MATCH PREVIEW: ROCHDALE (A)

Rochdale vs Boreham Wood
Tuesday, 16th April 2024, 7:45 pm
Crown Oil Arena, Vanarama National League

PREVIEW

In another massive week in our fight for survival in the National League, the Wood make the northbound journey on the M1 to greater Manchester where we take on Rochdale at the Crown Oil Arena. Our last meeting with the Dale, relegated from League Two last season, came back in September. The game saw the points shared in a 1-1 draw at Meadow Park with both goals coming in quick succession. Rochdale drew first blood through Kairo Mitchell 2 minutes into 2nd half proceedings but it only took a minute for the Wood to respond as Tyrone Marsh levelled the scoring with a fantastic headed goal. James McNulty’s side sit just inside the bottom half of the table, occupying 11th position on 57 points after picking up 15 wins, playing out 12 draws and suffering 16 losses. Although the Dale look set to miss out on a play-off spot, the side from Greater Manchester will no doubt be aiming to end the season on a high and secure the 3 points tomorrow evening in front of a home crowd, providing another huge test for Luke Garrard’s side. The lads need all of your backing!

FORM GUIDE

Rochdale – D-D-L-W-W

The Dale sit 11th in the form guide after their previous 6 games, picking up 3 points on 2 occasions whilst drawing 3 times and losing once. The first game of the 6 came away to Eastleigh in a day to forget for the home side. Kairo Mitchell put Rochdale 1-0 up in the 28th minute with Paul McCallum levelling the score for the Spitfires only 3 minutes later. There would be no comeback for the Spitfires, however, as James McNutly’s Dale put 3 more into their net, Kairo Mitchell completing a brace with Jimmy Keohane and Devante Rodney also getting on the scoresheet. The following Saturday, Rochdale returned to action at the Crown Oil Arena in a narrow 1-0 victory against Maidenhead United, Devante Rodney sealing the Magpies’ fate with a goal late in the first half. This would be where the Dale’s winning form would come to a halt, however, as the Dale were dealt a 1-0 defeat away to Gateshead. Dajuane Brown would grab the only goal of the game in the 27th minute and, despite going behind early on, James McNutly’s side failed to find a breakthrough and left Tyneside empty-handed. Rochdale would then begin their April by welcoming Hartlepool to Spotland. The two sides went into the half-time break goalless and it took until the 20th minute of the second half for the first goal, Joe Grey giving the Pools a 1-0 advantage. As it looked like Hartlepool would take the 3 points back to Teesside and despite leading for 30 minutes, Devante Rodney levelled the score for Rochdale at the death, salvaging a point in the 96th minute. Rochdale then made the short journey to Oldham to face off with the Latics in a Manchester derby. James McNutly’s men would, however, yet again fail to pick up a victory and played out another 1-1 draw. Hallam Hope gave Oldham a 1-0 lead before the 10 minute mark, the Dale equalising through Manchester United loanee, Samuel Mather. Finally, in their most recent fixture, the Dale hosted Dorking Wanderers where the game would end in a 1-1 draw, Devante Rodney grabbing the goal for James McNutly’s side and ultimately confirming Dorking’s relegation from the national league.

ONES TO WATCH

Devante Rodney:

25-year-old striker, Devante Rodney, formerly of the likes of Port Vale, Walsall and Salford City, joined the Dale in June of 2022 and has been in fine goal scoring form of recent. Rodney has bagged 18 goals in 63 Rochdale appearances, 6 coming this season. However, Rodney has been in clinical form recently with 5 of his goals this season having come in the last 7 games, the forward bagging against Hartlepool United, Maidenhead United, Eastleigh, Woking and Dorking Wanderers. James McNutly’s number 10’s recent clinical displays make him a big threat for the Wood tomorrow. Rodney will be aiming to make it 6 goals in 8 at the Crown Oil Arena and will no doubt test Jack Payne’s back line.

PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW