Barnet 1 Rochdale 2

18/11/2006

 

Rochdale made the long journey down to Hertfordshire in an attempt to bounce back from the previous defeat. Key players M Woodall and Steve Crossley were however, unavailable for this game but the team welcomed back Kaminskas and P Veevers. Jon Hudson was drafted in on the left for his first start of the season with Higginbotham on the right and Harwood in the centre.

Rochdale started with the downhill slope on the pitch but with the sun in their eyes. The game kicked off fairly evenly with both teams wanting to make a good start. Rochdale had several corners that were close to finding someone but to no avail.

The first real chance of the afternoon came about 15 minutes in and it fell to Hudson. The ball was out wide right and the ball looped into the box. Hudson sensed the keeper wasn't going to get to it first and went in but unfortunately the sun obstructed things and both him and the keeper ended up on the floor. Hudson managed to get the ball back to Paul Veevers whose shot was saved by the keeper.  Unfortunately Hudson managed to twist his knee somewhat in this incident leaving him limping around for the rest of the game.

Soon after another chance came for Dale and Veevers hit the shot which was blocked and cleared straight into Hudson's thigh which bounced just wide. Barnet were next to attack when a long ball down the middle was collected by keeper Coluccio but the Barnet forward carried on and collided with him. Unfortunately for him he had to go to hospital and apparently doesn't remember much of the afternoon!

This led to a tactical switch by Barnet as the man on right wing drifted into the centre and to Hudson's relief due to inability to run at full pelt was replaced by somebody less likely to cause damage down that side. Barnet took the lead not long after but it really could have been avoided. Hindle was dawdling on the ball in defence and was robbed by the Barnet forward Clayton who calmly finished it off.

Rochdale pushed for the equaliser and it should have come when a corner from Kaminskas came in, a poor clearance sent it straight to Hudson who this time really should have scored. However his first time shot went across goal for a goal kick.

The equaliser did come soon after though and it was Kaminskas who got it. However I am ashamed to say I'm having a complete memory block here and can't remember what happened so if someone could fill us in it would be good!

Dale nearly took the lead when Barnet were trying to get rid of the ball in midfield, however it struck the arm of Hudson and looped over his head. Amazingly the referee didn't see this and Hudson played it over the top to Kaminskas who took a touch and from 30 yards hit a screamer. Half the team had already turned round to celebrate but with the keeper beaten it smacked back of the post and straight into the keepers arms.

The rest of the half fizzled out and it was 1-1 at half time. Dale looked to take the lead from the off in the second half and they did take the lead after about 10 minutes and it was a cracking strike from outside the area from Ryan Higginbotham. This was his first goal for the team and he was so pleased he didn't have time to work out a celebration.

To be honest after the second goal things really petered out and got a bit scrappy. Their were few chances at either end with goal mouth action pretty limited from what I can remember. That was until the 87th minute when a cross from the Barnet left hit Phil Woodall in the arm from about 3 yards away. The referee pointed to the spot much to the displeasure of the Rochdale players. It did seem a harsh decision. However luck was on Rochdale's side as Silvio of Barnet blasted it high and wide.

So it finished 2-1 to Rochdale in what was a good hard fought win between 2 good sides. Rochdale will just be glad to get back to winning ways and adding another 3 points to the total.

 

Squad

G - Jon Coluccio

RB - Dave Veevers

LB - Phil Woodall

CB - Craig Milnes

CB - Kenny Hindle

RM - Ryan Higginbotham

LM - Jon Hudson

CM - Paul Veevers

CM - Jan Harwood

F - Anthony Kaminskas

F - Luke Lloyd