Match Report: Rochdale 0-0 AFC Fylde

The Coasters held play-off hopeful’s Rochdale to a point at the Crown Oil Arena, putting in assured defensive display during the penultimate away fixture of the campaign.

Nick Haughton got proceedings underway for the Coasters as Ben Winterbottom sent the ball long from kick-off earning a throw in that was sent deep into the Rochdale box.

The opening stages were fairly scrappy with neither side taking a grip of the game, as the first threatening effort on goal went the hosts’ way when Devante Rodney rose highest at the back post from a Aidan Barlow looping set piece just past the ten minute mark.

A touching tribute to former Dale player and local man Joe Thompson took place on the fifteenth minute as the referee paused proceedings and both sets of fans partook in a minitue’s applause.

Winterbottom was the first of the two keepers to be forced into a save as he claimed Kairo Mitchell’s tame effort from distance.

Will Hugill won a free-kick in a dangerous area allowing Joe Riley to send a ball into the area where he found the head of Harry Davis whose effort flew wide.

Moments later Jim Mcnulty’s side saw several efforts on goal following a succession of corners with Max Bardell making a crucial intervention before Cory Edwards fired an effort wide.

Owen Evans then put in a timely challenge on Michael Adu-Poku to deny the wing-back a chance to fire a teasing ball into the middle, resulting in a fifth corner kick in about a minute. 

The Coasters held firm and eventually managed to regain possession and slow down proceedings towards the end of the first 45.

Haughton forced a pivotal block from Dale skipper Kyron Gordon as Ash Botswain combined well with Hugill who burst into the area towards the byline before laying off Haughton who struck from just inside the 6-yard-box, minutes before the interval.

There were a flurry of opportunities early in the second 45, with both sides finding more joy in the forward areas.

An early effort in the second half forced Winterbottom to make a smart low stop when Sam Beckwith found Mitchell just outside the six-yard-box before firing a powerful low strike towards the Fylde goal.

Moments later Lincoln McFayden and Haughton combined well down the left hand side with the former striking a weak effort towards goal.

Harvey Gilmore forced an excellent stop from Winterbottom as he dove at full stretch to his right hand side before palming the goal bound effort round the post.

Bardell did well down the right hand side following a long ball forward from Winterbottom that lead to a corner kick, with Evans and Hugill eventually striking efforts from distance before it was claimed by Barrett in the Dale goal with just over 15 minutes left to play.

Substitute Tarryn Allarakhia then struck a powerful effort from distance forcing Cory Whelan to make a timely block.

Gavin Massey did well to find Whealan from a set-piece at an awkward angle who headed wide of the target, moments before Massey again played a teasing ball towards the back stick just beyond the reach of Bardell who came close to connecting with it, in the final attacking action of the encounter.

A resolute defensive display in Greater Manchester for David Longwell’s side proving to be enough to earn a point. 

AFC Fylde : Winterbottom, Davis, Whelan (C), Stokes (Long 64′), McFayden, Evans, Riley (Massey 61′), Hugill, Bardell, Haughton (Ormerod 82′) , Boatswain (Jolley 64′)

Subs not used: Clark, Sassi, Ustabasi

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