The opening day of the season saw our groundhopper travel to Springhill to watch Rochdalians play host to Midland Phoenix. The home are made up of predominantely youngsters, Craig Kirby permitting of course, and in the opinion of the author of this match report are one of the most under rated teams in the Sunday Premier League.
Prior to kick-off I must that I felt the visitors would be the stronger of the two team's with Midland fielding a good experienced team and Dalian's playing an unknown 17 year old, well to me at least, upfront in the shape of Danny Banks.
The game got off to a typical first game of the season start with both side's testing each other out with some nice passing but with no real threat. It was nice to see both teams trying to play attractive football rather than just hoof it up field and let the strikers work themselves in to the ground.
Dalians had the first genuine chance of the half with some nice build up play down the left only for Dalian's full back Callum Davenport to sky it over from 12 yards to see a chance go begging. The half was pretty much of a stalemate to be honest with both teams working hard, just not producing that killer pass.
Towards the end of the half though Midland had a penaltly shout turned down from new Sunday league Referee Phil Jones when Bryn Eastwood was taken down in the box by Dalians defender Scott Hopley but the official deemed it a fair challenge. The game continued much to the annoyance of Midland stand-in manager Phil Crowther who was adamant that it should of been a spot kick and in his own words "Midland don't cheat!" Some things never change then.
Half Time Rochdalians 0 Midland Phoenix 0
The half was more or less over until again some fine play down the left by Danny Banks resulted in a cross for Dalians veteran Craig Kirby to hit the bar from all of five yards out to leave the half-time score at 0-0. Other than a Scott Hopley booking for shirt pulling there was very little else to report.
Both sides made changes at the break and to be honest I think everyone on the sidelines was begging for a more exciting half; a goal would do to liven things up a tad!
Just as I was thinking this I turned to Phil Crowther and said this has draw all over it.
Anyway on with the action it was Midland who were dominating the play with some nice passing football from Todd Hayes who was starting to get more in to the game alongside the tenacious Lee Brophy the game was really starting to become more of an enjoyable spectacle at this point. Midland have missed the skill and guile of Hayes following his lengthy spell on the sidelines and it was nice to see him back in the thick of things again.
Midland were really dominating the game at this point, Simon Riley going close with one shot and were piling forward looking to create chances but against the run of play it was Dalians who took the lead when Danny Banks broke free to give his side the lead. The home side then brought on some experience up top in former Copperpot player, amongst many others, Trevor Jepson who made his presence felt straight away with some whole hearted play.
The game was petering out at this point with no real clear cut chances being made by either team. Midland keeper Gaz Horrocks did keep the visitors at bay in the latter stages when faced with 4 opposition players but in the end it was to no avail as Dalians ran out winners by the single goal. Arguably the game should have ended a draw but credit to Man-of-the-Match Danny Banks who scored that crucial goal early in the second-half.
Full Time Rochdalians 1 Midlad Phoenix 0
