A goal from the penalty spot for top scorer Sophie Coates and a delightful second-half chip by Daisy Mason ensured Dale came away from proceedings with a point.
Dale, who sat five points behind their opponents, wanted to start the game quickly and get revenge for the last time they faced Salford. With that fuelling the team, Dale created an early chance through vice-captain Alicia Barnett, whose pass was just too quick for Mason to get on the end of.
However, Salford quickly responded with a chance of their own and made it 1-0 after five minutes. Brookes with a volley that flew into the top right corner and gave Nash no chance of saving it despite her best efforts.
Salford were in the ascendency and carried on their dominance by creating an abundance of chances to go further in front but, Nash kept Dale in the game, captain Brooke Strudwick also contributed defensively to keep Salford out. They were unlucky not to get the second after a slick move and brushing the crossbar.
This lead to a reaction change from gaffer Lee Atkinson, who put Gracie Smith on for Ellie Southworth. Smith got straight into the action and made a huge challenge against Salford’s number seven, which stopped their progress.
The change gave Dale the chance to get back into the game after shots from Mason and top goalscorer Coates. Smith had a brilliant chance on the left wing but was denied by a good sliding challenge from Salford’s centre back.
The second half saw Dale flying out of the traps with a very early corner after super work from Barnett and Smith. Dale kept targeting the left flank as the joy Smith was getting surely would lead to a goal.
Minutes later, Smith had the ball in the box and with her slick agility and movement, she earned a penalty after the defender stepping on her foot. Sophie Coates added to her impressive stats and made it 17 goals for the season.
Seconds later, Salford rejuvenated and put the ball in the back of the net leaving Dale needing to find another goal to get back in the game again.
An hour gone and the game became very end to end, suiting Dale slightly as they were dominating the chances in the second half. That second goal was coming.
65 minutes in, Mason produced a cheeky chip over the keeper to make it all square. She received the ball on the right wing, drove past the left back and saw the keeper off her line and produced a goal of the season contender. Getting her off the mark for the season. Assistant manager Jordon Morris said, “It was a fantastic goal, and she is an outstanding player”.
Dale were in full control of the match, and Salford couldn’t really create any chances and stop the creativity of Dale’s attacking force. Chance after chance, Dale kept probing the Salford defensive unit but just couldn’t get that third goal to snatch all three points. Speaking after the game, assistant manager Jordon said;
“We were an absolutely outstanding team till the end.
“I think we were quite unlucky to not get the three points today but, we fought really hard to comeback today.
“The resilience was outstanding and to go 1-0 down and bring the game back, and then to 2-1 down.
We didn’t let our heads drop and we increased the standards even more, so it was a fantastic turnaround from the players.” stated Jordan.
Now Dale can go into next weekend with a break in league action, with more confidence as they know they can have a chance of getting silverware this season.
Dale XI | Nash, Strudwick (c), Jones, Malpus, Whyte, Coates, Barnett, Duckworth, King, Mason, Southworth.
Subs | Jackson, Smith, Hastwell, Valente, Burke
