Simeon Jackson on the attack against Rochdale Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Rochdale 0 Gillingham 0

Gillingham head into the second-leg of the League 2 play-off semi-final with the upper-hand after managing to hold Rochdale to a goalless draw.

A tense night at Spotland saw Gillingham defending for large periods but they hung on to frustrate the home side.

The Gills didn’t get a shot in on goal until first half injury time as Rochdale dominated the opening 45 minutes.

With six minutes gone Adam Rundle shot over the bar and Will Buckley also went close with an effort that drifted just wide of Simon Royce’s post.

The chances continued to fall for Dale but they continued to be spurned.

Tom Kennedy shot well over the bar and Lee Thorpe, who was a menace in attack during the first half, headed a free-kick wide.

Rochdale did have the ball in the net shortly before the interval, when Buckley picked up Thorpe’s low shot and put the ball past Royce, but he was in an offside position.

Gillingham did come close just before the break when Simeon Jackson’s cross took a deflection off a defender and home keeper Frank Fielding had to make a save to keep the scores level at the interval.

Royce had to be alert early in the second half when he held onto Gary Jones’ long range shot.

Dale remained on top for large periods but Barcham threatened when he burst forward, only for his shot to take a deflection and go wide.

Gillingham manager Mark Stimson changed it around up front for the final 20 minutes, in a bid to get a foot-hold in the game, with Mark McCammon replacing Jackson and winger Albert Jarrett on for Dennis Oli.

Barcham came close for the Gills but his shot was deflected out for a corner and Josh Wright’s set-piece beat everyone and nearly sneaked in at the far post.

Gillingham had another chance a moment later when Fielding’s poor clearance fell to Lewis and the keeper had to dive full strength to deny the midfielder, while at the other end Chris Dagnall lashed a shot inches wide.

An entertaining game came to a close with no goals and the two teams meet again for the second leg at Priestfield on Sunday night.

Gills: Royce, Fuller, Nutter, King, Richards, Lewis, Wright, Weston, Oli (Jarrett 72mins), Barcham, Jackson (McCammon 66mins). Subs: Bentley, Southall, Julian.

Rochdale: Fielding, Ramsden, Kennedy, Stanton, McArdle, Rundle, Buckley (Thompson 64mins), Jones, Toner, LeFondre (Dagnall 71mins), Thorpe. Subs: Jones, Holness, Shaw.

Attendance: 4,450