Rochdale

Tuesday 26th December 2006 - KO 12noon

Rochdale

Wrexham

Matt Gilks

Michael Ingham

Simon Ramsden

Lee Roache

Nathan Stanton

Ryan Valentine

Rory McArdle

Shaun Pejic

Alan Goodall

Danny Williams

John Doolan

Darren Ferguson

Callum Warburton 57

Chris Llewellyn

Gary Jones

Mike Williams

Glenn Murray

Josh Johnson 85

Clive Moyo Modise 57

Matty Done

Chris Dagnall

Marc Williams 46

Substitutes

Lloyd Rigby

Lee McEvilly 46

Will Mocquet 57

Matt Crowell 85

Joe Thompson 57

Michael Jones

Lee Crooks

Simon Spender

Gary Brown

Gareth Evans

SCORERS

Murray 63, Doolan 78

McEvilly 48, Llewellyn 55

BOOKINGS

Roache 68

Stuart Ashworth at Spotland

Rochdale looked to be heading towards their fifth straight defeat after former Dale striker Lee McEvilly inspired his side in the second half.

McEvilly burst onto the pitch at the start of the second half and scored just a few minutes after coming on before going on to have a hand in his sides second.

It looked as though Rochdale had been put Dale to the sword but a tactical switch by caretaker boss Keith Hill proved it's worth and lead to a great fight back by the home side.

The Dale boss hinted there'd be change and change there was with a switch in formation to a more attacking 4-3-3 system which introduced Clive Moyo-Modise and Chris Dagnall into the starting line up.

To be fair the change worked as Rochdale had the best of what was a largely forgettable first half.

With seven minutes played a great move by Rochdale down the wing created an opportunity for Glenn Murray.A right wing cross from the Dale skipper Gary Jones saw Murray with Roach for company attack the ball at the near post but the attentions of the defender were enough and Murray's effort was plucked out of the air by goalkeeper Michael Ingham.

The home side were certainly value for money in the opening exchanges and 'keeper Michael Ingham was looking very uncomfortable when the ball was hung up.A couple of occasions the Wrexham stopper either misjudged or flapped at the ball when put under pressure sadly from a Rochdale point of view the home side couldn't take advantage.

Wrexham did manage to get a couple of efforts away with the best coming from Ryan Valentine who skipped forward to collect a ball on the half way line, raced forward and tried his luck from 20-yards, but his low effort was wide of the target.

With 31 minutes played, Rochdale should have taken the lead after a superb reverse pass found the lively Chris Dagnall.The Rochdale front man did well to find Murray on the back stick with a lofted cross but the on loan striker headed wide of the mark with a clear sight of goal in front of him.

That miss could have cost Rochdale dear especially after Wrexham began the half with Marc Williams making way for Lee McEvilly and to some tune.The former Dale man struck moments after Glenn Murray had his headed attempt pawed away by 'keeper Ingham from under his own bar.

McEvilly scored on 48 minutes after collecting the ball just outside the area before smashing the ball home from a long central ball forward.The big striker went close minutes later after he stole into the box to meet a Darren Ferguson corner only this time his headed effort was easy for Gilks who was well positioned.

Clive Moyo Modise got his first real chance of the game following a long ball by Gilks but his shot was well wide of the mark as he raced into the area.

With 54 minutes on the clock Rochdale's afternoon got markedly worse as Chris Llewellyn fired his side into a two goal lead after a Lee McEvilly shot was parried by Gilks.Llewellyn was on hand to pick up the pieces and he just slotted home the loose ball from six-yards.

Cue fight back! A positive response from the bench brought Will Mocquet and Joe Thompson into the fray with Modise and the tiring Warburton sacrificed as Dale went 4-4-2.

The response put Wrexham on the back foot from minute one as Dale piled on the pressure and a goal wasn't far behind.

Glenn Murray headed home on 62 minutes to give Rochdale a lifeline after a poor decision by 'keeper Ingham to come for the cross.With the keeper in no-mans-land the simple task of nodding the cross from the left home was duly completed by the on loan Carlisle man and the home side were right back in it.

Wrexham were rattled and chances for Keith Hill's side to level matters sprang up time after time.Eight minutes after the goal a hopeful ball from midfield was chested down to Chris Dagnall by Murray, but the former Tranmere player could only see his shot on the turn saved by Ingham low to his right.

Minutes later another ball forward and another chance for the home side in almost identical fashion.Glenn Murray this time headed the ball into the path of Dagnall who spun to shoot but his effort was deflected wide.From the resulting corner John Doolan smashed a header off the under side of the cross bar and Glenn Murray made sure there was no debate as to whether it crossed the line or not and bundled the ball home, though the goal from the head of the midfielder was given.

With the game heading to a close Rochdale had a great chance to complete a stunning comeback after a cross from substitute Joe Thompson was met with an out-stretched foot from Murray but Ingham produced a flying save to deny the home side all three points.

Match Stats

Wrexham

ATTEMPTS

ON TARGET

FREEKICKS

CORNERS

OFFSIDE

YELLOW CARDS

RED CARDS

POSSESSION

55%

POSSESSION

45%

Star Player

Rochdale

Wrexham

Chris Dagnall

Ryan Valentine

Back in the side and busy throughout.

Good display from the defender who liked to get forward.

Managers Comments in Brief

Keith Hill

Dennis Smith

"Two points gained"

"Two points lost"

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