ROCHDALE v GILLS

[iblue]

Gills Team: Stephen Bywater; Matt Fish; John Egan (captain); Leon Legge; Kortney Hause; Brennan Dickenson; Amine Linganzi; Jake Hessenthaler; Josh Pritchard; Bradley Dack and Cody McDonald

Subs: Josh Hare; Luke Norris; Jermaine McGlashan; Antonio German; Gavin Hoyte; Danny Kedwell and Stuart Nelson.


Even start for the first ten minutes but one nice cross from Fish, fed by Dack down the right and McDonald was just a yard short in reaching the ball.

Rochdale found the Gills net but ‘goal’ ruled out because offside – stifled the cheers of the home fans. Dale looking lively down the flanks causing Gills to quicken defensive duties.

A cross to Dale’s Vincetti found him clear and unmarked on the penalty spot but his effort was tame and Gills escape from what should have been the first goal of the game.

15 minutes: Dale’s Done linking well with Vincetti, Henderson and Scott Tanser and Dale’s left back Eastham was allowed too much freedom running right into the penalty area. Good defensive work at the last minute saved the day.

Gills holding on at the moment with Fish (first start for some time) off having treatment to a facial injury.

[iblue]

20 minutes: Linganzi and Cody McDonald combine well for a half-chance but still nowhere near an actual Gills shot on target. Gills playing hard for each other though and so far it is a good team effort against a lively and hard working Rochdale.

25 minutes: Rochdale score through Peter Vincetti from a cross from Reece Bennet who had loads of time to pick his cross. It wasn't a hard hit cross but Vincentti was absolutely clear to nod home at the far post. Again, the Gills defence have allowed a free header to enter the net.

ROCHDALE 1 GILLS 0

[iblue]

ROCHDALE 1 v GILLS 0 :

30 minutes: Giving the opposition a goal start seems to be the norm for Gills on their travels. They are still without a win away from Priestfield and only one point out of 18. With defending lapses that they always seem to make and lack of creating goal chances (even half chances) it will be a big effort to claw back in this match. Rochdale well on top and frankly do not have to raise their game much to beat this Gills team - on the evidence so far.

31 minutes: Rochdale had a great chance to make it two. Ball not cleared properly and that man Vincentti should have put it in from close range.

32 minutes: Michael Rose thumped a great shot from fully 25 yards that Bywater could only parry but Henderson should have put the rebound in but skied it over the bar. In all honesty the score should now by 3-0. Dale well on top and Gills making them look like World beaters with Done controlling the midfield and putting the ball just where he pleases. Gills heads are close to 'dropping' and another goal before half-time will surely put this game to bed for Dale.

35 minutes: Rose hits another shot from distance that was well saved by Bywater. Gills look like they ae 'falling apart' with Taylor and Hessenthaler powerless to do anything from the touchline.

[iblue]

ROCHDALE 1 v GILLS 0

36 minutes: Rare forward movement from Gills but the break fall down and Dale were quick to counter attack. Some signs of Gills losing it mentally with some crude tackling that thankfully the referee has so far let go. Half-time break will be welcome for Gills and Taylor + Hess so that they can re-group and perhaps find a way back in this game all the while it remains a single goal.

38 minutes: Bradley Dack receives a yellow for a bad tackle and on another day with another ref it could have been red. Gills frustration showing and Taylor has to get through to the Gills team in the break.

42 minutes: Gills corner from a Linganzi shot and Dack took it. Egan headed it to McDonald but he didn't have enough on it to turn it into the Dale net.

HALF-TIME: ROCHDALE 1 v GILLS 0 - How Gills are only one goal down in a completely one-sided game is unbelievable, considering this 'Sunday pub team' display from Gills

[iblue]

SECOND HALF: ROCHDALE 1 v GILLS 0

Luke Norris replaces Bradley Dack which is the first action from Peter Taylor. Suspect this was because of his bad foul and yellow card booking plus his petulant hoof at the match bal,l kicking out in frustration high into the air, when the half-time whistle blew.

Kortney Hause looks like he has an injury but he is running it off - seeing this Done puts a neat ball over his head and it took great effort for Hause to turn and clear. Another long ball and this time Hause went down and received more treatment.

54 minutes: Dale on the attack finding Gills all at sea defensively but they wasted a golden chance to notch their second. Hause had to come off and was replaced by Gavin Hoyte

Rare attack from Gills and a decent cross from Norris and Langanzi headed down but McDonald just couldn't reach the loose ball.

Dale on the attack and Done puts over yet another cross and Hendeson had a free header (again!) but his effort was just wide of Bywater's post. Another Henderson effort was flicked on at the near post but again just wide.

All Dale now and a cross from Henderson was put straight into Bywater's stomach from goalscorer Vincennti two yards out when it should have been sidefooted in the back of the net.

How it remains only 1-0 is a worry for Dale as Gills could get lucky - don't deserve it but you never know.

[iblue]

ROCHDALE 1 v GILLS 0

On the hour and still Dale running this game - keeping the ball and passing it around. If this was a boxing match the referee would have stopped it to save further punishment.

Gills midfield is almost non-existent in creativity just trying to stem the running home team. Cody McDonald is a lonely figure waiting for scraps.

Are Rochdale this good? or are Gills making them look like League Champions? Either way Gills are receiving a lesson in how to beat teams - the only thing missing as far as they are concerned is goals - Gills using all their luck in this one game it seems.

70 minutes: Corner for Gills - Hessenthaler takes corner and it's cleared direct to Dickinson on the edge of the area who sadly fires it into row Z.

72 minutes: Peter Taylor takes off Langanzi and sends on Jermaine McGlashan as another striker in an effort to get an equaliser and what would be the greatest 'smash and grab' by any team this season.

Rochdale still in charge and yet another corner for Gills to defend but cleared by Legge who sent McGlashan off on a run and he gains a corner. McDonald has a half-chance from a downward header from Legge but it just didn't come on to him quick enough and a defender cleared.

Gills lose another life as Done was through on goal and pushed it wide of Bywater's post when he should have scored.

15 minutes left and is there time for Gills to get an undeserved equaliser?

[iblue]

ROCHDALE 1 v GILLS 0

80 minutes: Dale make some changes. Dale's Vincentti and Stephen Dawson combine in the area and desperate defensive work save Gills once again.

UNBELIEVABLE - GILLS SCORE - Cody McDonald! Header down from Luke Norris and first to the ball was Cody who scrambled it home

ROCHDALE 1 v GILLS 1

[iblue]

ROCHDALE 1 v GILLS 1 - Attendance 2,574 (Gills fans 250+)

83 minutes: McGlashan causing some problems to Dale with his pace. Dale must be kicking themselves for not beating Gills out of sight if you add up all their wasted chances. Still, it's goals that count!

85 minutes: Dale have re-grouped and have a couple of half-chances with long shots that are claimed well by Bywater.

90 minutes: Quiet period but FIVE minutes of added time for one team to get a winner. Dale still coming forward and Gills have work to do throwing their bodies in front of Dale players who are lining up to fire at Bywater. Good Dale cross taken by Bywater who holds play up much to the disgust of home fans before releasing up field as the minutes tick away...

FULL-TIME: ROCHDALE 1 v GILLS 1

Oh Lucky Gills! - This was an unlikely but welcomed point for Gills who have not played well all game after being pulled apart from a Rochdale side that clearly should have won but couldn't find that second goal.

[muppet]

Thanks again I-blue, sounds like we got a thumping, but at the end if the day it's goals that count and we got a much needed away point and possibly some confidence to go with it. We have been robbed like that at home before so onwards and upwards.......... I hope.

[mistert]

Great report once again, thanks. About time the luck went our way. Hopefully this will be a morale-boosting point.

[Deleted]

Sure seems we had some narrow scrapes and squeaky rear end times, but a touch of luck and a point.
Our position is lowly, but the table is tight,so still think we will end up ok.
Many thank iblue,yet again.

[gillsjan]

Thank you iblue really good to get this report when they are playing away. We need a little luck as we have not had much of late.