Football: Rochdale 3 - 3 Portsmouth

Date published: 07 April 2018

Matt Done scored a stoppage time own goal to cruelly deny Rochdale maximum points in a pulsating game against play-off hopefuls Portsmouth at the Crown Oil Arena. The left back headed into his own net deep into stoppage time as Portsmouth came from behind three times to stop Dale climbing out of the relegation places. Earlier Bradden Inman and Stephen Humphrys had twice edged Rochdale in front only for Brett Pitman to level on both occasions. Ian Henderson had appeared to have won it for Dale before the late drama.

After back-to-back victories over Shrewsbury and Bury, Dale changed their formation for the visit of Portsmouth, who at the start of play sat just outside of the play-off places. Stephen Humphrys was given a start with Ryan Delaney dropping to the bench as the Dale manager went with four at the back instead of the three used in recent games.

Rochdale took the lead after 14 minutes thanks to Bradden Inman’s third league goal of the season. Callum Camps’ clever first-time pass set Henderson away, and he picked out Inman on the corner of the area. Inman dropped his shoulder before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the far corner of Luke McGee’s net to open the scoring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dale thought they had doubled their advantage nine minutes later; Inman’s corner was met at the near post by Joe Rafferty and his header sailed over McGee with Henderson knocking the ball over the line – an assistant’s flag cutting short the celebrations.

That was to prove costly as soon after Portsmouth were level. A swift counter attack by Pitman played in Jamal Lowe inside the box. The winger slipped and when the Dale defence stopped, Lowe got back to his feet and picked out Pitman at the back post to slot into a virtually unguarded net.

Portsmouth hadn’t really troubled the Dale goal but almost went in front when Gareth Evans saw his piledriver from the edge of the area crash off the crossbar.

Rochdale were playing attractive attacking football and went close on a number of occasions before the half time whistle.

Rathbone and McNulty saw efforts go narrowly off target whilst McGee thwarted Rafferty and Humphrys, the latter being a very brave bit of goalkeeping with the Dale striker through on goal.

 

 

 

 

 

Dale started the second half in a similar fashion to the first half and deservedly took the lead just short of the hour in a move started and finished by Humphrys. He flicked a neat ball to Inman on the right who did well to hold up the play. He played back to Done who in turn found Humphrys on the left-hand corner of the 18-yard box before side footing beyond McGee’s dive to the bottom right corner.

Dale’s lead lasted less than five minutes and it was Pitman who again drew his side level. Rochdale just couldn’t convincingly clear their lines and when the ball was knocked back into the mix, Portsmouth’s leading scorer was on hand to lash the ball past Lillis.

The end-to-end game saw Dale once again take the lead through Henderson. More good work from Inman created space to cross and when Calvin Andrew nodded the ball across the face of the goal, Henderson was on hand to tap in from close range.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portsmouth, looking for a late dash into the play-off places, threw everything Dale in the closing moments and that pressure lead to the equaliser deep into stoppage time. The dangerman Pitman headed the ball across the face of goal towards Lowe but Done got there first and in his attempts to head over the bar, powered the ball into his own net.

It was a crushing blow to Dale who would have moved up to 19^th with victory but remain in the relegation zone, one point from safety but with a game in hand.

 

 

 

 

Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty, McGahey, McNulty, Done, Camps, Rathbone, Inman (Delaney 80), Henderson ©, Humphrys (Thompson 73), Andrew
Subs: (not used) Moore, Ntlhe, Wiseman, Davies, Dobre

Portsmouth: McGee, Thompson (Kennedy 60), Whatmough, Clarke, Donohue, Walkes, Lowe, Evans (Hawkins 72), Close, Naismith (O’Keefe 60), Pitman ©
Subs: (not used) Bass, Burgess, Ronan, Haunstrup

Referee: Mr S Oldham
Assistants: Mr C Taylor & Mr G Fyvie
Fourth Official: Mr J Simpson

Attendance: 3,781 (1,044 from Portsmouth)​