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Unfortunately in that time United, despite dominating possession in every game they have played, have rarely threatened the goal and seem shot-shy as soon as all their fine build-up play reaches the final third of the pitch. However the match statistics don’t lie; the Essex side had by far the better of this match and indeed Dale’s brace of goals came courtesy of their only efforts on target, the second of which cae from yet another debatable spot-kick.
Other than the obvious reluctance in front of goal however, another reason for United’s poor start stems from the fact that one or two players – for whatever reason – simply do not seem to be performing. Skipper Kevin Maher seemed rather innocuous, Mark Gower still doesn’t seem fit and strikers Wayne Gray and Lawrie Dudfield, a second half substitute, appear somewhat out of sorts.
Indeed, the home side were left to play all but nine minutes of the second period with just ten men after Brazilian-born wideman Leo Bertos, possibly Dale’s biggest threat to United’s rearguard, was sent-off for wildly kicking-out at Mark Bentley following a clumsy, but never reckless challenge from the ex-Dagenham & Redbridge man.
Following the sending-off Tilson pushed Dudfield on as a left-sided midfielder with Gower shuffling further into the middle with Duncan Jupp, Andy Edwards and Adam Barrett – on for Spencer Prior who is still suffering from a knock sustained at Sincil Babk on Tuesday evening – as a simple back three. Unfortunately though, United seemed to run out of ideas against the ten men and Rochdale found themselves surprised at the general ease of the victory; their first of the campaign. Indeed the defeat leaves only last season two promoted Conference sides – Shrewsbury Town (no points) and Chester City (one) - below the Seasiders in the early League Two table.
It was for the third time in as many matches that United conceded an early goal, this time in the third minute, when Dale captain Gary Jones smashed home a thunderous left foot drive into the top right hand from 25 yards giving Bart Griemink very little chance. (1-0)
As was the tone of the game, it was the visitor’s from Essex, adorned in their new Arsenal-style third kit, who enjoyed the best of the first half from that early moment onwards. Just before the fifteen minute mark Bentley saw a fierce effort blocked by Greg Heald following one of numerous chipped Maher free-kicks before Carl Pettefer tested shot-stopper Neil Edwards from long range soon afterwards.
Drewe Broughton, who had a steady but unspectacular game, nodded a Gower cross into the arms of Edwards and then pacey frontman Gray chased down a long Edwards ball forward before seeing his effort blocked by Edwards and Broughton then lobbed a 35 yard rebound wide of the gaping goal.
As the half began to edge towards its climax the home side created some chances of thgeir own in an attempt to double the advantage. Patrick McCourt curled a decent effort just wide of Griemink’s upright before Grant Holt’s sppedy dash into the penalty area brought a neat cut-back which Jones dragged wide of the post from 15 yards.
The last opportunity of the first half, in injury time, then fell to the Shrimpers when former Bangor City man Alan Goodall blocked a Broughton centre and Bentley back-heeled the rebound into the grateful arms of keeper Edwards.
Half-time: Rochdale 1 Southend United 0
The second half followed basically the pattern of its predecessor. Maybe United carved out a few more goalscoring opportunities, but for whatever reason, few amongst the away following expected any of the chances to actually find the back of the net.
It was Dale who set the early second half pace though when Holt pulled a low shot off target, but within minutes Bentley had shown his intent by dipping a long range effort just over the top with Edwards floundering.
Then, with 54 minutes on the clock, dangerman Bertos reacted angrily to a challenge by Bentley and was instantly banished to the dressing room by referee Russell Booth, who incidentally attained an average of more than one red card per game in the Conference last season, but after the dismissal the Nottinghamshire-based official seemed determined to ‘even things out’ as they say.
It didn’t take long for Booth to have his second vital say in proceedings when, on 59 minutes, he awarded the home side a penalty for a handball by Barrett, although quite how the former Bristol Rovers captain, grounded, could have moved his arm out of the way of Paul Tait’s shot, fired from all of five inches away, defies humanity, However Jones had few problems from the spot, confidentally planting a shot into the bottom right hand corner. (2-0).
As the match began to peter away, with United playing like a beaten team, Jamie Clarke fired wide of the target following a Holt lay back before Gower twice fired towards goal within seconds, first seeing the body of Daryl Burgress leap in the way before then finding the safe hands of Edwards.
Finally, United’s afternoon was summed up when Dudfield also squandered a double opportunity. Burgess again got a block in to deny Maher’s shot from a Pettefer crpss before Dudfield found the gloves of Edwards before firing the rebound over the top from close range.
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com