Football: Doncaster 1 - 1 Rochdale

Ollie Rathbone earned Rochdale a valuable point with a 25 yard shot. The midfielder broke forward from the half-way line with nine minutes left before hitting a low shot that beat Seny Dieng. Doncaster took a very early lead when Kieran Sadlier’s cross was brushed past Robert Sanchez after just 46 seconds. Both sides hit the woodwork in a first-half that Rochdale edged and just as it looked like it wouldn’t be Dale’s day; up stepped Rathbone with his third of the season

Matty Lund was given his first start since his deadline day signing from Scunthorpe whilst Luke Matheson started his first game on loan at Rochdale after his big money move to Premier League side Wolves.

Dale couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start as Doncaster took the lead inside the first minute for the second successive game against Rochdale at the Keepmoat. Sadlier sent in a teasing cross from the left that Jon Taylor touched towards goal with his shoulder that sent it just out of reach of Robert Sanchez.

The visitors responded well to going behind and went close as Doncaster goalkeeper Seny Dieng spilled Paul McShane’s goal bound header before the defence cleared.

Rathbone should have levelled midway through the first half after being picked out by Henderson; his shot from the edge of the area flew over the bar.

Sadlier was a real thorn in the Dale side and went close to doubling his sides lead with a curling shot that cannoned back off the right hand post whilst at the other end McShane almost got his first league goal for the club with a looping header that came back off the face of the crossbar.

Doncaster finished the half strong with Sanchez needing to be strong as Taylor was played through after Devante Cole dispossessed Aaron Morley. Taylor couldn’t add to his tally as Sanchez beat away his angled drive.

The second half was an even affair with the home side going close on a couple of occasions. Sadlier’s cross deflected off O’Connell with Sanchez re-adjusting his feet enough to save although he spilled the ball at the feet of Cole who inexplicably fired over from inside the six-yard box.

O’Connell cleared off the line as Sadlier managed poke a shot at goal before Rathbone’s leveller.

Some good work on the half-way line between Henderson and Rathbone set the midfielder away and as the defence stepped off, Rathbone hit a low shot that flew past Dieng.

The point moves Dale 11 points clear of the relegation zone ahead of the trip to Sunderland on Tuesday night.

 

Rochdale: Sanchez, Matheson, O’Connell, McShane, Norrington-Davies, Lund (Wilbraham 71), Ryan (Dooley 78), Morley, Rathbone, Henderson (c), Done (Smith 65)
Substitutes: (not used) Lynch, McNulty, Williams, Keohane

Doncaster: Dieng, Halliday, Anderson, Wright, James, Whiteman (c), Taylor (Ennis 64), Gomes (Sheaf 85), Sadlier, Ramsey, Cole (Okenabirhie 64)
Substitutes: (not used) Jones, Blair, Coppinger, John

Referee: Mr N Hair
Assistants: Mr G Mellor & Mr S Clayton
Fourth Official: Mr M Dicicco

Attendance: 7,638 (391 from Rochdale)