Rochdale 5-2 Bolton

Biggie wrote:KP where were you for the game?

You mean with being absent from the chat box?

The goals -

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I know I'm the eternal optimist, but when did we last score two goals in a game?

I'm not going to slag off the kids, they must have been knackered after Saturday. I blame the senior pro's who came back into the team 

We scored twice which is great and will give them a boost but we tired at the end which is no big surprise considering the effort put in on Saturday. I hope Edwards and Politic are not injured as they have both been great so far and we can't afford to lose any more players.

Report: Rochdale vs. Bolton Wanderers

Seven goals at the Crown Oil Arena but not in Wanderers favour as they bow out of the Carabao Cup First Round in a 5-2 defeat to Rochdale.

First Half

Callum Camps had the first chance of the cup clash, as a first-time shot from distance following a dangerous free-kick ended up wide of the mark.

Dale nearly got in behind the Wanderers defence through left back Rhys Norrington-Davies, but centre half Liam Edwards got back to brilliantly block the effort on goal.

Remi Matthews came to the rescue for the Whites just after the ten minute mark, as Ian Henderson got in behind the backline but on to be met by a marvellous save by the Bolton shot stopper.

Within moments of this, Ronan Darcy had put the away side ahead with his first senior goal for the club, wrong footing the goalkeeper from 25 yards.

Politic nearly had the visiting side up by two in quick style, but his jinking run ended in a deflected shot wide of the mark.

The away side were firmly in the ascendancy at this point in the tie, with a James Weir layoff to Politic ending with the Romanian stinging the gloves of Robert Sanchez in the Rochdale goal.

The home side were awarded a penalty soon after, when Yoan Zouma fouled Camps in the area, before Henderson dispatched the ball past Matthews from 12 yards.

Following the half hour mark, Matthew Done left the crossbar shaking as his shot from 25 yards cannoned off the upright.

Not long after and the Wanderers goal frame saved the visitors, with Aaron Morley teeing up Jim McNulty with a free header that had everybody beaten, only for the bar to come to rescue.

Second Half

Within three minutes of the restart and Dennis Politic fired Phil Parkinson’s men into the lead, as he robbed Tyler Magloire of the ball before firing the ball underneath Sanchez.

The Romanian wide man went for the speculative a minute prior to the hour mark, with two efforts from the halfway line ending well wide.

Rochdale found the equaliser through second half substitute Rekeil Pyke, as he nodded home a Stephen Dooley cross into the area from eight yards.

Two soon became three for Rochdale in the 66th minute, as Callum Camps fired high and right into the top corner, leaving Matthews no chance in the Wanderers goal.

An utter goalmouth scramble ensued following the resuming of play, with Matthews making a fantastic point-blank save before Jason Lowe headed the ball off the line to prevent a fourth.

Just under 20 minutes left and Darcy had a sight a goal, but his shot was quickly blocked by an onrushing Dale defender.

The home side had their fourth soon after, with a corner kick into the area causing havoc for Wanderers and Camps drilled an effort home from 12 yards through a group of bodies.

Four minutes from time and Dale had their fifth, as Oliver Rathbone thumped home a header from close range to seal the game up for the home side.

Full Time

Wanderers XI: Matthews, Lowe (C), Murphy, Weir, Brockbank, Politic (Hurford-Lockett 69), Edwards (54), Darcy, Zouma, Brown (Brown-Sterling 78), King-Harmes.

Unused substitutes: Alexander, Senior, Graham, White.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Another good effort ruined by the inclusion of senior players. 

This season should be a dry run for league two success next year. Let the lads learn the game. Big defeats is all part of it. The fans are on side for the first time since Sam left.