Whilst our form in the league has taken a turn for the worse, tonight's JPT match was a chance to turn the corner. Much like ourselves, Rochdale went into the game after an underwhelming start to the season, but it was the home side who triumphed on penalties.
With Smith making several changes to our starting eleven, we began the game reasonably brightly, playing the ball across midfield much better than we had done in previous games, with both Chambers and Peterlin keeping things neat and tidy in the middle. That said, we lacked any punch up front, with Grigg & Nicholls too static & not strong enough.
With only a sniff of a chance coming through Martin, we went into half time content enough, but with plenty of room for improvement - particularly down our right, where Gnakpa had offered no defensive cover for Westlake.
Half time came and as per Saturday, we we didn't get off to the best of starts. A series of lost second balls led to a corner, which was eventually turned home off the post.
In fairness to Smith, he didn't waste much time in bringing on Jarvis & Hurst for an ineffective Grigg & Gnakpa and we looked a completely different team from this point on. Jarvis' movement off the Rochdale back line was sharp and when we got Martin away down the left, he was looking a real threat. Inevitably, it was Martin's cross that Hurst latches onto to equalise.
We were then on the ascendancy. Chambers looked to drive things through midfield, Nicholls saw a determined run & shot flash just wide and Rochdale were forced into trying to catch us on the break. He may not be the most popular signing we've ever made, but Jarvis, along with Martin, was at the heart of our good play going forward.
There was time for Walker to pull of an impressive save from a one on one and for Taundry to come on (more on him shortly) for Chambers, before the final whistle and a rare penalty shoot-out.
So, that man Taundry. Having not kicked a ball in open play, he stepped up to take the first penalty. The result was a weak penalty and a routine save from 'Dale's 6"6' goalie. Never his strong point, Walker failed to get anything onto the Dale penalties and despite Nicholls' finding the corner, Hurst & Jarvis both struck poor penalties to see us exit the competition.
The result was disappointing but as a supporter, I hope the game and performance has given Smith food for thought. Chambers and Peterlin impressed in the middle, as did Martin on the left. Jarvis gave us a presence up front and came deeper to get hold of the ball, which essentially allowed us to keep the ball moving forward in their half. As I've said previously though, it's naïve mistakes which are costing us results and the ludicrous decision to allow Taundry to take the first penalty set the tone for a dire penalty shoot-out.
By: Rob Jones