Saturday 30th September 2006 - KO 3pm

1

Shrewsbury Town

1

1

Matt Gilks

 21

Chris Mackenzie 

 14

Gary Brown 

 3

 Neil Ashton

18

Nathan Stanton 72

 4

 Stuart Drummond

21

James Sharp

 5

 Richard Hope

12

Alan Goodall

 6

 Neil Sorvel

5

John Doolan

 8

 Kelvin Landmead

8

Gary Jones

 10

 Derek Asamoah

19

Lee Crooks

 14

 Ben Davies

9

Chris Dagnall 83

 19

 Dave Edwards 82

26

Morike Sako 71

 24

 Michael Symes 57

16

Keith Barker

 28

 Sagi Burton

Substitutes

4

Ernie Cooksey 71

2 

Danny Hall 

14

Simon Ramsden

 9

 Andy Cooke 57

6

Jon Boardman 72

 12

 Ben Herd

7

Darrell Clarke

 22

 Chris Humphrey 82

20

Clive Moyo-Modise 83

 26

 Chris Neal

SCORERS

 Sharp 7

BOOKINGS

Stanton 70, Goodall 90

Humphrey 87

Stuart Ashworth at Spotland

An entertaining game at Spotland saw Dale continue the good form in a game that Rochdale boss Steve Parkin admitted in his post match comments, his side would have lost five weeks ago.

Make no bones about it Shrewsbury, who had plenty of cash to spend in the summer, are a good side and enjoyed good spells with the ball, though overall the best of the chances fell to Dale.

Rochdale boss Steve Parkin named an unchanged side from the one that beat Wrexham on Wednesday night and from the first whistle it looked good for the home side.

A fourth minute shot by Morike Sako was easy for 'keeper Mackenzie after good work from Dagnall in midfield. It was Dagnall's running from midfield that caused more problems for the visitors three minutes later after another surging run led to Barker being brought into play. Barker managed to drive in a dangerous low cross that was smashed away for a corner.

The danger wasn't over for Shrewsbury and the resulting corner from Lee Crooks was met by former Shrews man James Sharp and his looping header found the back of the net.

Shrewsbury looked dangerous going forward and Symes went close to hooking his side level after a strong run down the right from Edwards before he cut the ball back. Symes shot from 12-yards but Gilks made a comfortable save to his right.

Just before the half hour mark Dale could have doubled their lead but for a brilliant double save from 'keeper Mackenzie. The first arrived after Brown did well down the right flank and drove a low ball across the face of goal. It was met by defender Langmead who steered the ball goalwards and Mackenzie somehow pushed the ball over the bar.

From the corner Dagnall met the ball at the back stick with a towering header that the 'keeper somehow managed to save once more, this time with an out-stretched big toe from the grounded Mackenzie.

With five minutes to the break Dagnall showed good skill wide on the left to beat his man before putting the ball into the path of Jones. The Dale skipper turned his defender and fired a shot from 19-yards just wide of the target.

The pressure and possession in the first half belonged to Shrewsbury, but they failed the break through a resolute Dale rearguard.

The second half began and the Shrewsbury storm continued with the visitors not settling for where they left off at halftime, they upped a gear.

They continued to press and whilst the football was strong and the passing crisp, Shrewsbury failed to get the better of a dogged Rochdale defence.

The best chance that came the way of Steve Parkin's side fell to Keith Barker eight minutes into the half, sadly the on loan Blackburn Rovers striker let the chance slip by after his attempted lob advancing keeper Mackenzie was way too strong and sailed over the bar.

Dale were on the back foot and the precious one goal advantage was looking ever more likely to be lost. The visitors lay siege on the Dale defence though the castle walls made of rocks, Sharp, Stanton, Brown and Goodall remained impenetrable.

Sadly with the hour mark reached, Dale succumbed to the relentless barrage and it was substitute Andy Cooke who fired home from close range after Asamoah squared from the flank. It was more than they deserved.

The home side's opportunities were limited and the best Rochdale could muster in the way of chances for the remainder of the game fell at the feet of Lee Crooks who hit a 25-yarder that Mackenzie had to push over his cross-bar.

Rochdale needed to stem the flow and a double change with Cooksey coming on for the out of sorts Morike Sako and injured Nathan Stanton did the trick. Parkin pushed four into the midfield leaving just Dagnall and Barker up front and the extra man helped no end.

Dale managed to get forward and had big claims for a penalty after a 79 minute long throw from Alan Goodall saw Dagnall pinned to the ground by his marker inside the box. Sadly referee Mr Boyeson failed to see it that way and ruled Dagnall had backed in on his man.

That was the last we saw of the fatigued Chris Dagnall as he was substituted for Clive Moyo-Modise who added a little more pace in the attack with his fresher legs.

Unfortunately Clive couldn't make his freshness count and following four minutes of added time the official blew for time and ended a tough yet thoroughly entertaining encounter.

Match Stats

Rochdale

Shrewsbury Town

ATTEMPTS

 12

ATTEMPTS

13 

ON TARGET

 7

ON TARGET

3 

FREEKICKS

 15

FREEKICKS

 16

CORNERS

 4

CORNERS

 11

OFFSIDE

 1

OFFSIDE

 3

YELLOW CARDS

 1

YELLOW CARDS

 1

RED CARDS

RED CARDS

POSSESSION

49%

POSSESSION

51%

Star Player

Rochdale

Shrewsbury Town

 James Sharp

Derek Asamoah 

Managers Comments in Brief

Steve Parkin

Gary Peters

 "Im disappointed with just a point from the game after we

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