Steve Parkin's men finished a poor season with a poor display away at Oxford who came away with a 2-0 win. Here is the match report and player ratings for the match.

Rochdale signed off from the 2003-04 season with a defeat at the Kassam Stadium as they were defeated 2-0 against Graham Rix's Oxford United.  The result didn't matter to Dale though the performance was truly awful and Rochdale finished the season in 21'st place having escaped relegation last week against Southend resulting in Carlisle and York being relegated.

The Rochdale team news came through when we got in the ground following a good couple of hours in the nearby public house and it was a rather under strength side with Matt Gilks replacing Neil Edwards who took his place on the bench, Danny Livesey returned with Daryl Burgess in the centre of defence replacing Greg Heald and Gareth Griffiths with Wayne Evans and Sean Smith remaining as the full backs.  Neil Redfearn was not in the squad making us think that he has played his last game in a Dale shirt and Sean McClare was demoted to the bench as Gary Jones partnered Scott Warner in the centre of midfield with Patrick McCourt making his first start since he scored that belter against Bristol Rovers back in January on the left of midfield with Leo remaining on the right.  Kevin Townson returned to the team to partner Rory Patterson up front with Lee McEvilly going on the bench.  Matt Doughty was also on the bench and Kevin Gibbins was called up from the reserves to take a place on the bench.

The game started ok and Dale had the first chance of the game and it came to Leo Bertos who tried with an effort from the edge of the box but it went straight to the Oxford keeper.

That was basically it for Dale's chances in the first half and the visitors took over Rochdale playing like they couldn't care less about the day and Oxford took over.

With just over half an hour gone, Oxford took the lead and it was a deserved goal in my opinion.  Big man Julian Alsop (I call him by what most were calling him, pot & kettle and all that) headed the ball down to Steve Basham in the Dale penalty box and Basham hit a low effort underneath Matt Gilks to put Oxford 1-0 up.

It wasn't going to be long before another goal went in with the way we were playing and sure enough, 5 minutes later, Oxford were 2-0 up.  Dean Whitehead managed to get his head to the ball on the edge of the penalty area and he powered his header goalwards and into the top corner though it seemed that Gilks should have saved it.

Rochdale could have had numerous chances in the first half but both strikers looked very poor with Kevin Townson getting caught offside on more than a few occasions.  The offside rule is difficult at a young age but by the age of about 10, primary school teams have less problems than Townson who really needs to learn it a little better!

Fortunately for the visiting fans, the half came to an end but unfortunately Dale were 2-0 down.

Kevin Townson did himself no favours at all with his first half display and was replaced at half time by Lee McEvilly.

Another awful half of football with Dale still playing awfully resulted in the crowd almost falling asleep it was that quiet and we had to wait until 15 minutes from the end before the next real chance of the game and it fell to Lee McEvilly who was put through by a good ball by Jones and his one on one effort was well saved by the keeper.

Matt Gilks made a wonderful save in the second half as an Oxford midfielder cut inside and shot towards the top corner but Gilks at full stretch kept him out.

Evil had another good chance a few minutes later when he got on the end of an Evans cross but his header went wide of the post.

Rochdale made 2 changes during the 2nd half, both obviously with a view to an all out attack!  Matt Doughty replaced a very poor Patrick McCourt and Sean McClare replaced an average at best Scott Warner. 

Thankfully, we didn't have to suffer anymore as the referee blew up for the end of the game with the Dale players and management clapping the 400 + away support off and it might be the last we see of quite a few players as Steve Parkin has hinted at some big changes to the squad if we want to progress and based on today you can't argue with him though some probably will.

That's it for this season and it's not been pleasant for the most part but hopefully better things will come next season and hopefully under the leadership of Steve Parkin and Tony Ford.

Player Ratings:

Matt Gilks 5 A few bad mistakes and his kicking was woeful at times.  A decent save in the second half though

Wayne Evans 6 Not brilliant but certainly not one of the worst.  I hope we have not seen the last of Evo

Shaun Smith 4 Awful, surely getting released.  It's a tough call between him and Simpkins as to who is better

Daryl Burgess 6 One of our best players today, he and Livesey stopped it from being quite a few more

Danny Livesey 6 See Burgess

Leo Bertos 5 Poor end to a great season for Leo.  Was pushed off the ball more than a few times and didn't look dangerous at all

Patrick McCourt 5 Passed the ball far too much and went on no runs of note.  Lacked effort again unfortunately

Scott Warner 6 Not too bad from Warner but not his best game.  Got stuck in a lot but his passing was less than average

GARY JONES 7 M.O.M for me today.  His passing was at least accurate and showed more determination than most

Rory Patterson 5 Poor.  I don't think he is good enough to be honest and today was poor again. 

Kevin Townson 4 Awful today.  Subbed off at half time and rightfully so.

Subs:  

Lee McEvilly 7 Had our 2 best efforts and looked quite good when he came on

Sean McClare 5 Poor when he came on and I think we have seen the last of him

Matt Doughty 6 Not on long enough to do too much wrong.

Photo: Action Images

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