Barnet 1 (Yakubu 68) Rochdale 1 (Dagnall 49) – Full Time Report

Reporter: Jan Harwood
Date online: 08/11/2008

Rochdale and Barnet took their FA Cup tie to a replay at Spotland after the Bees rescued a draw after they fell behind to Chris Dagnall’s strike.

Dale were mostly dominant but they failed to create anything clear cut, while the home side created nothing whatsoever but were able to level through Ishmael Yakubu as he picked up a deflected free kick to fire home.

Dale boss Keith Hill believed his side should have won the game. He said: “They were quite defensive and to be honest it was a forgettable game. It was there for us to win and it was a deflected free kick that has undone us and I would like to know whether it was offside or not.

“We have come away from home again and we are in the draw for the next round and that is a positive. It will be a long journey for Barnet to come to us on a Tuesday night and do they want that? The answer is probably not.

“I have to thank the supporters. I was not expecting a lot here today after three away games but they were here again in numbers and they have something to take back to Spotland.”

Dale had all the chances in the first half but there was very little to trouble Lee Harrison in the Barnet goal.

Keith Hill reverted back to the side that won at Brentford last Saturday after making widespread changes for the midweek Johnstone’s Paint Trophy game against Scunthorpe.

Chris Dagnall, Lee Thorpe, Gary Jones and Adam Rundle came back into the side in place of Adam Le Fondre, Joe Thompson, Clark Keltie and Mark Jones, who are all on the Dale bench.

The visitors pushed on early and got the first chance as Lee Thorpe found space to shoot on the edge of the box after a fine run to set him up from Scott Wiseman. The shot was deflected out for the game’s first corner, from which nothing came, but Thorpe got a second chance from similar range a minute later. This one went high and wide.

Dale maintained the pressure and should have been in front as Chris Dagnall turned his man in the box after the referee gave Dale a good advantage. The finish was weak and Ishmael Yakubu was able to get a block.

The home side responded with a couple of corners of their own but there was nothing to test Sam Russell despite a couple of scrambles.

The game settled into something of a kick and rush effort with Will Buckley providing the only real spark for the visitors. He sprung into the Barnet box cutting in from the left touchline and almost got all the way to goal before unleashing a cross turned shot that fired across the six yard box but neither Thorpe nor Dagnall could get a vital touch.

Dale produced the next danger ball as the half drew to a close but this time Dagnall could not get on the end of Adam Rundle’s excellent low cross.

From the re-start Dale were back on top and they took the lead as Gary Jones found space on the right hand edge of the box to produce an excellent cross across the face of goal and this time Dagnall was on hand to complete the formalities.

The game slowed back down and Dale were looking comfortable until Barnet snatched an equaliser having not created anything all game. Barnet touched a free kick for Nicky Deverdics to shoot. The weak effort was deflected perfectly into the path of Yakubu, who gave Russell no chance with a deadly finish from seven yards.

The home side looked to push on for the winner and the lively Albert Adomah looked the most likely to create it. He fired narrowly wide with a curled attempt from the edge of the box and then won a couple of corners, one of which resulted in a possible handball from Rory McArdle but the referee waved away the penalty cries.

At the other end Dagnall had a great to chance to win it for the visitors as the game entered the final five minutes. With his back to goal Dagnall spun in the box to hit a volley that flew inches past the post with Harrison helpless.

Attendance: 1782

Barnet: Harrison, Devera (Deverdics 26 (Birchall 83), Gillet, Bishop, Yakubu, Leary, Adomah, Porter, Townsend, Nicolau (St. Aimie 87), O’Flynn.
Subs (not used): Medley, Carew, Burge, Kadoch.

Booked: Gillet

Rochdale: Russell, Wiseman, Kennedy, Stanton (Holness 58), McArdle, Rundle (M. Jones 83), Toner, G. Jones, Buckley, Dagnall, Thorpe (Shaw 72)
Subs (not used): Keltie, Le Fondre, Thompson, Spencer.

Booked: G. Jones, Holness.

Attempts (on target): Barnet 4 (2) Rochdale 10 (4)
Free kicks: Barnet 18 Rochdale 19
Offside: Barnet 8 Rochdale 7
Corners: Barnet 7 Rochdale 6

Referee: J Linington