, David Heeley,
Steve Crossley and Philip Woodall.
The game was played on a perfect pitch of generous
proportions, with fair weather overhead. The first
half was an even affair with the home side
displaying some neat approach work, but little
penetration. Rochdale supporters gradually gained
the territorial advantage and took the lead on the
half hour mark. Craig Milnes long throw was met by
Mark Woodalls goalbound header. The home keeper kept
the ball out only for Rob Flitcroft to score the
rebound.
The half time team talk focused on avoiding mistakes
and keeping energy levels up for the full 90
minutes. However, it was the home side which
equalised when a suspiciously offside-looking
striker found himself in enough space to fire past
Jon Colluccio. Within a minute Rochdale's lead was
restored as Flitcroft met Craig Milnes inswinging
corner with a fierce near post header. Rochdale took
the game to their hosts in search of a third goal.
However the home side withstood the pressure only to
equalise with 5 minutes remaining. A simple ball
over the top resulted in a cool finish to make the
score 2-2.
Cometh the last minute, cometh the man. Paul Veevers
capped a man of the match performance with the
winning goal. After linking with Flitcroft on the
half way line, Veevers ran half the length of the
pitch before picking out the bottom corner with a
left foot shot. That was followed by an injury time
headed goal from Luke Lloyd who couldn't miss after
David Heeleys perfect cross.
This was a very good result against probably our
most competitive opposition so far this season. The
record reads played 4 won 3 drawn 1.
|
Squad |
|
GK - Jon Coluccio |
|
RB - David
Veevers |
|
LB - Jan
Harwood |
|
CB - Steve
Crossley |
|
CB - Kenny
Hindle |
|
RM -
Craig Milnes |
|
LM -
Luke Lloyd |
|
CM -
David Heeley |
|
CM - Paul
Veevers |
|
F -
Mark Woodall |
|
F - Rob
Flitcroft |
|
Substitutes |
|
Phil Woodall |
|
C Quigley |
