[ 19 Apr 16 ] Rochdale v GILLS Match Thread

[Garawa]

Both sides have won 13 ties with a further 15 ending in draws. The Gills have won the last 2 meetings and are unbeaten in 4 against Rochdale.

The last 3 visits to Spotland Stadium saw the game end in a draw whilst the Gills are unbeaten in 4. It ended 3 successive defeats at Rochdale.

Rochdale's defeat at Priestfield was the first of 8 in 24 league games for them and only 2 came from 12 home games (8 wins).

Ian Henderson (22) and Peter Vincenti (16) scored 38 of Rochdale's goals last season (45.8%) but have only added 24 this season (30.9%).

Rochdale have scored 12 goals in their last 4 home games and have conceded just 3 in their last 6 (4 clean sheets).

The Gills are unbeaten in their last 4 away games conceding just 1 goal in the process.

6 wins in 8 for Rochdale and 8 in 11 (2 defeats) have taken them from 16th two months ago to just 4 points off a play-off place.

Before today both the Gills and Rochdale had scored 38 goals from 21 home games, the most of any of the League 1 clubs.

7:47 Kick-Off
Bradley Dack starts up front with Luke Norris, the 12th different strike option of the season.

8:19
Rochdale have been caught offside 3 times already. 89.4% of Gills' games this season saw 3 or less in the entire match.

8:22
Stuart Nelson pulls off a great save.

8:33
GOAL! Rochdale 1-0 Gillingham.
Only Walsall and Rochdale remain unbeaten this season after scoring the opening league goal. Rochdale have won 14 and drawn 5.

8:35 Half-time: 1-0

8:40
When previously leading at half time Rochdale have won 10, drawn 1 and lost 0 this season but when losing at the break have won 0, drawn 1 and lost 10.

8:45
The Gills have gained 38.9% of points after conceding the opening goal (the best figures in League 1) which drops to 24.2% after half time (the 2nd best figures in League 1).

8:50
The second half kicks off.

9:22
GOAL! Rochdale 1-1 Gillingham: Egan

9:25
Rochdale have conceded the least goals in the final 10 minutes of league games (4) and have yet to concede any then in their home ones.

9:32
John Egan forces a great save from the Rochdale keeper.

9:41 FULL-TIME: 1-1

Position: 6th
Attendance: 2,385 ()
Referee: Kevin Wright

[Kent_UckyFriedGills]

A tough trip to Rochdale on Tuesday night against a side who believe they can nick the last play off place.If they beat us they would be just a point behind us.If we win we can just about put Rochdale out of it.Confidence is low all around the club,but we will need a battling performance to get something.

[gillsfan1066]

Someone call the season NOW, lets not continue the pain, Rochdale 2-1 Gillingham.

[Rimshot]

A couple of months ago I would have called this as a draw but I really can't see us getting anything from it. I'll be delighted if we come away with a point.

[Garawa]

I think we have to either go for it or plan for next year. A defeat and we will be gone almost certainly. A draw and we will be scraping over the line and the side that has been there all season only to just about stay there always lose comfortably and then struggle next season. At least if we do go for it and get a few wins we have a chance in the play offs and even if we don't go up, we'll go into next season with a bit of form.

[fan_of_mulligan]

I think Gillingham will line up as follows.......................

------------------------------------Nelson---------------------------------------
---------------A.Morris------------Egan----------------Ehmer-------------------
Jackson--------------Crofts-------------------Wright----------------B.Dickenson
-------------------------------------Dack--------------------------------------------
---------------------McDonald-----------------Norris--------------------------------

Subs: G.Morris (GK), McGlashan, Garmston, Hessenthaler, Osadebe, Oldaker, Donnelly

With Adedeji Oshilaja and Adam El-Abd out injured with eye and hamstring injuries respectively, I can see Aaron Morris dropping into defence with Andrew Crofts and Josh Wright both playing in the centre of midfield, Brennan Dickenson should of started against Port Vale on Saturday, and you can make a case for Jermaine McGlashan to start if Ryan Jackson is carrying an injury (I think Ryan Jackson will start), John Egan, Bradley Dack and Cody McDonald are playing there way back to full fitness and Luke Norris is the only striker we have got who can hold the ball up and bring others into play - I agree that Luke Norris has to try harder - but four goals in his last eight appearances is an one in two strike ratio, and Luke Norris appears to play better away from home and scores most of his goals in away matches - only Cody McDonald has scored more away goals then Luke Norris.

It is essential that Gillingham win tomorrow night and move seven points clear of Rochdale (eight if we include goal difference), After The Sheffield United Match, Gillingham dropped out of the top four in League One for the first time, but we were six matches unbeaten with just one goal conceded, back to back home defeats has put huge pressure on the players to make sure that Gillingham don't drop out of the playoff places, if Gills get the result we want tomorrow night, Rochdale almost cannot catch us, but if Barnsley were to lose against Peterborough United, then we can open up the gap back to the points buffer we had ten day's a go.

Any win will do tomorrow - COME ON THE GILLS!!!!!!!!!!

[Garawa]

Sounds like we were fortunate with a draw at Spotland for the second season running. Could be a vital goal from John Egan but it sounds like Nelson pulled off some great saves. He has been sensational of late and possibly has been instrumental in the points we earned when we stopped scoring goals!

[Rimshot]

I think it's the best we could have expected, unfortunately with the way other results have gone I do not expect to be in the playoffs. Even if we manage to beat Shrewsbury (playing for survival) we'll get nothing from Burton or Millwall on our current form.

[Kent_UckyFriedGills]

A very good point and a priceless one after Barnsley snatched a late winner.Only goal difference keeps us in 6th place with Rochdale,Sheffield Utd,and even Scunthorpe in with a chance still.It was gutting to concede right on halftime,then after it sounded like they would kill the game off.Egan popped up with a good header to equalise,and almost scored the winner but his header was tipped over.We're hanging in there,but need all three points against Shrewsbury on Saturday.

[gillsfan1066]

Relying on defence to keep you in the game is a scary thing for the fans, wish we could get a couple in the net before the half ends, then it's OK to rely on the Great Blue Wall to stop them .

[Kent_UckyFriedGills]

It would be good if we could get back to letting the opposition worry about us again.

[fan_of_mulligan]

This Match Thread has taken me longer then I would of liked, but this is My Match Report for The 1-1 draw between Rochdale and Gillingham..................

MY MATCH REPORT FOR ROCHDALE........

This is My Match Report for the game against Rochdale on Tuesday Night, and I will write this Match Report in the positive and negative theme, like I did for The Sheffield United Game..........

LINE UP AND BENCH

Gillingham Lined Up with the 3.5.2 / 5.3.2 formation we have been lining up with in recent weeks and Gillingham Lined Up As Follows,,,,,,, Stuart Nelson, Adedeji Oshilaja, John Egan, Max Ehmer, Ryan Jackson, Aaron Morris, Josh Wright, Jake Hessenthaler, Bradley Garmston, Bradley Dack, Luke Norris – SUBS: Glenn Morris, Adam El-Abd, Jermaine McGlashan, Brennan Dickenson, Emmanuel Osadebe, Cody McDonald and Rory Donnelly.

Josh Wright, Aaron Morris and Jake Hessenthaler were all lining up as three defensive holding midfielder’s in-front of Adedeji Oshilaja, John Egan and Max Ehmer, so Gillingham’s Line Up was dependant on Ryan Jackson and Bradley Garmston to provide Gillingham with pace and width in wide area’s, and Bradley Dack was supporting Luke Norris in attack, it was very interesting to hear Justin Edinburgh’s Post Match Comments about playing Bradley Dack up-front, and apparently Bradley Dack was playing up-front to condense his running, I suppose we also moved Bradley Dack closer to the opposition goal hoping that Dack would score and Gillingham could sit on a lead, with the three centre back’s and three defensive midfielder’s behind the front two.


POSITIVES

Another Point And A Very Important Point – When your 1-0 down away from home and John Egan scores Gillingham’s Equaliser in The Seventy Eighth Minute, then you can never be disappointed with an draw and an point on your travels – OK, Gillingham ideally could of done with all three points and an win against Rochdale would of moved Gillingham on to Seventy One Points from Forty Three Matches and strengthen our chances of retaining an high playoff place – as Third and Fourth in League One get The Home Leg Second – but this could be the point that makes all the difference come the end of the season - this point stops the rot from back to back away defeats, and the last time Gillingham did that was when we drew 0-0 against Scunthorpe United, that goal-less draw kick-started an six match unbeaten run, and another run like that will see Gillingham reach The League One Playoff Final and possibly secure promotion into The Championship – well that is what I thought before Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat against Shrewsbury Town anyway.

Post Match Togetherness – The players came over to the supporters and showed there appreciation to The Gillingham Supporters who had made the long long trip to Spotlands on A Tuesday Night, and with “GILLS, GILLS, GILLS” Being chanted from the away end, you would of been forgiven hearing that atmosphere at the end of the match and thinking that Gillingham had won the game, with the supporters applauding the players and the players showing there appreciation to the supporters, then this togetherness is going to be needed for the final three league games of the season.

Gillingham Supporters – I lost count the amount of times I said “COME ON GILLS” During the match on Tuesday Night, either in an attempt to cheer the players on, or my frustrations of another Rochdale Chance almost hitting the back of the net, but the supporters stuck with the players, kept chanting and kept showing there support from the sidelines, and I just wish that we saw more of this togetherness and more encouraging support at home matches, I know there is an difference in mentalities between home and away matches, but you could tell that the players appreciated our support on Tuesday Night – I have seen a post on Facebook from Gillingham Supporters who want to encourage the players before they go into the players entrance to try and give them a psychological boost – and although this didn’t get the desired result on Saturday, more of the same before home games could give the players an much needed confidence boost ahead of The Millwall Game.

Adam El-Abd – Even though he was an unused substitute for The Rochdale Game, just seeing Adam El-Abd back in The Match Day Squad was an massive boost, The Experienced Centre Back helped Gillingham keep five clean sheet’s in six league games and since being substituted against Walsall, Gillingham have conceded five goals in the last three matches, (eight goals conceded in four games now), getting Adam El-Abd back fully fit and back in The Starting Line Up is essential for Gillingham’s push for an playoff place.

[fan_of_mulligan]

NEGATIVES

Route One From Gillingham – There are times when your clearing the ball down-field because the defence is under a lot of pressure or because John Egan, Adedeji Oshilaja and Max Ehmer don’t want to mess about with the ball in Gillingham’s Final Third Of The Pitch by over-playing – those example’s are exempt from my frustrations – but Gillingham don’t have the personnel in the squad to play a long ball game, and Luke Norris and Bradley Dack were always going to be second best going up against Oliver Lancashire and Ashley Eastham, why doesn’t Stuart Nelson play a short goal-kick out-wide to Ryan Jackson or Bradley Garmston, or one of the three centre back’s drop deep for a short goal-kick ???

Gillingham are a much better team when we keep the ball on the deck and play pass and move football - OK Rochdale’s pitch has wear and tear from the long football season, and Rochdale do ground-share with Rochdale Hornets R.L.F.C - but the hosts are playing excellent football and Gillingham need to be encouraged to do the same.

GOAL-KICKS - Every-Team appears to put all there players on one side of the pitch and either Stuart Nelson or the opposition goal-keeper will kick the ball down the side of the pitch where all the players are standing – I don’t know why someone doesn’t stand down the opposite side of the pitch and Stuart Nelson can quickly distribute the ball to either Ryan Jackson or Bradley Garmston – although this is one of my personnel gripes with goal-kick’s, because it appears that every-team (and not just Gillingham) will kick the ball where every player is standing.

Mistake From Stuart Nelson - In The Twenty Fifty Minute Of The Match, Stuart Nelson attempts to shield the ball out of play for A Gillingham Goal-Kick but Stuart Nelson accidentally knocks the ball out of play for an corner kick, from the resulting corner kick, Donal McDermott’s in-swinging corner kick is aimed towards the far post and Oliver Lancashire cannot climb high enough to header the ball on target - Rochdale Supporters in The Pearl Street Stand were appealing for an penalty, although there was nothing clear cut we could see at the time which we could suggest where Rochdale were going to get an penalty from, and the only text I can see on Twitter is that Adedeji Oshilaja tangled with Oliver Lancashire in Gillingham’s Penalty Area, but is that enough for an penalty kick to be awarded ??? - no not for me - but Stuart Nelson was the player breathing an sigh of relief as that was an poor error from one of our most consistent players this season.

The 3.5.2 / 5.3.2 formation - Now I like this formation and I think that Gillingham should line up like this, but the personnel was all wrong on Tuesday Night, when you have got Adedeji Oshilaja, John Egan and Max Ehmer as the three centre backs with Jake Hessenthaler, Josh Wright and Aaron Morris as the three defensive holding midfielders, your playing for a draw / sucker punch win - Bradley Dack is trying to support Luke Norris in attack but Ryan Jackson and Bradley Garmston are being pressed back by Rochdale’s two wingers - but if we want Bradley Dack and two strikers on the pitch, then Gills either line up with the diamond midfield, or play three at the back to get two up-front, and I rather have three at the back then revert back to the diamond midfield formation.

Passing Error’s And lack of travellers - John Egan, Josh Wright and Aaron Morris have all made passing error’s which have been cut out, Josh Wright has had a few below par performances in recent weeks, but when you look at Josh Wright, Aaron Morris and Jake Hessenthaler as an midfield trio, all three are defensive minded with the aim to stop the opposition, none of them are going to run forward in possession of the ball, now Callum Camps and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing are both wingers, but Michael Rose and Jamie Allen can both travel from the middle of midfield in possession of midfield and I did wonder at the time if it is worth considering substituting one of Aaron Morris, Josh Wright or Jake Hessenthaler, bring on Cody McDonald and push Bradley Dack back into his more natural central attacking midfielder role ???

[fan_of_mulligan]

CHANCES FOR ROCHDALE……………..

After that goal-scoring where Josh Lillis saved that one on one effort from Bradley Dack, Rochdale came very close to hitting Gillingham on the counter attack, Jim McNulty plays the ball first time through to Jamie Allen, who squares the ball to Donal McDermott, and The Rochdale Midfielder plays an first time through-ball for Joe Bunney to run on to, but Bradley Garmston shields the ball back to Stuart Nelson and prevents Gillingham from being hit on the counter attack – although with Aaron Morris, Jake Hessenthaler and Josh Wright in midfield, and Adedeji Oshilaja, John Egan and Max Ehmer in defence, Gillingham shouldn’t be getting hit on the counter attack.

Rochdale create another decent goal-scoring opportunity in The Ninth Minute as Rochdale are starting to target there Right Side of The Pitch as Bradley Garmston struggled to start with before growing into the game, Jim McNulty plays an cross-field pass to Callum Camps, who has the beating of Bradley Garmston for pace, and Callum Camps manages to retain possession of the ball on the edge of the penalty area before teeing up Joe Bunney for a first time effort on goal which deflects off Adedeji Oshilaja and goes out of play for A Rochdale Corner Kick.

Michael Roses’s in-swinging corner kick to the far post is headed clear and away from danger by Luke Norris and Donal McDermott manages to keep the ball in play, and The Rochdale Midfielder went down very easily underneath Bradley Garmston’s challenge and Referee Kevin Wright thought that was the case as well and only pointed for A Gillingham Goal-Kick.

TWELVE MINUTES - Chance for both Rochdale and Gillingham - Bradley Garmston is forced to concede an corner kick by blocking Donal McDermott’s cross from the right side of the pitch, Donal McDermott goes across to take the resulting corner kick, and Donal McDermott’s in-swinging cross is headed clear by John Egan and Ryan Jackson gets on to the loose ball and runs from Gillingham’s Final Third up to the halfway line before squaring the ball to Aaron Morris, who plays the ball out-wide to Ryan Jackson, who plays the ball inside to Bradley Dack, and Bradley Dack plays an cross-field pass to Max Ehmer, who plays the ball down-field to Bradley Garmston, and Bradley Garmston’s high and hanging cross into Rochdale’s Penalty Area is gathered by Josh Lillis - It takes Gillingham quite an few passes to turn defence into attack and I would like to see 2-3 Gillingham Players on the halfway line, which will enable Gillingham to counter attack with more numbers in Rochdale’s Final Third.

FOURTEEN MINUTES - Rochdale were awarded an controversial free kick when it looked liked Bradley Dack had disposed the ball from Joe Rafferty on the halfway line, but Referee Kevin Wright awards the free kick to Rochdale and Donal McDermott goes across to take the resulting free kick, and Donal McDermott’s high ball into Gillingham’s Penalty Area is headed just wide of Stuart Nelson’s Left Hand Post by Oliver Lancashire - but The Rochdale Centre Back’s header wouldn’t have counted had that effort been on target, as The Linesman on the far side of the pitch had raised his flag for offside.

THIRTY THREE AND THIRTY SIX MINUTES - The first save from Stuart Nelson was comfortable as Donal McDermott tries his luck from distance, but it is the second save after thirty six minutes which is the best save of the match from either goalkeeper and that save from Stuart Nelson keeps the score-line at 0-0.

Josh Lillis kicks the ball long down-field and John Egan wins the aerial battle up against Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and the ball bounces to Jamie Allen, who’a first time ball forward doesn’t go towards Gillingham’s Goal and Adedeji Oshilaja has to header the ball out-wide to Ryan Jackson as Adedeji Oshilaja was under pressure from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Ryan Jackson plays the ball back to Adedeji Oshilaja and Adedeji Oshilaja clears the ball down-field, Luke Norris flicks the ball on and Oliver Lancashire was always going to win the aerial challenge ahead of Bradley Dack, but Aaron Morris gets to the second ball and skips past the first challenge from Michael Rose, but Jamie Allen’s robust challenge puts Aaron Morris on to the floor.

And from here, Rochdale can counter attack as Jamie Allen plays a short pass sideways to Callum Camps, who plays the ball forward to Donal McDermott, who runs forward in possession of the ball before passing the ball down the line to Joe Bunney, who was allowed to cut inside and get a shot away on goal from distance, and Callum Camps gets the faintest of touches to divert the ball into the far left corner and Stuart Nelson quickly dives down to his right to turn the ball around the post - great save from Stuart Nelson.

THIRTY SEVEN MINUTES - From The Resulting Corner Kick and Rochdale create another decent goal-scoring opportunity, Michael Rose’s in-swinging cross from the corner is headed wide of the far right post from Oliver Lancashire, as the hosts look the more likely team to open the scoring.

FORTY FIVE MINUTES - GOAL - Rochdale scored in First Half Stoppage Time and this was a really poor goal for Gillingham to concede, Jim McNulty’s long throw down the down the line is flicked on by Ryan Jackson and Aaron Morris plays an one touch pass back to Josh Wright, who plays an horrendous cross-field pass which is cut out by Joe Rafferty, who runs forward in possession of the ball before playing the ball down the line to Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Bradley Garmston sticks with the winger, blocks the initial cross and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is shielding the ball in the far corner, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing eventually passes the ball back to Joe Rafferty, who plays the ball back to Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who cuts inside and runs into a more central position and as Max Ehmer comes out to close The Rochdale Winger Down, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing plays the ball through to Callum Camps, and The Rochdale Midfielder skips past John Egan’s challenge and curls the ball into the far left corner of the net, and Rochdale will be delighted to have scored before half time, while every Gillingham Supporter was furious.

When Bradley Garmston has pinned Nathaniel Mendez-Laing right in the far corner, we shouldn’t be conceding goals from that area of the pitch, but once Rochdale got into a more central position, Gillingham dropped off and we allowed Nathaniel Mendez-Laing to pick out Callum Camps, and The Rochdale Midfielder has punished Gillingham, just when we thought we were going to go in at the break with the score-line level at 0-0.

[fan_of_mulligan]

SECOND HALF

FIFTY THREE MINUTES - Rochdale created the first goal-scoring opportunity of The Second Half as the visitor’s were looking for the crucial second goal which would mean that it is extremely unlikely that Gillingham would get anything out of the game, Jim McNulty plays the ball back to Ashley Eastham, who slices the ball up into the air, but Jim McNulty wins the aerial challenge up against Adedeji Oshilaja and headers the ball on and Callum Camps gets on to the loose ball and runs down the line in possession of the ball, and Callum Camps low cross is blocked by Josh Wright and Ryan Jackson’s pass back to Josh Wright is poor as Callum Camps intercepts the ball and with The Rochdale Winger running away from goal, Callum Camps high ball into Gillingham’s Penalty Area see’s Adedeji Oshilaja’s poor defensive header tee up Donal McDermott on the edge of Gillingham’s Penalty Area, but an combination of the ball not bouncing down for The Rochdale Midfielder to hit an first time effort on goal, and Max Ehmer narrowing the shooting angle, meant that Donal McDermott had to check back and play the ball out-wide to Joe Rafferty, who’s first time cross picks out Donal McDermott, who’s header roughly eight yards out goes wide of Stuart Nelson’s Left Hand Post - but only just wide as we thought that effort on goal had hit the back of the net.

FIFTY FIVE MINUTES - Corner for Rochdale, and Michael Rose’s dangerous in-swinging cross is aimed towards the near post and Joe Bunney flicks the ball on and Oliver Lancashire almost makes contact with the ball at the far post, from there, Bradley Garmston does extremely well to run in possession of the ball down the left flank and win Gillingham a corner kick as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing tracks back and does his defensive duties for Rochdale.

FIFTY EIGHT MINUTES - Again Rochdale look a threat in the wide area’s as Callum Camps is capable of travelling in possession of the ball (the type of player that Gillingham really do lack in midfield) and Callum Camps plays the ball back to Donal McDermott, who’s early cross is won in the air by Max Ehmer, but the second ball falls kindly to Jamie Allen, who’s volleyed effort on goal goes out for a Gillingham Throw on, deep in our final third.

SIXTY FOUR MINUTES - Rochdale create two decent goal-scoring opportunities in quick succession as the hosts are pushing for the second goal which would probably secure all three points for Rochdale if Rochdale were to double there lead, Jamie Allen gets to an loose ball ahead of Josh Wright before going on an driving run forward in possession And Jamie Allen’s low cross almost picks out Donal McDermott at the far post, but the cross from Jamie Allen just had too much zip on it, and the ball goes out of play.

But it is the second of these goal-scoring opportunities which is the more threatening effort on goal as Stuart Nelson is forced to make an save, Rochdale have an throw on down the right side of the pitch and Joe Rafferty throws the ball down the line to Callum Camps, who skilfully goes past Max Ehmer before playing the ball inside to Joe Bunney, who plays the ball out-wide to Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who plays the ball inside to Callum Camps, who plays an short pass back to Joe Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, and The Rochdale Winger plays the ball out-wide to Joe Bunney, who whips in an sensational cross which just about clears Callum Camps and Max Ehmer’s head, but that cross from Joe Bunney was on target and Stuart Nelson had to dive low to make the save and Adedeji Oshilaja had to get the ball clear and away from danger - that was very close and I thought Rochdale had scored from that cross / shot effort from Joe Bunney.

SIXTY FIVE MINUTES - Another goal-scoring opportunity for the hosts as Rochdale came very close to doubling there advantage, Joe Rafferty’s long throw down the line is retained by Donal McDermott, who skilfully goes past Max Ehmer and goes on a incredible run towards goal and Bradley Garmston’s sliding challenge was dangerous as Bradley Garmston could of conceded an penalty, Donal McDermott shapes up to shot and The Rochdale Midfielder see’s his effort on goal saved by Stuart Nelson, and the follow up effort from Callum Camps fails to hit the target - Gillingham looked an complete mess at the back, as Donal McDermott was just allowed to run into Gillingham’s Penalty Area and get a shot away on goal.

SEVENTY FOUR MINUTES – Jermaine McGlashan losses possession of the ball to Peter Vincenti, who plays the ball back to Michael Rose, who kicks the ball down the line and Michael Rose’s long ball forward has too much power and runs through to Stuart Nelson, and Stuart Nelson was considering throwing the ball out-wide to Bradley Garmston, before kicking the ball long down-field, Luke Norris was clearly penalised by Joe Rafferty and no foul was given by Referee Kevin Wright as Callum Camps runs forward in possession of the ball, Callum Camps has the pace to run away from Bradley Garmston, take up a more central position and square the ball to Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who plays the ball out-wide to Peter Vincenti, who plays the ball back to Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who has hit a curling effort just wide of Stuart Nelson’s left hand post when we all thought that effort on goal from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing had hit the back of the net – COME ON GILLS – Was my response as it felt like Gillingham were delaying the inevitable and that Rochdale were going to score that crucial second goal which will seal all three points for the hosts.

SEVENTY SEVEN MINUTES – Another goal-scoring opportunity again for Rochdale as Rochdale are still pressing for that all important second goal, Peter Vincent has made a real difference since coming on as the Rochdale Midfielder retains possession of the ball before playing the ball out-wide to Joe Bunney, who takes a touch, cuts inside past Adedeji Oshilaja and see’s his first time shot blocked by John Egan, Peter Vincenti wins the second ball, but Adedeji Oshilaja is quick to the knock-down and plays the ball forward to Bradley Dack, who plays the ball out-wide to Jermaine McGlashan, who uses his pace to go past Michael Rose, and The Rochdale Midfielder’s challenge on Jermaine McGlashan was very reckless, and how Michael Rose wasn’t punished for that reckless challenge we had no idea.

EIGHTY ONE MINUTES – Jake Hessenthaler is booked for persistent fouling on Peter Vincenti and we applauded Jake Hessenthaler as he prevented Rochdale from hitting Gillingham on the counter attack, and Rochdale almost scored from the resulting free kick as Michael Rose’s high free kick towards the far post almost picks out Peter Vincenti, and John Egan is quick to react and stabs the ball out of play for a corner kick, Michael Rose’s in-swinging corner kick is gathered by Stuart Nelson, and that save from Stuart Nelson relieved the pressure building up on Gillingham’s Goal.

EIGHTY THREE MINUTES – Adedeji Oshilaja climbs all over the back of Peter Vincenti and Rochdale have another free kick in a dangerous area on the pitch, Michael Rose’s dangerous in-swinging cross from the resulting free kick is headed towards goal by Calvin Andrew, and Stuart Nelson spills the ball wide of the far post, a very unconvincing save from Stuart Nelson, but as long as the ball doesn’t hit the back of the net, then we don’t mind how Stuart Nelson keeps the ball out – thankfully Stuart Nelson redeem’s himself from the resulting corner by gather another in-swinging cross from Michael Rose.

EIGHTY NINE MINUTES – Peter Vincenti has looked dangerous for Rochdale since coming on, thankfully his curling effort on target wasn’t more accurate and Stuart Nelson was forced into a routine save, our nerves were going through the roof with these late chances for Rochdale, we could only imagine what it was like for The Gillingham Supporters who were listening to the game or following the game on Twitter.