ROCHDALE 1, STOCKPORT COUNTY 2
John Rooney eclipsed elder brother Wayne with an outrageous goal in Stockport County’s Emirates FA Cup, first-round tie giantkilling win at Rochdale.
While Wayne has been renowned as a scorer of spectacular strikes, none will surely have surpassed the effort John struck at Spotland.
The midfielder was in his own half when he spotted goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, on loan from Manchester City, off his line and sent an imperious effort sailing over his head.
Goals from Rooney and Alex Reid earned National League club County victory against opponents two divisions higher in the football pyramid.
And the success came days after County had been given a reprieve after Chesterfield, who beat them in the fourth qualifying round, were found to have played an ineligible player.
The FA ordered the game to be replayed and County triumphed 4-0 only three days earlier.
Long after the final whistle and everyone was still enthusing about the Rooney goal.
“John has got it in him. If it were on Match of the Day, it would have been shown over and over again. It set the tone for us,” explained manager Jim Gannon.
County’s manager added Adam Hamill scored an identical goal last season for County at Northwich Victoria in the Cheshire Cup, but that wasn’t captured on camera.
Gannon added he was delighted to be in round two after the journey they have been on in this year’s competition.
He continued: “People sometimes pat you on the back about tactics, but the players gave a masterclass.
“I am really pleased for the lads who gave everything, and I got the maximum out of them.”
Gannon admitted his side had to defend for lengthy periods in the second half with goalkeeper Ben Hinchcliffe making some “brave saves”.
Dale manager Brian Barry-Murphy took the defeat on the chin.
“We have to take it on the chin. We kept going to the final whistle and I have no complaints,” he said.
“Our lads gave everything and had chances to score but some days are like that.”
Stockport made one change from the side that started the replayed fourth qualifying round tie against Chesterfield.
Mark Kitching came in for Richie Bennett who was self-isolating.
Stockport made a whirlwind start establishing a 2-0 lead by the 14th minute.
Indeed, Connor Jennings was well denied by Bazunu before Rooney broke the deadlock in the seventh minute with his stunner, his eighth goal of the season.
“Watch Match of the Day tonight,” beamed a delighted Gannon, though the highlights show will be screened tomorrow. It is a goal not to miss.
Stockport’s second was nowhere near as good as a miss-hit shot from Jennings was flying wide when it fell to Alex Reid who diverted it low past Bazunu.
Dale, who took Premier League side Newcastle United to a replay in the third round last season, halved the deficit mid-half when Matty Lund stole in at the far post to head home an Alex Newby cross from a couple of yards, the sixth goal of the season for the son of a retired Stockport GP.
Stockport had the chance to re-establish a two-goal cushion is stoppage time when Kitching’s angled shot was kept out by the legs of Bazunu.
Rochdale were more of a threat after the restart and County keeper Hinchcliffe made two important saves to deny Jimmy Ryan and Lund.
Reid had a chance to make it 3-1, but Bazunu parried his fiercely struck shot behind for a corner.
Ollie Rathbone came close to equalising in the 85th minute as his drive was superbly saved by Hinchcliffe diving low to his left.
Hinchcliffe came to the rescue again soon after with another fabulous stop, this time to keep out Jake Beesley.
And in the third minute of stoppage time, Dale had one last chance to draw level but Beesley blazed over after a cross was flicked into his path and glory beckoned.