A cruel, late equaliser for Rochdale cancels out Ben Garrity's opener as the points are shared in Greater Manchester
The hosts came into this game off the back of a win at the weekend against bottom club Scunthorpe United. It was Dale who had the first opportunity of the game on eight minutes through Max Taylor but his shot from 25-yards went well wide.
But the Valiants were unbeaten in six and replied three minutes later. A quick corner routine saw the ball played to Joel Cooper on the edge of the area but his effort also went wide.
In what was a very scrappy first half with neither side creating many opportunities, the next big chance came close to the end of the first half. Tahvon Campbell received a long-lofted ball which he controlled well and struck on the turn from outside the area but the ball went wide of the goal.
In the final minute of the first half regulation, the Valiants took the lead thanks to Ben Garrity. Chris Hussey took an out-swinging corner which found Garrity in the middle of the area unmarked who headed the ball down low past Jay Lynch in goal to put us ahead before the break.
In terms of quality, the game did not really improve in the second half, with the first shot of the half coming in the 77th minute. Following a David Worrall free-kick, the ball was cleared as far as Joel Cooper outside the area whose low shot was saved well by Lynch.
11 minutes later Worrall had a chance to give the Valiants some late breathing room but his shot from outside the area was again saved by Lynch. But in stoppage time with their first shot on target James Ball equalised late on to give the hosts a share of the spoils.
Rochdale | Lynch, O’Keefe, Taylor, O’Connell, Ball, Newby (58’ Odoh), Grant (58’ Kelly), Dorsett (74’ Charman), Clark, Campbell
Subs not used | Coleman, McNulty, Koehane, Done
Port Vale | Holy, Gibbons (46’ Worrall), Walker, Hall, Smith, Garrity, Wilson, Proctor (73’ Amoo), Hussey, Pett, Cooper (85’ Charlsey)
Subs not used | Stone, Jones, Martin, Harratt