Rochdale came from behind to deservedly book their place in the third round of the FA Cup with Budweiser with a 2-1 win over ten man Rotherham United at the New York Stadium on Saturday.
Lee Frecklington had put the home side ahead on five minutes, but Dale levelled terms through Matty Lund ten minutes after the interval. Peter Vincenti wrapped up victory for Rochdale eight minutes from time.
There were three changes for the tie – Graham Cummins, who was ineligible, missed out, while Joe Rafferty and Andrew Tutte, who started in last weekend’s draw at York City were on the bench. Rhys Bennett and Gary Dicker were handed starts.
Rochdale had started the game brightly but found themselves behind with five minutes played after Rotherham capitalised on a Dale error.
Rochdale had won a corner after some good football down the right hand side of play, but ‘keeper Adam Collin came to collect the corner ball, and less than sixty seconds up the other end Dale were caught out by Lee Frecklington, who intercepted a pass from Ashley Eastham to Olly Lancashire, and slotted low past Josh Lillis.
GOAL: ROTHERHAM 1-0 Rochdale (Frecklington, 5)
The early goal appeared to unsettle Rochdale and they struggled to get a fold hold on the game, as Rotherham applied the pressure during the opening exchanges.
Most notably, in the 13th minute Lillis pulled off an important save to deny Kieran Agard’s angled drive.
Less than ten minutes later and Rochdale survived a scare after the flag stayed down for the offside Agard. His quick feet work made it difficult for Dale as he twist and turned, but he was kept out by a timely from Jack O’Connell tackle inside the area.
The first substitution of the match soon followed as Peter Vincenti replaced Olly Lancashire, who had already gone in the book, on 22 minutes. It allowed Dale to change to a 4-4-2 formation, which in turn opened up play and saw Rochdale asking more questions in the final third.
Clear cut opportunities were at premium though, for both sides, and the Millers took their one goal advantage into the interval.
HT: ROTHERHAM 1-0 ROCHDALE
There were no further changes for Dale at the interval as Manager Keith Hill stayed as was for the second half.
And within a minute of the re-start Scott Hogan saw a wonderful opportunity saved by ‘keeper Adam Collin.
Vincenti and Ian Henderson had linked up superbly to play in the striker, who was able to go through one on one with the ‘keeper. In the end he was denied by Collin.
There was a high tempo about Dale’s play and in the 51 minute Hogan again had the chance to draw Rochdale level.
He appeared to have been offside, but as the flag stayed down, he powered through on goal, and after finding himself at an acute angle, he could only send an effort wide of the upright as Collin came to apply the pressure at his feet.
Opportunities for the home side were few and far between, but in the 53 minute, O’Connell did well to do enough to force Agard into sending an effort round the post.
Momentum stayed with Dale despite the effort, and two minutes later Rochdale netted a deserved equaliser through Matty Lund, who got on the end of a Michael Rose cross.
Rose delivered the ball from the left hand side of play, and Lund got the slightest of touches on it to send it beyond Collin and into the back of the net.
GOAL: Rotherham 1-1 ROCHDALE (Lund, 55)
Shortly after Rochdale had drawn level, Lillis was called into action as he punched an effort on the turn from Agard round his near post.
Two minutes later and up the other end, Rose fired an effort goal wards following a short corner routine between himself and Henderson. It was a powerful shot from the full back and Collin got two hands behind it to pummel it back into play.
Momentum remained with Dale and in the 67th minute central defender O’Connell attempted to lob the ‘keeper from distance. Collin made the most of it, but eventually he parried it downwards and collected.
The home side were reduced to ten men six minutes later after Michael Tidser was dismissed for a second bookable offence following a challenge on Lund.
The sending off spurred the Millers on, but they were unable to match Dale, and Rochdale went on to take a deserved lead in the 82nd minute.
Substitute Joe Bunney, who had only been on the pitch for a few minutes, delivered a cross in the box, and after stealing a march from his marker, Vincenti got enough on the ball to send it beyond Collin.
GOAL: Rotherham 1-2 ROCHDALE (Vincenti, 82)
In stoppage time Rotherham were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area, but Pringle could only direct his curled effort, from the dangerous position, into the side netting.
It finished Rotherham 1, Rochdale 2.