Carlisle United 2 - 0 Rochdale

Rochdale’s four game unbeaten run came to an end on Tuesday evening (1 March), following a 2-0 defeat at Carlisle United, as they were left to rue missed opportunities.

Goals from Omari Patrick and Tobi Sho-Silva sealed the points for the Cumbrians at Brunton Park. 

Patrick broke the deadlock in the 25th minute, before Sho-Silva wrapped up the game on 90 minutes as Dale went in search of the equaliser. 

There was one change to the side that lined up against Northampton Town at the weekend, as Stephen Dooley came in for Max Taylor.

Alex Newby had the first shot of the game, inside the opening minute, when he had an effort held by Mark Howard following a good move forward straight from kick-off. 

Omari Patrick then picked up on a loose ball in the middle of the pitch and drove at goal before playing in Kristian Dennis, who struck well wide of the target. 

Up the other end, Liam Kelly picked out Matty Done on the left with a superb ball forward. Done, making his 250th appearance in the league for Dale, took it down before getting in one-on-one with the’ keeper but Howard saved the shot with his legs. 

Newby then curled an effort wide from distance. 

Jamie Devitt skewed a shot past the post from a ball in from the right that went all the way through the box, while Dennis headed wide from Joe Riley’s ball into the area. 

Jay Lynch then had to pull off an important save in the 16th minute, as Jordan Gibson’s cross from the right ended up on target, forcing the goalkeeper to get back and superbly claw away the ball off the line. 

Rochdale who were dominating for large spells, then went on to have another three chances to break the deadlock before the home side opened the scoring, arguably against the run of play. 

Jimmy Keohane battled past a number of Carlisle players before feeding the ball through to Tahvon Campbell, who had his shot blocked. Howard had to get two hands behind Newby’s powerful free-kick to push it away, while Stephen Dooley then fired a shot wide from 25-yards. 

The Cumbrians went ahead with 25 minutes on the clock. Lynch was unable to hold on to a free-kick into the area and Patrick fired into the roof of the net from close range.

Soon after the goal, Dooley fired an effort wide for Dale from 25-yards after driving into space. 

Around the half hour, the hosts came within inches of doubling their advantage, but Patrick could only look on as his low curling effort, across the face of goal, came crashing off the post. 

Before the break, Newby and Kelly linked up well before the former crossed for Keohane and he had a volley well blocked.

Despite a positive first half display, Rochdale were unable to find the goal that would deservedly draw them level, and Carlisle took the advantage into the break.

Six minutes after the restart Captain Eoghan O’Connell had a dipping shot from 20-yards held, setting the tone for the half, with Dale having the better of the chances throughout the second period and forcing the 'keeper into several saves. 

Kelly then drove at goal from the middle of the pitch, soon after, playing in Campbell who struck wide of the post. 

Up the other end, Patrick cut inside onto his right and had a shot held by Lynch before Gibson, from 12-yards, hit high over the bar from a low cross in from the left. 

On the hour, Kelly picked out Done with a superb through ball but he was denied by the legs of Howard. 

Two Dale changes followed, with Max Clark and Done making way for Corey O’Keeffe and Conor Grant. 

After capitalising on a Rochdale error, Carlisle got in on goal, but Gibson fired an effort wide of the far post from just inside the area.

Dale’s third and final substitution came soon after, in the 72nd minute, as Luke Charman replaced Newby. 

Rochdale looked the mostly likely to net an equaliser as the game entered the closing stages, as they battled to find the goal that would draw them level.

After Charman played in Dooley, he slide in Grant who had a shot tipped around the post. Howard then was forced to get two hands behind Kelly’s effort to pat it down. 

But Carlisle hit Dale on the break in the 90th minute to wrap the game up, with Sho-Silva finishing beyond Lynch. 

Report courtesy of rochdaleafc.co.uk

 

Rochdale: Lynch, Ball, O'Connell, Dorsett, Keohane, Kelly, Dooley, Clark (O'Keeffe 63), Newby (Charman 73), Campbell, Done (Grant 63)
Substitutes: (not used) McNulty, Broadbent, Odoh, Coleman

Carlise United: Howard, Riley, Simeu, Feeney, Mellish, Armer, Gibson, Guy (Whelan 75), Devitt (Devine 68), Dennis (Sho-Silva 72)
Substitutes: (not used) Norman, Alessandra, Roberts, Omotoye