AFC Wimbledon 3 - 1 Rochdale

Photo: Brad Journeaux

AFC Wimbledon v Rochdale

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Rochdale’s play-off ambitions took a massive hit as three goals in five minutes early in the second half saw AFC Wimbledon secure maximum points.

Rochdale's plight wasn’t helped by the dismissal of defender Keith Keane in first half stoppage time for a second bookable offence but it was Dale’s capitulation in that five minute spell that will worry maager Keith Hill more.

Callum Camps’ 35 yard strike gave Dale hope but they couldn’t get any closer.

The Dale manager’s pre-match preparation was thrown into chaos moments before the start of the game when Niall Canavan pulled up injured in the warm-up; Joe Bunney promoted to a starting place whilst Andy Cannon took the spare place on the substitute’s bench.

The first half hour saw Rochdale dominate but they just couldn’t force the opening goal.

Yet again Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was the instigator in everything good his side did as they looked to close the gap on the teams above in the race for the play-offs.

Inside the first 30 seconds, Mendez-Laing picked out Lund down the left for the Northern Ireland international to send an inviting cross towards Calvin Andrew - Wimbledon smothering it behind for a corner.

Mendez-Laing terrorised George Francombe at full back every time he attacked and when his dangerous low ball flew across the goal mouth, it only needed a touch but it evaded everybody in a Rochdale shirt.

Skipper Ian Henderson was his usual energetic self and he came close with two efforts within minutes of each other. His first, a turn and shot inside the box, was deflected over for a corner. His second effort came even closer; the striker picked up possession on the left before cutting and curling a delicious shot that beat James Shea in the Wimbledon goal but thumped back off the woodwork.

Mendez-Laing tried a cheeky lob in between the two Henderson efforts that drifted narrowly wide as Rochdale continued to dictate the play.

In one of Wimbledon’s first forays forward, Keane was booked for what looked a perfectly timed challenge; a decision that would come back to haunt Dale soon after.

As the game drifted towards half-time, Wimbledon started to find their feet and caused Rochdale a few problems. The pacey Lyle Taylor beat the offside trap 10 minutes before the break, but Conrad Logan came to the rescue as he blocked the shot with his foot.

There was another scare for Dale moments later when a counter attack stretched the Dale but when the ball was pulled back for Tom Soares, he fluffed his lines.

With one minute time added on at the end of the first half, Dale were reduced to ten men. Defender Darius Charles’ marauding run from the back came to an abrupt end when Keane brought him down, and having already been booked could have little complaint when referee Brett Huxtable produced a second yellow card.

With the prospect of playing a man light for the entire second half, the Rochdale manager would have wanted a solid start to the second half but his side gave him anything but.

A left wing corner in the 53rd minute found an unmarked Sean Kelly who powered a header into the net to make the Dale task even harder.

One soon became two when another set piece caused confusion with Taylor capitalising to sweep home from 10 yards.

The final nail in the Dale coffin came just 90 seconds later. The tricky Andy Barcham was hauled down by Matt Lund inside the box for a penalty kick which Dean Parrett dispatched, despite Logan guessing the right way.

With the game seemingly won, Wimbledon made a triple change which could have proved a mistake as soon after Dale had a goal back. Callum Camps’ powerful shot from distance should have been saved by Shea but it squirmed through and into the net.

That goal gave Dale a renewed vigour and had Jamie Allen’s 69th minute shot hit the inside of the post rather than the outside then this game could have had a different outcome.

Still with a two goal cushion, Wimbledon soaked up any Dale pressure and when they did press forward they couldn’t get past Conrad Logan who pulled off a superb double save with 15 minutes left on the clock.

Jake Reeves powered a shot from close range after a left wing cross but Logan instinctively stuck out a hand and when Tyrone Barnett sent the loose ball back at goal, Logan was down quickly to push away his effort.

In the end, it was a frustrating evening for the 203 travelling Rochdale fans who knew their side should have been out of sight before the sending off but the result leaves Dale with a mountain to climb if they are to launch a late push for the play-offs.

AFC Wimbledon: Shea, Francombe, Charles, Robinson (c), Kelly, Barcham (Poleon 62), Soares, Reeves, Parrett, Elliot (Barnett 62), Taylor (Fitzpatrick 62).
Subs (not used ): McDonnell, Meades, Bulman, Nightingale.

Rochdale: Logan, McGahey, Keane, McNulty, Bunney (Cannon 60), Lund (Rafferty 59), Allen, Camps, Andrew, Mendez-Laing (Rathbone 66), Henderson (c).
Subs (not used): Wilson, Vincenti, McDermott, Davies.

Referee: Mr B Huxtable
Assistants: Mr D Bushel and Mr A Degnarain
Fourth Official: Mr R Hyde