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Vs rochdale 
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Yet another draw


After recent good results against both Scunthorpe and Southend the Aggborough faithful turned up on this warm September afternoon expecting a feast of football and a feast of goals against high flying Rochdale.

We had the feast of football alright but the goals were nowhere to be seen.  It wasn't until the last 15 minutes that we seriously tested their keeper and Stuart Brock was hardly tested at all by the Rochdale forwards.

A lively opening saw Harriers force a corner that was cleared to the waiting Sam Shilton.  His shot was easily saved by the Rochdale keeper but Sam was soon to be in action 5 minutes later when his header went just wide.

Connor, for Rochdale, tried his luck but his drive was again easily saved.  After that opening flurry the game settled down into a midfield tussle with neither side seeming capable of going that extra yard.

The passing by both sides was crisp and their running off the ball was good but when it came to the 'vinegar stroke' in front of goal both sides seemed bereft of idea's.Drewe Broughton As usual Drewe Broughton got himself booked.

The official description would be 'unsporting behaviour' I'd call it STUPIDITY.  Drewe collects a cross and is flagged offside.  He stops, looks at the linesman and then boots the ball towards and over the goal.

Six bookings in ten games.  No goals in ten games.  Will he never learn.  Unless he starts to use his brain, and score goals, then I think his days are numbered.  We can't afford to keep waiting for his luck to change and to get his head sorted.


The money he's being paid could be paying for a more efficient goal scorer.  Something, sadly, that Drewe isn't.

Back to the action.

Danny Williams had a pile driver punched away by Edwards and then Broughton should have done better three minutes later when he headed way over from a fine Shilton cross.


HT. 0 - 0

The second half was more of the same with Rochdale starting in a more positive frame of mind but the front of goal scenario was still the same.  Both sides still afraid to really let loose.

The Rochdale player/manager Simpson fired wide from the edge of the area after being given plenty of room by the Reds defence.  It was hard to see how he has managed to score seven times already this season.  He didn't look very good.

Danny Williams came close again for us, this time with a better effort than in the first half.  His 25yd drive only just cleared the bar to leave the North Bank holding their breath.

On 59 minutes came the first call for a penalty.  A cross hit Jobson on the arm in the penalty area but the ref waved play on and then just five minutes later there was an even more blatant infringement when a 'Dale defender patted the ball down with his hand to control it before kicking it out for a throw in.  Again the ref ignored all calls for a penalty although the look on his face when he heard the fan's jeers made you think he knew he had made a mistake.

Rochdale were beginning to take the upperhand again when the Harriers made a substitution that was to potentially change the game.  On 77 minutes Bennett and Foster came on for Hinton and Melligan.  Tactical, but it almost worked.

Dean Bennett was the key to a much more aggressive stance in front of goal.  He was taking players on, something Henriksen didn't seem to be interested in, and he was getting to the bye-line to send biting crosses in.

From one of these Broughton missed another one when, from a pin point Deano cross, his weak header fell into the keepers arms.

It was one way traffic now with the Harriers forwards using Edwards as target practice but he was leading a charmed life.  The ball was being pinballed around the area waiting for someone to poke it in so many times it seemed only a matter of time before we grabbed the winner.  It never came.  Sam Shilton Ian Foster went the closest when his cross back into the goal mouth deceived the keeper and re-bounded off the post.  Unbelievable.

There was more goal mouth action when Shilton's shot was charged down and the rebound fell for Sean Flynn who belted a fine drive just over the bar from 25yds out.

Then came the miss of the match and sorry to say it was a typical Broughton miss.  A cross from Ian Foster came in and with Broughton almost sitting on the goal line he blazed it over from just 3 feet out.

He should hang his head in embarrassment.


FT. 0 - 0

The Harriers-Online
Man of the Match is : 
Mark Clyde

A good solid performance at the back.  He hardly put a foot wrong all game and he looks a class above most full backs.

Best for them:  None that stand out.

vote for your
man of the match now

Harriers  subs   cards      Rochdale  subs   cards 
Brock     Edwards  
Clyde     Evans  
Stamps     Oliver  
Williams     Doughty  
Hinton     Griffiths
Ayres     Jobson  
Melligan     Flitcroft  
Flynn     Simpson  
Broughton   Platt  
Henriksen     McCourt  
Shilton     Connor  
SUBS:       SUBS:    
Danby     Gilks  
Joy     Duffy  
Doyle     Townson  
Foster     McEvilly  
Bennett     Hodges  

REFEREE:
Mr K Hill
Hertfordshire


links to some
rochdale websites:

official site
rochdale afc.com
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