Rochdale had to settle for
another draw in a game they could have won with a some
more composure in front of goal.
The Dale line-up once
again showed a number of changes from the team that
played at home to Mansfield a week ago. P Veevers was up
a step ladder and Irving was visiting the sunshine state
that is Cornwall. Lorimer returned to the starting 11
and Hindle returned suffering from exposure to nuclear
radiation. That is the only explanation for his hair
colour.
Dale were sluggish to
start with and could not get to grips with the uneven
surface although the home side did not seem to have as
much trouble. This slow start ultimately ended after
Gigg had taken the lead. A cross from the right wing was
headed home when the Gigg midfield player headed home
from 6 yards. This galvanised the away side and they
should have been level when Kaminskas was put through by
Harwood’s deft header. Gigg had obviously paid the
massive divot to get in the way and Kaminskas almost
missed the ball when it came of the pitch like a Shane
Warne special.
The second half was almost
dominated by Rochdale with Lloyd and Harwood settling
and enjoying plenty of room on both flanks. Chances came
and went before the Gigg keeper’ punched the ball into
his own goal from a Kaminskas corner. Rochdale continued
with the pressing football that makes them such a good
side and this culminated in Lorimer being left 5 yards
out with the goal at his mercy. Needing only a simple
finish, Lorimer fired over and the ball has still not
yet gained re-entry.
Bury then rallied for the
last ten minutes and despite some quadrant infringement,
could not find a winner either and the game ended in a
stalemate. Rochdale will be looking to avenge this
result and the defeat suffered earlier in the season
when the two sides meet again later on in the New Year.
Man of the match – Andy
Lorimer. Deft touches and got dale going from the centre
of midfield. Played well despite missing the golden
chance.
