Saturday 6th August 2005 - KO 3pm

Shrewsbury Town

0

Rochdale

1

1 

Joe Hart 

 1

Matt Gilks 

 3

 Kevin Sharp

 18

 Jamie Clarke

 5

 Dave Walton

 5

 Gareth Griffiths

 6

 Neil Sorvel

 6

 Jon Boardman

 7

 Colin McMenimen 46

 3

 Tony Gallimore

 9

 Mark Stallard

 7

 Lee Cartwright

 10

 Ben Smith

 8

 Neil Brisco

 11

 Neil Ashton 82

 11

 Gary Jones

 12

 Ben Herd

 16

 Tommy Jaszczun

 16

 Gavin Cowan

 9

 Grant Holt

 21

 Jay Denny 71

 17

 Rickie Lambert 75

Substitutes

2 

 Stuart Whitehead

 28

Danny Woodhall 

 4

 Jamie Tolley 46

 12

 Alan Goodall

 8

 Kelvin Langmead 71

 21

 Ben Kitchen

 14

 Glyn Thompson

 14

 Scott Warner

 17

 Steve Hogg 82

 19

 Blair Sturrock 75

GOALSCORERS

BOOKINGS

 Cowan 37,

 Holt 89

Stuart Ashworth at Gay Meadow

Dale opened the 2005/06 season with a narrow win over Shrewsbury Town thanks to a first half goal from Grant Holt.

Rochdale manager Steve Parkin named an expected line up for the first game of the new campaign.

With six minutes on the clock Jamie Clarke lost possesion on the flank with a poor pass which set Neil Ashton off down the wing, but his cross was cleared by the Dale defence.

With 12 minutes on the clock Dale tried a set piece corner aimed at breaking the deadlock.  Rickie Lambert met a Jaszczun corner with a sweet volley, but his effort was blocked and the follow up from Griffiths looped over the bar.

A neat Shrews move two minutes later almost carved the visitors open, but Ashton who picked up the final ball chose the wrong option in waiting for support rather than having a pop.

On 15 minutes  Dale took the lead through Grant Holt though he must have thank 'keeper Joe Hart for his hand in notching his first.

A long punt forward from Matt Gilks found the Dale striker and Holt's strength gave him the space to try his luck from a very tight angle.  A low shot beat Hart at his near post he was as surprised as everyone to see his effort slip into the net.

Shrewsbury responded well and began to take the game to Rochdale.  On 33 minutes a close range header by Stallard was easily saved by Gilks and to be fair the Shrews man should have done better.

Jamie Clarke was called into action two minutes later, blocking Ashton's effort on 35

Lambert flick on for Cartwright  and he was unlucky to see his low shot saved by Hart after getting the better of the defenders.

The second half began with Dale almost doubling their lead.  A quick break by Parkin's side gave Jones the opportunity to fire a shot in from 18 yards, but a brave block by Sorvel ended the danger.

Jon Boardman error on 49 almost allowed Stallard in, but good awareness from Matt Gilks snuffed out the danger.

Gary Jones was unlucky to see his effort deflect just wide on 51 minutes after good move involving Holt and Lambert.  The Dale captian collected a tap down by Lambert and tried to curl the ball round the post

with 65 minutes played Neil Brisco brought a fine save from Hart after a neat lay off by Lambert.  The Dale midfielder fired in from 20 yards and hart was alive to tip over.

With 75 minutes played Rickie Lamberts afternoon came to a close with Blair Sturrock taking his place.

As the game came to a close a sleepy Rochdale defence almost got caught out after a quickly taken freekick found the feet of Langmead, but his effort was screwed wide.

Clarke and Griffiths almost contrived to give the home side the equaliser after both defenders lost sight of the ball and Langmead picked up the loose ball. 

Just a last minute block by Clarke stopped an almost certain equaliser as well as sparing his and his teamates blushes.

Shrewsbury came on strong towards the end but it was too little too late for the home side and Dale travelled home with three opening day points in the bag.

Match Stats

Shrewsbury Town

Rochdale

ATTEMPTS

 10

ATTEMPTS

 8

ON TARGET

 4

ON TARGET

 7

FREEKICKS

 16

FREEKICKS

 10

CORNERS

 5

CORNERS

 9

OFFSIDE

 2

OFFSIDE

 1

YELLOW CARDS

 1

YELLOW CARDS

 1

RED CARDS

 0

RED CARDS

 0

POSSESSION

45%

POSSESSION

55%

Star Player

Shrewsbury Town

Rochdale

 Neil Ashton

 Tommy Jaszczun

 Busy and hard working cause plenty of problems for Dale

 Seemed to be everywhere and always popped up in the right place at the right time.

Managers Comments in Brief

Gary Peters

Steve Parkin

"It wasn't the start to the season we were looking for but it could have been so different if we had taken our chances." 

 "I'm pleased with the result but we must play better if we want to get anything on Tuesday night against Wycombe."

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