Rochdale were comfortable 1-0 winners over Chester FC in Dale’s first pre-season friendly of the summer in front of supporters, following last week’s game against Burnley.
Devante Rodney netted ten minutes into the second half at the Deva Stadium, in a tough run out in warm conditions.
A number of trialists were named in the squad for the fixture, as was second year scholar Paddy Watts.
The hosts had the first opportunity of the game after just two minutes and they came close to opening the scoring. Iwan Murray pounced on a loose ball and attempted to round Richard O’Donnell, but he could only drag his shot past the post after he was forced wide by the Dale goalkeeper.
Rochdale’s Trialist A then had a shot from outside the area held by Harry Tyrer, before Charman had a powerful shot blocked.
With a quarter of an hour played, Toumani Diagourga sent a timely through ball into the feet of Trialist A, who beat the offside trap, but some good goalkeeping saw Tyrer come off his line to narrow the angle and the shot was blocked at source.
Two minutes later the ‘keeper pulled off an excellent save to deny Charman. After latching onto the end of Ethan Ebanks-Landell’s diagonal ball, he brought the ball down and curled a certain goalbound effort towards the top corner, but Tyrer got his hand to it, to see it behind.
Up the other end, Jamie Morgan’s cross from the right was punched back into the mix by O’Donnell, and after it came back out to him, the Chester full-back headed wide of the near post and into the side netting.
Soon after, Diagouraga again slid a through ball forward for Trialist A, who cut inside before firing an effort narrowly wide from the edge of the area.
On the half hour, Charman fired wide of upright from 25-yards, before Darren Stephenson broke into the area and fired past O’Donnell’s near post.
A short time later Liam Kelly attempted a chip over the ‘keeper but Tyrer comfortably held.
Late on, from Paddy Watts’ deep cross, Charman had a header held by Tyrer before the ‘keeper denied the Dale forward in stoppage time. After breaking into the area, Charman saw his one-on-one shot well saved.
HT | Chester FC 0-0 Rochdale
Manager Robbie Stockdale made wholesale changes for the start of the second of half, with a different eleven lining up after half-time.
Rochdale broke the deadlock 10 minutes after the restart through Rodney. James Ball chased down a pass over the top and laid it off for Trialist F who in turn found Keohane at the back post. He squared into the middle for Rodney to fire home first time.
Dale looked comfortable and Keohane found himself in a similar position midway through the half, and he met a whipped ball to the back post from Max Taylor. He couldn’t keep his shot down and he blasted over the bar.
In a rare sight on goal for the home side during the second half, Kole Hall got a shot away inside the area which was held by Trialist C.
Soon after, though, Chester were denied by the woodwork. Morgan got to the byline before pulling the ball back for Murray who saw his strike come crashing off the bar.
Up the other end, Sam Graham got something on Brierley’s free-kick but not enough to trouble substitute goalkeeper Wall Stanway who held onto the effort.
Rodney’s goal proved to be the only goal of the game, and Dale recorded a 1-0 victory at the Deva Stadium.
First half | O’Donnell, Watts, Ebanks-Landell, McNulty, Odoh, White, Diagouraga, Kelly, Trialist A, Trialist B, Charman.
Second half | Trialist C, Graham, Taylor, John, Trialist D, Keohane, Trialist E, Brierley, Ball, Rodney, Trialist F.
