Rochdale’s John Hollins described it as a “massive win”. Kevin Ratcliffe said “It was disappointing to lose” Shrewsbury’s summer transfer target Garth Griffiths got the vital goal for Rochdale scoring with a towering header on 80 minutes.
Dale got off to a bright start keeping Ian Dunbavin on his toes with a string of shots.
Matt Doughty saw his drilled effort fly over the bar and then Jones was unlucky to see his shot deflected by Matt Redmile for a corner. From the resulting corner Griffith’s downward header bounced up and hit the angle of bar and post.
Ryan Lowe should have given Salop the lead when Banks in the Rochdale goal fluffed his Goalkick. Lowe controlled the ball well, but smashed his shot over the bar, with only the Goalkeeper to beat.
Salop then started to attack. Steve Jagielka had a shot blocked by Lee Todd. Peter Wilding then won possession from the throw-in and played the ball to the near post, but Tony Lormor couldn’t direct his shot.
Shrewsbury looked sharp at the start of the second half. Matt Redmile fed Ryan Lowe down the left, but again Lowe couldn’t hit the target, blasting his shot over the bar. Matt Redmile should then have scored a goal for himself. Ian Woan floated in a 35-yard free-kick to the right hand post. Redmile rose above Griffiths but his header was saved well by Steve Banks.
Banks saved again of Karl Murray on 70 minutes after Sammy Aiston took the ball down the line beating Wayne Evans. Aiston pulled it back to Murray but his shot was saved.
Gareth Griffiths then put ‘Dale ahead after Doughty was hauled down on the left-hand side by Peter Wilding. McCourt curled the free kick in to Griffiths who headed into an unguarded net after Dunbavin failed to collect/punch the cross away.