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  • Kick-off: 15:00
  • Venue: Blundell Park
  • Attendance: 4213
  • Referee: Pawson, C

Live Commentary

90mins

The ref has blown his whistle for full time.

90mins

Martin Butler is replaced by Peter Bore.

84mins

Adam Le Fondre is replaced by Lee Thorpe.

79mins

The referee has booked Richard Hope.

79mins

Richard Hope goes into the referees book for persistent infringement.

76mins

Scott Wiseman is replaced by Kallum Higginbotham.

76mins

Clark Keltie is booked for unsporting behaviour.

67mins

Nathan Stanton goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.

66mins

Martin Butler goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.

66mins

Martin Butler goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.

62mins

Grimsby are replacing Andy Taylor with Danny North.

46mins

The second half is under way with the score currently at 0 v 0.

45mins

The ref has blown his whistle for half time.

0mins

The ref has blown his whistle and the match has started.

Match Report

Last season's beaten play-off finalists Rochdale began the new League Two season with a frustrating goalless draw at Grimsby Town.

Dale will be hoping to go one better this season and while the Spotland club are not quite the finished article, the Mariners are very much a work in progress.

Manager Alan Buckley would be pleased with how his five new signings fitted in against a proven Rochdale line-up, with only Colchester-bound David Perkins missing from the side that went so close to only the second promotion in their history last season.

Talented Rochdale were clearly the better side and would have won it but for two outstanding saves from last season's Town player of the year Phil Barnes.

Grimsby created little, but there was no denying their organisation effort and sheer determination, with new skipper Matt Heywood leading by example.

Their four other new signings all did well to a point, but it is still clear that the one new capture they need is somebody to put the ball in the net.

Veteran Martin Butler nearly won it when he headed the ball past the keeper but could not find the target.

Talented young striker Andy Taylor was a surprise starting choice in preference to Danny North, who replaced him on 62 minutes, but Rochdale had a bit too much know-how to give the pacey young frontman much of a look-in.

At the end of 90 entertaining minutes both sides were probably pleased with the outcome, although clearly Dale boss Keith Hill would feel his side had done more than enough to record a third successive victory at Blundell Park.

On the evidence of this clash Rochdale should again be challenging this season, while Grimsby gave hint of a much more promising future.

Grimsby Town

Rochdale

Corners

59

Fouls

1613

Goal attempts

810

Shots off target

25

Offsides

31

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