Johnstone's Paint Trophy Round One - 1st September 2009 - 7:15pm
Venue - Spotland
Dale's JPT dream was ended at the first hurdle at the hands of Bradford City, but the game did see Dale's Craig Dawson score his first professional goal for Dale on a night where Dale could have easily gone through to the second round but for some fortuitous moments for the away side.
Dale made just two changes from Saturday's 3-0 derby win over Bury. Kenny Arthur kept his place in goal whilst the back remained the same with Matt Flynn, Tom Kennedy, Marcus Holness and Craig Dawson making up the back four. Gary Jones was rested for the game, meaning Jason Kennedy lined up alongside Dale assistant manager David Flitcroft in the middle of the park. Adam Rundle came into the side in place of Chris O'Grady as he started on the left with Will Buckley on the opposite flank. Joe Thompson partnered Chris Dagnall up top who was looking to score for the third game in succession. Former Dale defender Simon Ramsden lined up in central defence for Bradford.
With a predictably small crowd inside Spotland for the game, the atmosphere was rather low key as the game kicked off. The first action of the game came when the Bradford left-back Luke O'Brien ran down the left flank before firing in a cross. As crosses go it was a poor one, but it almost turned into the opening goal of the game when it deceived Dale goalkeeper Kenny Arthur and came off his crossbar before bouncing out for a goal-kick.
Dale's first opportunity of the match came in the 13th minute through Will Buckley. Jason Kennedy played a chipped ball down the left into the path of Joe Thompson, who cut back onto his right foot and played in a great cross to the far post for Buckley. The youngster's header was aimed to the back post, but Bradford goalkeeper Simon Eastwood managed to claw the ball over the bar and out for a Dale corner. From the resulting corner Craig Dawson managed to win a header but it looped up and into Eastwood's hand for an easy save.
With 20 minutes gone came Bradford's best chance of the game. Gareth Evans did well to hold the ball up on his own just outside the Dale box before laying the ball of to Michael Flynn. Flynn played a through ball to Scott Neilson inside the Dale box, but his cross-shot evaded everyone in the Dale box before eventually finding its way out for a corner.
With little over 25 minutes played Dale almost did what Bradford couldn't do earlier in the game by scoring from a cross. Adam Rundle whipped a left-footed in-swinging corner into the box which was heading goalwards before Simon Eastwood tipped it over the bar. However, referee Geoff Eltringham, in his first season as a Football League referee, gave a goal-kick to the team from Yorkshire, much to the bemusement of the Sandy Lane end.
It was a first half on the pitch that reflected the atmosphere off it, with the Spotland crowd relatively quiet and the action not living up to what it has been doing in the previous few matches for Dale. With half an hour played Chris Dagnall tried his luck from distance with a right-footed effort, but his shot flew over the bar. Dagnall had another good chance just a minute later Will Buckley played a ball to him at the near post, but he couldn't get the ball under control to fire his shot away.
Then came Dale's turn to rattle the crossbar. Good work from Adam Rundle led to him putting a good cross in from the left and after Will Buckley had chested the ball down Chris Dagnall latched on to the ball with a left-footed stinger of a shot that Bradford goalkeeper Eastwood could get nowhere near, with the ball coming back off the crossbar and out to safety.
The half was set to turn into an end-to-end affair at one point as both sides looked to score the opening goal before half-time. Good defensive work from Marcus Holness kept James Hanson at bay after a good low ball in from Gareth Evans. Dale almost fortuitously gained the lead when Simon Eastwood sent a clearance looping into the air before it was eventually cleared from danger by Bradford centre back Steve Williams.
The first half came to a close with the score-line untroubled after a half where either side could have easily taken the lead, but one where the score at half-time was a fair one for both teams.
Dale started the 2nd half as the livelier of the two teams and could have taken an early second half lead when Joe Thompson did well down the right to fire a cross in, but Eastwood just got there ahead of Buckley to claim the ball. Kenny Arthur was called into action for the first time in the half when he had to get his body behind a Bradford shot from 20 yards.
Bradford's Scott Neilson had the first good chance of the second half to break the deadlock just 6 minutes into the second 45 minutes. He did well down the right-side and cut inside, beating Tom Kennedy and Adam Rundle, but his shot went harmlessly into the side netting at the near post.
Kenny Arthur was called into action again with 11 minutes played as former Macclesfield striker Gareth Evans did well to make room down the left for the ball to be played into his path before he unleashed a shot which took a slight deflection, but Arthur was equal to it making a comfortable save at the near post.
Then came the pivotal moment in the game with just under an hour played. Dale won a free-kick on the right side which was whipped in by Adam Rundle. The ball took a deflection or two before coming to central defender Craig Dawson just inside the area. Showing composure past his years and the technique of an experienced striker, the youngster from Radcliffe chested the ball down before turning and firing a right-footed shot into the far corner past Bantams goalkeeper Simon Eastwood to give Dale the lead.
Scott Spencer had his chance to open his Dale tally with 65 minutes played when Dale launched an effect counter-attack. Chris Dagnall did well to win the ball in midfield and drive forward before playing in Spencer. Spencer took a touch to get the ball onto his right foot but Simon Eastwood was out of his goal well to block Spencer's shot and keep the score at one.
It was Bradford's turn just a minute later to put the pressure on Dale. Scott Neilson did well to beat Tom Kennedy down the right before firing a shot off that was deflected out for a corner. From the corner Bradford could have taken the lead but for Scott Spencer on the line who cleared a towering header from safety. Kenny Arthur was called into action less than a minute later when he had to leap to his left to claw away a header at his near post.
With little over 15 minutes remaining Bradford equalised in contentious circumstances. Scott Neilson appeared to ride a slide tackle from Tom Kennedy, but the referee deemed it to be a foul and blew for a free-kick. Michael Flynn took the free-kick and struck it with power towards goal. It was too hot for Kenny Arthur to handle in the Dale goal and the ball found its way into the Dale goal, making the scores level again.
Flynn almost gave Bradford the lead just two minutes later when he struck another shot with venom towards goal, but fortunately for Dale it bounced off Kenny Arthur's right post and out to safety.
Bradford did take the lead in the 79th minute, a goal which, again, came in fortuitous circumstances. Scott Neilson picked the ball up in midfield before driving at the Dale defence and unleashing a powerful shot towards goal. His shot took a wicked deflection off Dale defender Marcus Holness and looped up over goalkeeper Kenny Arthur and into the net, giving the away side a 2-1 lead.
As the clock ticked down Dale found it difficult to create any real goal-scoring opportunities. Bradford had one or two opportunities but Kenny Arthur was alert enough in the Dale goal to keep them at bay. Chris Brown made his Dale debut coming on for Dave Flitcroft with around five minutes remaining.
Unfortunately for Dale Bradford's second goal was to be the last meaningful event of the game and Dale saw their JPT run ended at the first hurdle, going down 2-1 at home to Bradford City. It's on to Morecambe now on Friday night as Keith Hill's side get back to League duties.
Dale: Arthur, Flynn, T Kennedy, Holness, Dawson, J Kennedy, Flitcroft, Thompson, Rundle, Buckley, Dagnall.
Bradford: Eastwood, Ramsden, O'Brien, Flynn, Bullock, Evans, Thorne, Brandon, Williams, Bateson, Neilson.
Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Tyne & Wear). Assistant Referees: Darren Bond & Dean Moraheb. 4th Official: Lee Metcalfe.
Attendance: 1,800.
There will be a full interview with Keith Hill on the Official Website shortly.
