Wycombe 0 Rochdale 1
Robert Dwyer
ADAM LE FONDRE’s celebrations following his last minute winner for Rochdale were no doubt tinged with more than a little relief, after spurning a glorious opportunity just before half-time, somehow heading wide from no more than five yards.
The vistors profligacy had looked to be costly, as they dominated the game but failed to make the most of their chances. They weren’t alone however, and unlike Le Fondre, Wycombe’s Matt Harrold wasn’t given any opportunity for redemption after missing a gilt-edged chance for the home side.
The Wanderers top scorer put goalkeeper Frank Fielding under pressure and the former Blues loanee smashed his kick against the striker who was faced with an opportunity to run the ball into an open goal. As the visiting defenders desperately ran back to protect their goal, Harrold dwelt on the ball for too long, neither shooting for goal nor looking to square the ball to a team-mate, and the strikers hesitancy proved costly as Fielding’s desperate challenge knocked the ball loose and it was hacked off the line by a grateful Simon Ramsden.
It was symptomatic of the home side’s performance, and betrayed a group of players desperately trying to hold their nerve as results becomes ever more decisive in the context of the season. Whilst the visitors made their intentions clear from the start, passing the ball with precision and purpose, their opponents looked indecisive and tentative. Le Fondre might have won a early penalty after being checked by Leon Johnson but referee Clive Penton was having none of it.
Lewis Hunt, returning from injury, was given a torrid time by Nicky Adams, and the home side were grateful to Marek Cech, who was called upon to deny Le Fondre and then Lee Thorpe before Scott Wiseman’s fierce drive drew a fabulous stop from the young Czech goalkeeper.
His opposite number, Fielding, was also called upon, and he showed his credentials with a double save, blocking Lee Sawyer’s close range effort before acrobatically saving a powerful shot from Harrold.
The two seemingly pivotal misses then followed as half-time arrived without a goal.
The home side were clearly the more frustrated. There seemed to be a complete lack of belief, from the players on the pitch through to the supporters in the stands. Fear almost seemed to paralyse the home support, and this fear was being distilled back into the Adams Park atmosphere as a low-level hum, like a detuned radio, devoid of any rhythm. It was almost as if there was a collective cry of “I want to believe”, but it takes some will to see a golden goose, when there’s just a turkey in front of your eyes.
Peter Taylor made the change many wanted to see, John Mousinho replacing Lewwis Spence, but the second half continued in the similar vein to the first. The home side struggled to contain the visitors, who continued to dictate, having won the midfield battle. Every time Holt, Mousinho or Sawyer put the fire out, another one crackled into life, and the home side’s hopes seemed to rest on a visitors mistake. However they still couldn’t find an avenue past Cech, who continued to command his area impressively.
The frustrations continued to grow as the game wore on, Phillips, who struggled to overcome his own personal battle with the pitch was replaced by Zebroski, who continued to struggle to overcome his personal battle with himself. Matt Harrold looked a forlorn figure, any confidence that remained having drained away after his first-half transgression. John Akinde, struggled with his own growing pains, and his replacement, Jon-Paul Pittman struggled to see much of the ball at all.
For that’s what it was – a struggle. There was a time that the pieces fit, but the home supporters have had to watch as they tumble down and fall away. With it comes the desire to point the finger and with just seconds remaining, not only did calamity befall the suffering home side, but it came drenched in irony. Cech, who had performed so admirably, sent a weak goal-kick out to Adam Rundle, who tormented Hunt one last time, before crossing low for Gary Madine. His effort on goal was blocked but he reacted quickly to turn the ball into the path of Le Fondre, who finished empathically to reap the rewards of a deserved victory.
The home support screamed their agonies, but were left with just more introspection.
