Wed 27th September 2006 - 7.45pm

1 

Rochdale

 2

1 

 Mike Ingham

1

Matt Gilks

 2

 Lee Roache

14

Gary Brown

 3

 Ryan Valentine

12

Alan Goodall

 5

 Steve Evans

19

Lee Crooks

 7

 Mark Jones

18

Nathan Stanton

 8

 Danny Williams

8

Gary Jones

 10

 Darren Ferguson

5

John Doolan 91

 11

 Chris Llewellyn

16

Keith Barker 71

 12

 Matt Crowell 84

21

James Sharp

 20

 Matty Done 63

26

Morike Sako

 22

 John McAliskey 85

9

Chris Dagnall

Substitutes

 13

Michael Jones 

2

Simon Ramsden

 14

 Simon Spender

4

Ernie Cooksey 91

 15

Mike Williams  84

7

Darrell Clarke

 17

 Josh Johnson 63

11

Jon Boardman

 18

 Jon Newby 85

20

Clive Moyo-Modise 71

SCORERS

BOOKINGS

Stuart Ashworth at the Racecourse Ground

Rochdale ended Wrexham's unbeaten home record with an industrious display at the Racecourse Ground and one which inspired one Wrexham supporter to tell us on his way out that Dale were the best side he'd seen at their place.

Testament indeed to a hard-working performance from almost every member of the side, though it's diminutive striker Chris Dagnall who'll know doubt steal the headlines after bagging his second brace in consecutive games.

Rochdale manager Steve Parkin made just one change from the side that beat Boston with Gary Brown taking the place of Mark Jackson who failed a fitness test earlier in the day.  Simon Ramsden interestingly remaining on the bench.

With 12 minutes played a diagonal ball across the face of the Dale defence seemed to bring hesitation amongst Parkin's players and it was enough time for Chris Llewellyn to drive a low shot in.  The defensive duo of Sharp and Stanton failing to deal with the initial long ball into the box and Llewellyn took advantage of a rare lapse from Matthew Gilks to fire the ball between his legs.

With 15 minutes played Dale took a quick free-kick following a foul on Dagnall but loanee Keith Barker could only direct a weak header straight into the arms of Michael Ingham in the Wrexham goal.

Parkin's side continued to enjoy plenty of the ball and were certainly playing the better football. A Morike Sako cross on 18 minutes failed to find anyone when dangerously whipped in from a tight angle.

Five minutes later and Alan Goodall ended another good spell of possession with a left footed cross into the box that Barker headed just wide.

Another surge forward by Goodall in 34th minute brought a faint cry for a penalty after the Dale man skipped by Roche who then pulled back Goodall as he tried to get the cross in.  Referee Bratt ignoring the shouts as he had done for most of the game.

Towards the end of the half a Gary Brown shot appeared to strike a Wrexham hand in the box but again nothing was doing in the eyes of the referee.  The half-time whistle went with Dale extremely unlucky to be behind.

Wrexham started the second-half better but it was the visitors who continued to get the best of the chances.

48 minutes played and Dale got the goal their first-half display warranted.  Chris Dagnall it was who side-footed home from 12 yards after good work by skipper Gary Jones down the right.  Jones evaded numerous tackles on a mazy run and after a slip from Steve Evans, Jones took his time to pick out Dagnall in the box and he finished with aplomb; his 4th of the season.

62 minutes gone and Darren Ferguson tested Matt Gilks with a low shot that the Rochdale 'keeper did well to save by the foot of his post.  It sparked a spell of pressure for the home side, though thankfully they had nothing to show for it in terms of real chances.

Rochdale brought Clive Moyo-Modise on for Keith Barker in the 70th minute and the Dale boss won't be happy with the reaction of the on-loan striker who was unhappy to be brought off.  In truth it could have been Sako that made way but at least Barker's reaction shows he cares.

77 minutes gone and Chris Dagnall doubled his tally for the evening after 'keeper Ingham spilled a vicious shot from Alan Goodall.  Dagnall raced onto the loose ball and coolly lifted the ball over the grounded keepr to spark wild celebrations in the away end.

With 4 minutes left on the clock Dale broke through on the counter-attack. John Doolan made good headway through the centre before slotting a diagonal ball for Dagnall to latch onto.  With a hat-trick in sight the scouser drove a low shot towards the back post, but his shot was saved by Ingham.  Dagnall opting for placement when perhaps power would have seen him walk away with the match ball.

Following four minutes of added time being shown Dale 'keeper Matt Gilks was booked for time wasting but with Ernie Cooksey waiting to come on he thought the fourth official was signalling the introduction of the Rochdale substitute.  Referee Bratt again causing unecessary problems.

Parkin's men made it an excellent week on the road gaining maximum points and the visit of in-form Shrewsbury Town to look forward to on Saturday.

Match Stats

ATTEMPTS

 10

ATTEMPTS

 5

ON TARGET

 3

ON TARGET

 4

FREEKICKS

 12

FREEKICKS

 9

CORNERS

 5

CORNERS

 6

OFFSIDE

 3

OFFSIDE

 2

YELLOW CARDS

 1

YELLOW CARDS

 2

RED CARDS

RED CARDS

POSSESSION

48%

POSSESSION

52%

Star Player

Wrexham

Rochdale

Chris Llewellyn

John Doolan

 Provided the toe-curling moments for Dale fans when he got the ball in the box and took his goal very well.

 Another workman-like performance from Doolan who turns the clock back with every game.

Managers Comments in Brief

Dennis Smith

Steve Parkin

"We needed to make sure we didn't allow Wrexham to play the game they wanted and I thought we did that throughout."

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