Dale drew for the first time since early September as they played out a 2-2 draw at Crewe Alexandra. Crewe equalised twice after goals from Craig Dawson and Kallum Higginbotham had seen Keith Hill's side go ahead in the 53rd and 74th minutes.
After a first-half which the home side just edged, Craig Dawson fired Dale ahead with a neat volley from a Tom Kennedy corner. However, Ashley Westwood equalised for Crewe after Dale failed to clear their lines, before Kallum Higginbotham put Dale back on top with a superb effort from distance which found the top corner. But just a few minutes later Crewe equalised, this time through Matt Tootle after Tom Heaton could only parry a Clayton Donaldson effort.
Keith Hill was forced into making one change to the side that thrashed Shrewsbury 4-0 last Saturday, as Matt Flynn came in at right-back in place of Scott Wiseman who had picked up a knock. Otherwise the starting eleven stayed the same, with Tom Heaton in goal behind a back four of Flynn, Craig Dawson, Nathan Stanton and Tom Kennedy. Jason Taylor and Jason Kennedy paired up in midfield, with Will Atkinson and Joe Thompson working the wings. Chris O'Grady and Chris Dagnall took their spot up front.
The air was cold at Gresty Road and both sets of players were trying to keep warm in the build-up to kick-off, with the home side having the first opportunity as they actually put the ball into the back of the net. Crewe's front two of Clayton Donaldson and Calvin Zola were lively in the opening few minutes and it was the former who set up Zola who brushed off Craig Dawson before slotting the ball past Tom Heaton. However, the linesman's flag on the near side was up and the goal was disallowed.
The early scare for Dale was one that could have unsettled them as the league leaders looked for a 7th straight victory. This seemed to be the case as in the 6th minute the Alex front two linked up well again. Clayton Donaldson neatly flicked the ball into the path of Calvin Zola, but unfortunately for the home side his left-foot shot squirmed wide of Tom Heaton's left post.
Dale needed to find a way back into the game before the Crewe pressure became too much for Dale to withstand. Matt Flynn is known more for his defensive duties than his attacking down the right, but he was getting in some very strong positions on the right-hand side of the box. However, the stand in right-back's balls into the box left a lot to be desired early on as Dale couldn't create a clear-cut opportunity.
With just over ten minutes gone the Crewe pressure continued. Dale were looking to attack and in one instance a long clearance from the home defence led to another good opportunity for them. Clayton Donaldson did well on the left to get past Matt Flynn before rifling a shot off towards the Dale goal which was well saved by Tom Heaton. It was difficult for the goalkeeper on-loan from Manchester United with the ball swerving, but he did well to direct his palmed save away from any on-rushing attackers.
Dale's best chance came just a few minutes later, with Matt Flynn getting his cross perfect on the right hand side. Jason Kennedy played in the right-back on the touchline and his first time cross was superbly placed between Crewe's goalkeeper Steve Phillips' and his defence, with Chris Dagnall waiting to pounce. However, Dale's leading scorer completely misjudged the chance and missed the ball as it rolled out for a goal kick. Dagnall will have been kicking himself as he knew it was a great opportunity to give his side the lead.
It was a lively start to a game which was end-to-end as Dale started to get back into a little more. Chris Dagnall managed to get a ball across from the left which Joe Thompson couldn't quite control before he found Chris O'Grady. O'Grady laid the ball off to Jason Kennedy, but his shot was straight at Steve Phillips who saved comfortably.
With twenty minutes gone the game was one of the liveliest we have seen this season, but the intensity died down slightly in the next ten minutes as both sides looked to take control of the game. Crewe's right-back John Brayford was enjoying some success down the right side which prompted Keith Hill to switch Will Atkinson and Joe Thompson, with the latter coming over to Brayford's side. The next opportunity of the game fell to Crewe again, this time through Calvin Zola. Clayton Donaldson did superbly down the left to brush off Craig Dawson on the left and his cross found Zola, but Crewe's leading goalscorer directed his header wide of Tom Heaton's right post.
The first half was coming to a close and it was the home side who were edging the play and were unlucky not to score. Joel Grant played the ball down the left to Clayton Donaldson who picked up the ball and fired it across goal. However, he couldn't get it on target and the ball rolled out for a goal-kick to Tom Heaton.
That was the final act of the first half and it came to a close with the home side on top and Keith Hill would have strong words with his side in the dressing room at half-time.
As the players came out for the second half, that certainly seemed to be the case as they launched an attack inside the first twenty seconds. Tom Kennedy played a great ball from the left to Joe Thompson at the far post, which was just cut out by Matt Tootle whose clearance only just went wide of his left post and out for a Dale corner. With six minutes gone Dale made their first substitution of the game with Kallum Higginbotham coming on for Joe Thompson on the right side.
However, three minutes later and Dale's impressive start to the half paid off as they took the lead through Craig Dawson. A Tom Kennedy corner was swung in to the back post where Dawson was waiting as he thumped the ball home on the half-volley with his left foot to put Dale ahead.
Keith Hill's side had taken the lead again and it was becoming a familiar occurrence, as was Craig Dawson finding the back of the net. However, just six minutes later a lapse in concentration from Nathan Stanton almost led to an equaliser for the home side. He attempted to play the ball back to Tom Heaton but under-hit the pass into the path of Clayton Donaldson. Donaldson was now one-on-one with Heaton, but the 'keeper on loan from Old Trafford stayed on his feet until the last possible moment as he made a fine save to keep the score at 1-0.
Donaldson had another good opportunity a minute later when he coolly flicked on a Crewe free-kick, but again Heaton was equal to it as he kept the effort out. Tom Kennedy tried his best to equal Stanton's earlier poor pass as he played a ball across his own box which was intercepted by Joel Grant, but his effort was well blocked by Stanton.
However, just two minutes later and Crewe got their equaliser. A Chris Dagnall handball led to a free-kick for the home side which was taken quickly. After an attempt at a cross the ball came out to Ashley Westwood who superbly turned and hit the ball on the volley past Tom Heaton and into the Dale net.
With Crewe now level Dale would need an instant reply to get back into the game as they looked to re-take the lead - and that is exactly what happened. Chris O'Grady brought the ball forward from the half-way line before a Crewe body challenged for the ball. Fortunately for Dale the ball rolled out to Kallum Higginbotham who was around 25 yards out. Higgy measured up his shot and gave the ball a thumping as it flew into the top corner. It was a screamer from the substitute which sent the 1,192 travelling fans wild.
That goal was worthy of winning any game and it would have been another three points if Dale were able to hold off Crewe with fifteen minutes remaining. Unfortunately they weren't, as Matt Tootle equalised for the home side. Clayton Donaldson was played in on the right of the area before releasing a shot which Tom Heaton did well to save. However, he could only palm it into the path of Tootle who had the simplest of jobs to tap home to equalise a second time for Crewe.
It would not have been surprising if there were anymore goals in the game and both sides had chances as the game came to a close. Tom Heaton was forced into another fine save with five minutes to go after Calvin Zola had a deflected shot turned away by the Dale stopper. Will Atkinson sliced a shot wide as normal time came to a close and Chris O'Grady had an effort which was well held by Steve Phillips.
But that was to be the end of proceedings as referee Oliver Langford brought the game to a close. On reflection, it was a deserved point for both sides after a good game of football which really caught the eye. Dale will be hoping to get back to winning ways with the visit of Morecambe on Monday. Don't forget we need YOUR help from 8am Sunday morning to help clear the snow from the Spotland pitch in order to get the game on. Any help would be fantastic!
Crewe: Phillips, Brayford, O'Donnell, Donaldson, Zola, Grant, Mitchel-King, Murphy, Westwood, Tootle, Walton.
Dale: Heaton, Flynn, T Kennedy, Dawson, Stanton, Taylor, J Kennedy, Atkinson, Thompson, O'Grady, Dagnall.
Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands). Assistant Referees: Scott Oldham (Lancashire) & Andrew Scregg (Merseyside). Fourth Official: Peter Davies (Cheshire).
Attendance: 5,563 (1,192 Dale supporters).
