Bees 2 Rochdale 1

Brentford finally win in North West this season after an entertaining match at promotion chasing Rochdale - littered with chances and peculiar refereeing.

Brentford took the lead in slightly controversial fashion. An excellent move put the lively Sam Wood through on his goal but his shot was saved. Referee Andy Hill then penalised a Dale player for dissent before strangely awarding Brentford a free kick on the right hand side of the area. Wood's set piece was then headed home by Jordan Rhodes to put the Bees one up.

Shortly afterwards Brentford doubled their lead when Wood bamboozled two home defenders before squaring for Charlie Macdonald to fire home.

Rochdale pulled a goal back before half-time when Hill decided that Ryan Dickson had handled in the area, despite the left back having both hands at his side. The hotly disputed spot-kick was then duly dispatched by Tom Kennedy.

Charlie Macdonald should have regained the Bees advantage before the break, latching on to a Rhodes through ball and taking it past the keeper before firing wide on an angle from 25 yards.

After the break Rochdale dominated possession but again the Bees wasted the best chances of the game - Rhodes robbing a defender but horribly mis-hitting an attempted chip and substitute Nathan Elder breaking clear but having his shot well saved.

It was an entertaining game today that Brentford deserved to win - although Brentford had to block several attempted shots and through balls during the second half. One worrying factor was the gap between right back Osborne and winger Williams which might have been exploited to better effect by the home team.

In truth though, Brentford deserved the three points and could have won by a more handsome margin.

Bees - Hamer, Osborne, Phillips, Bennett, Wood, Williams (Newton), Bean, O'Connor, Wood, Macdonald (Elder), Rhodes (Hunt).. unused subs Simon Brown and John Halls.

Thanks to beesotted for the match report

February 21, 2009