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Match Report by Laurence Reade. Back to news page Rochdale AFC 2 (Oliver, Melaugh) Oxford United 1(Savage) United followed one poor performance on Tuesday with another here at Spotland. Surprisingly Ian Atkins made only one change replacing Powell with Robinson, starting the game with Basham playing through the centre supported by Scott and Savage on the flanks. For the vast majority of the half neither side were able to convert possession to genuine chances. United had marginally the greater possession, but were incapable of finding Basham in anything like a dangerous position. Rochdale's sole source of inspiration was former Manor favourite Simpson, who was working tirelessly to probe the United defence but it seemed that Dale's best chances would lie form set plays. Woodman flapped at a Melaugh cross, and Simpson's diagonal ball found Platt who tested Woodman with a sharp shot, but this was game which few of the sparse (2,764) crowd were enjoying. United were being swamped in the midfield by the home tactic of playing 4 4 2, and this was compounded by Savage and Scott pushing too far forward, and Robinson and McNiven playing too far back, thus breaking up any cohesion. A measure of how badly United were playing was that it took until the 40th minute for Oxford to gain their first corner. It seemed that nothing would break the deadlock until, with seconds to go in the half a moment of brilliance broke the mould. Rochdale lumped the ball forward in typically robust style and Edwards cleared weakly to Oliver 20 yards out. He launched a rocket of a shot that flew past an utterly beaten Woodman into the top left hand corner. United changed little in the second half. Rochdale however seemed buoyed by the goal and attacked with more purpose if not with any great finesse. The two big forwards had no trickery in then at all and offered few problems to the 3 centre halves. Bound post evaded everyone, but it was obvious that changes had to be made. Ford replaced McNiven, with Hunter looking far more impressive at wing back, and it was his throw that caused chaos in the home penalty area when Crosby swung a cross in. Basham came close to connecting but this was as close as he was to be today. The U's were being to ask questions through Ford but seemed to lack the urgency to get themselves back into the game. Scott was anonymous on the left, while another left sided player, Simpson was continuing to create chances with precise passing, and on one occasion by simply wriggling into the box. Woodman did well to catch, diving to his left. By the hour mark Scott was so far removed from the game that when Basham broke towards the near post and played a diagonal ball to the back, Scott was nowhere to be seen. Sadly there was no left winger on the bench, and Basham continued to be choked through lack of service. With the passing this pitiful it was going to take something stupid to get United back in the game, and with 20 minutes left a Savage cross from the right caught the wind and looped over Edwards and inside the back post. Edwards was rapidly replaced to the chant of, "Thank you very much for the midget 'keeper, " from the away end. Former U's target Hodges replaced Rochdale's only player of note, Simpson, and scandalously United decided to play for a point. They proceeded to collect exactly what they deserved. Hodges shot was saved well by Woodman, and Grand headed over, but Oxford did not take the hint and with 2 minutes left, a high diagonal ball from the right found Melaugh 15 yards out unmarked and he headed past Woodman into the top left corner. Oxford pressed desperately and a Savage cross found Louis whose header was brilliantly saved by Gilks, but it was too little too late, and your correspondent sought solace in the Willbutts Lane Chippy.
Next Carlisle at Home Saturday 15th
February
2003-Division 3 kick off 3.00pm
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