Gillingham (1) 1 Dack 14
Rochdale (0) 0
Att. 5,430
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 56/6,270
Match Report
It was Rochdale’s Keith Hill that left Priestfield fuming at the latest endeavours of a referee that has courted controversy throughout his career and is now into a third year of overtime. Two second half dismissals were the cause of Hill’s displeasure and a result that left Rochdale’s hopes of a play-off place hanging by the thinnest of threads.
On this occasion though, I’m inclined to think that once the Rochdale manager has reviewed the footage he might consider that Mr D’Urso actually got his decisions right for a change.
This was a strange game. Rochdale came knowing that any result other than a win would end their play-off hopes whilst Gillingham had nothing but pride to play for. This led to a sometimes scrappy but competitive game that always had a little edge to it.
That edge led to Rochdale’s Andy Cannon becoming the pantomime villain of the piece as a series of challenges left him writhing in agony one moment only to get to his feet and back into the action on three separate occasions in the first half. In fairness, I thought the first challenge from Doug Loft looked reckless, but the third time that Cannon fell to the ground was pure theatre.
Gillingham took the lead after 14 minutes when a corner from Loft was converted at the near post with a header from Bradley Dack to celebrate his 100th appearance for the club with his tenth goal of the season..
Rochdale’s best chance of the half came moments before the break when a shot from Ian Henderson came back off the inside of a post and though the rebound fell at the feet of Jamie Allen, a fine block saw the ball to safety.
Six minutes of madness saw the visitors reduced to nine men. Cody McDonald, through on goal, was brought down by goalkeeper, Jamie Jones on the edge of the box. After consulting his linesman, Mr D’Urso decided that the red card was to be brandished. Then, in the 70th minute a lunging tackle by Matthew Lund on Bradley Dack brought a straight red.
Gillingham failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage and in the final minutes of the game brought some displeasure from their own supporters as they attempted to kill the game by hitting the ball towards the corners.
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