Rochdale 2 Shrewsbury 1

30/09/2006

 

Rochdale came into this game against Shrewsbury off the back of 2 away wins at Tranmere and Scunthorpe. Shrewsbury were the last team to beat Rochdale in the league and a tough test was anticipated as always against our Shropshire counterparts.

We weren't proved wrong either in what was a scrappy game devoid of any real quality from either team. The warning signs were there early on as Craig Milnes hit a piledriver from quite a distance only to see it ricochet off the outside of the post. Rochdale took the soon after though and it came from a Kaminskas corner. The number 9 whipped it in and a deflection of a Shrewsbury defender took the ball into the net. The IFA dubious goals panel though has awarded the goal to Kaminskas.

Things could have got worse for Shrewsbury though as appeals for what appeared to be a stone wall handball in the box from defender Andy Groves went on deaf ears. From the resulting corner Shrewsbury had to be on their toes again to clear the ball from underneath the bar as the home side turned up the pressure.

Shrewsbury had their own appeals for a penalty when winger Time Klecot charged into the box only to be met by a strong tackle from Dave Veevers. but the Shrewsbury winger stayed on his feet and the attack came to nothing. Anyhow Dale went into half time leading by a goal to nil.

In the second half however it was the away side who were on top and had several opportunities for an equaliser, the best coming when Shrewsbury forward Ant Thomas was put through only to blast over the bar.

Not long after Town grabbed their equaliser. Like Rochdale's goal it came from a corner kick and the lively Klecot got his head to it to send it past Buffon in net.

Rochdale nearly took the lead immediately when Anthony Kaminskas saw his spectacular overhead kick come crashing back off the crossbar. Shrewsbury had a few other decent chances but failed to capitalise on them. Only in the last 10 minutes did Rochdale really up the pressure looking for the all important winner.

It looked like evading them but right on the stroke of full time Luke Lloyd got his head to a corner sent to the far post to send the home team wild and left the Shrews buried.

 

Squad

G - Jon Coluccio

RB - Dave Veevers

LB - Phil Woodall

CB - Steve Crossley

CB - Kenny Hindle

RM - Luke Lloyd

LM - Jan Harwood

CM - Craig Milnes

CM - Paul Veevers

F - Mark Woodall

F - Anthony Kaminskas

Substitutes

Damien Dutton

Simon Irving

Jon Hudson

Andy Lorimer

Mark Sweetmore