TLG Stat-Pack – Rochdale in 2003/4

Last updated : 29 April 2004 By Robert Craven
Kevin Townson - Rochdale
Kevin Townson's ten League goals have been imperative


Rochdale supporters may not have considered relegation worries at the start of September or as late as mid-October. ‘Dale were defeated just once in their first six matches and held the lofty position of fourth, having beaten York City 2-1 to record their third straight win. In a similar run of form, the Lancashire club emerged unscathed from four out of six games, meaning that a 2-0 triumph over Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road put them just two points outside of bthe play-off positions.

But from there it has all gone wrong and ‘Dale find themselves back in their regular position of perennial underachievers. After that Robinbs win they lost six straight games, including a 4-0 mauling at Roots Hall. Two wins over the Christmas period eased the pressure as they moved five points away from the releagtion zone, but two wins in the next thirteen – the only three-pointers being a notable 1-0 victory at home to Torquay United and 3-0 over Mansfield Town – sucked them back towards the drop.


Tellingly, the Spotland club beat Carlisle United – former manager Paul Simpson et al – 2-0 before embarking on their next slump, but in the last two fixtures, ‘Dale have come away with the spoils, beating free-falling Leyton Orient 3-0 and then relegarion rivals Kidderminster Harriers by a single strike at Aggborough. Two points will now see them safe, and the Shrimpers will be hoping to deny them this Saturday.

Nationwide League Division Three

09/08/03: Yeovil Town (h) L1-3 (Connor)

16/08/03: Bristol Rovers (a) D0-0

23/08/03: Cambridge United (h) D2-2 (McEvilly [p], Connor)

25/08/03: Torquay United (a) W3-1 (McEvilly [p], Betts 2)

30/08/03: Darlington (h) W4-2 (McEvilly 2 [1p], Connor, Bertos)

06/09/03: York City (a) W2-1 (Townson, Bertos)

13/09/03: Carlisle United (a) L2-3 (Connor, Townson)

16/09/03: Huddersfield Town (h) D1-1 (Connor)

20/09/03: Hull City (h) L0-2

27/09/03: Lincoln City (a) D1-1 (Antoine-Curier)

30/09/03: Macclesfield Town (a) L1-2 (Shuker)

04/10/03: Scunthorpe United (h) W2-0 (Bertos, Brannan [p])

11/10/03: Northampton Town (h) D1-1 (Townson)

18/10/03: Cheltenham Town (a) W2-0 (Townson, Bertos)

21/10/03: Doncaster Rovers (a) L1-2 (Townson)

25/10/03: Swansea City (a) L0-1

01/11/03: Leyton Orient (a) L1-2 (McEvilly [p])

15/11/03: Kidderminster Harriers (h) L0-1

22/11/03: Southend United (a) L0-4

29/11/03: Oxford United (h) L1-2 (Gary Jones)

13/12/03: Bury (a) W2-1 (Bishop, Townson)

20/12/03: Boston United (h) W1-0 (Griffiths)

26/12/03: Mansfield Town (a) L0-1

28/12/03: York City (h) L1-2 (Townson [p])

03/01/04: Torquay United (h) W1-0 (Townson [p])

10/01/04: Yeovil Town (a) L0-1

17/01/04: Bristol Rovers (h) D2-2 (McCourt, Townson)

24/01/04: Cambridge United (a) D0-0

31/01/04: Darlington (a) L0-1

07/02/04: Mansfield Town (h) W3-0 (Gary Jones [p], Connor, Bertos)

14/02/04: Northampton Town (a) L1-3 (Townson)

21/02/04: Cheltenham Town (h) D0-0

06/03/04: Boston United (a) L0-2

09/03/04: Swansea City (a) D1-1 (Bertos)

13/03/04: Bury (h) D0-0

16/03/04: Huddersfield Town (a) D1-1 (Bertos)

20/03/04: Carlisle United (h) W2-0 (Gary Jones [p], Holt)

27/03/04: Hull City (a) L0-1

30/03/04: Doncaster Rovers (h) D1-1 (McEvilly)

03/04/04: Lincoln City (h) L0-3

10/04/04: Scunthorpe United (a) D2-2 (Bertos, Warner)

12/04/04: Macclesfield Town (h) L1-2 (Heald)

17/04/04: Leyton Orient (h) W3-0 (Holt 2, McCourt)

24/04/04: Kidderminster Harriers (a) W1-0 (Bertos)


Played 44, Won 12, Drawn 13, Lost 19, Scored 48, Conceded 55, Points 49, Position 21st


F.A. Cup

08/11/03: R1 – Bury (a) W2-1 (Bertos, Townson)

06/12/03: R2 – Luton Town (h) L0-2


Played 2, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 1, Scored 2, Conceded 3


Carling Cup

19/08/03: R1 – Stoke City (a) L1-2 (Townson)


Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, Scored 1, Conceded 2


LDV Vans Trophy

14/10/03: R1 – Carlisle United (a) L0-2


Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, Scored 0, Conceded 2


2003/4 Records

Matches Played: 48 (23 home, 25 away)

Matches Won: 13 (7 home, 6 away)

Matches Drawn: 13 (7 home, 6 away)

Matches Lost: 22 (9 home, 13 away)

Goals Scored: 51 (27 home, 24 away)

Goals Conceded: 62 (27 home, 35 away)


Most Appearances:

Wayne Evans 47

Leo Bertos 41

Neil Edwards 36

Sean McClare 35+4

Daryl Burgess 35+1


Top Goalscorers:

Kevin Townson 12

Leo Bertos 10

Paul Connor 6

Lee McEvilly 6

Gary Jones 3

Gary Holt 3


Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com