Manchester United loanee Sam Mather is off the mark for his new side.
The academy talent decided to make the switch to the National League in January, linking up with Rochdale for the remainder of the 23/24 campaign.
He joined Sam Murray at the Manchester-based cub, but it’s Mather who’s been making a great impression so far.
He scored his first-ever senior goal on Saturday.
Sam Mather scores for Rochdale
Mather’s equalised for Rochdale to earn a 2-2 draw against rock-bottom Oxford City. It would have been an embarrassing defeat for the home side.
It all started well for Mather’s side. Dale took the lead in the 11th minute when Kairo Mitchell broke through and slotted home. However, two goals in seven minutes put Oxford in the ascendency. Very rare for them.
But the Manchester United loanee rescued a point and saved Dale from a shameful defeat. He finished from around 10 yards in the 77th minute from a pull-back.
The point took Rochdale up to 13th in the league and made sure Oxford remained dead bottom – 11 points off the next side.
Mather’s manager Jimmy McNulty says he was disappointed to only take a point on the day.
“We’re disappointed overall if I’m being honest, with the goals we conceded,” McNulty told Rochdale’s YouTube channel.
“From our point of view, we expect diligence of ourselves in those moments to know exactly what we’re doing.”
“In a game when you go ahead and you’re having chances, you feel like the second ones coming.
“We had to battle against the flow of how the day started to go and I think the one shining light is the competitiveness that remained from us to not run away from that battle when it was looking and sounding tough.
“We fought to try and produce moments we practice get back to ourselves, in a game that became a struggle and I think second half there came a moment with about half an hour to go where we wrestled control of the game again and it looked like it was coming.
“Fortunately, we got a second goal, had chances to get a third and ultimately we came away disappointed with a point today.”
Mather stats vs Oxford City
Mather had his finest game in blue yet. He had some excellent stats on the day:
- 90 minutes played
- 1 goal
- 39 touches
- 1 shot on target
- 1 shot off target
- 2/2 successful dribbles (100%)
- 7.4 rating
A good show from the 19-year-old, who will be absolutely delighted to have scored his first-ever senior goal.
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