Goals galore as reserves come back to win

Last updated : 10 October 2007 By Tony Scholes
David Unsworth
David Unsworth - first goal in Burnley colours
It was difficult to believe we were ever behind, let alone by two goals, but justice was done in the end as we came storming back in a game that will be memorable for the strikes that brought most of the goals.

Again we had a mix of experience and youth in the side. Captained by youth team right back Dean Stott, we included the likes of David Unsworth and Ade Akinbiyi, 34 today, and probably for the first time spending a birthday in Rossendale.

We had chances to go in front during the first half but some wayward shooting, some good saves, and a couple of efforts cleared off the line kept us out. Probably the closest we came was from a superb effort from Jay Rodriguez on the left of the box which was headed clear from right under the bar.

As often happens, the team doing all the defending went down and took the lead. Their forward found some space on the left hand side of the box and he turned to hit an unstoppable shot into the far corner from a tight angle.

Brian Jensen had no chance at all, but he should certainly have done better a few minutes later when his mistake led to the home side doubling their lead. 2-0 down and half time approaching, but just before the break we pulled one back through Steve Jones who hit a powerful shot into the corner.

Just a goal down at the interval and within no time at the start of the second half we went in front. The equaliser was David Unsworth's first Burnley goal. From a free kick outside the box on the right hand side he rifled it into the net. Had the goalkeeper got across and got a touch to it I'm sure he might well have regretted it such was the ferocity of the shot.

Almost immediately Ade got our third with a shot from fifteen yards, and another that simply flew into the net. Now in front we sat back waiting for further goals to come but it just didn't happen. We were by far the better side but with a slender one goal lead there was always the threat of a Rochdale equaliser.

They didn't really come close, but Jensen twice had to get down well to make saves and then he saved comfortably from a free kick conceded in a dangerous position.

A fourth would ensure victory and it duly came from James O'Connor who hit home into the top corner after the ball dropped for him in the box. It should have been five in our next attack. Jones got down the left, crossed low and well but substitute Rob Turner blazed his shot over the bar.

We did get a fifth, it came right and the end and was a deserved goal for Jay Rodriguez who was in fine form. He might just have impressed the watching Wrexham manager Brian Carey. Jay wasn't the only one to play well, and both Alex McDonald and Alan Mahon were particularly impressive.

That's four wins out of five in the league and we return to our home ground at Accrington for our next game in two weeks time when we play Bury.

The teams were;

Rochdale: Lloyd Rigby, Will Buckley, David Doherty, George Bowyer, Matthew Hughes, Raphael Evans, Jamie Mullan, Simon Williams, Ben Wharton, Kallum Higginbotham, Joe Thompson. Subs: Matthew Ellis, Daniel Hanford, Joseph Reidy, Robert Crank, Julio Barns.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Dean Stott, Dan Brown (Thomas Bradley), David Unsworth, Jon Harley, Alex McDonald, James O'Connor, Alan Mahon (Adam Kay), Steve Jones, Ade Akinbiyi (Rob Turner), Jay Rodriguez. Subs not used: Jonathan Sergeant, Alex-Ray Harvey.