Football: Rochdale 2 - 0 Oldham

Rochdale progressed to the third round of the EFL Trophy thanks to two stoppage time goals against ten man Oldham. Joe Rafferty edged Dale in front from the penalty spot just after the 90 minutes were up after Peter Clarke handled a volley from MJ Williams. Substitute Dan Adshead finished off emphatically from inside the area as the visitors pushed up field looking for an equaliser. The Latics played over 40 minutes with ten men after midfielder Mohammed Maouche was shown a straight red card for an over the ball tackle on Matty Gillam.

Rochdale manager Keith Hill has used this competition so far to blood younger players whilst also giving game time to players who aren’t getting game time for the first team and this game was no different. Hill made six changes from the weekend; 18 year old Aaron Morley was handed the captain’s arm band for the game.

Oldham, who ply their trade in League Two after they were relegated on the final day of last season, named the same eleven players that beat Crewe on Saturday.

With the difference in league status between these two sides, the fans came out in good numbers for this game although the travelling contingent would ultimately go home empty handed as Dale dominated for the most part.

Clear cut chances were few and far between although Ryan Delaney will feel he should have done better when he powered a Morley corner off target.

The pacey Nepomuceno sent in a dangerous cross from the left which was punched away by Magnus Norman and whilst the on loan Fulham goalkeeper quickly got back to his feet, Cameron Dummigan’s powerful drive was blocked away by Matty Done.

The best chance of the first half fell to Matty Gillam on the half hour mark. The striker was brilliantly picked out by a surging run down the right from Rathbone but his weak effort was easily saved.

This derby game really came to life six minutes after the interval when Maouche went in late and high on Gillam with the referee having little doubt it deserved a straight red card which caused a flash point involving nearly all of the outfield players. Oldham captain Peter Clarke and Dale’s Joe Rafferty went a little too far as the two were booked for their involvement.

It was one way traffic from then on as Dale piled on the pressure with the ten men of Oldham standing firm. Delaney saw a header from another Morley corner cleared off the line whilst Gillam acrobatically sent a volley just wide of the upright.

With the game heading for penalties Dale were awarded a penalty in stoppage time. Another Dale corner was only cleared out to the edge of the area and when Clarke tried to block MJ Williams’ ferocious goalbound volley, referee Langford adjudged he used his arm and pointed to the penalty spot. Joe Rafferty stepped up on his 250th appearance for Rochdale to slam the ball into the bottom left hand corner for his first goal of the season.

1-0 soon became 2-0 as an Oldham corner broke down 60 seconds later. Inman played in substitute Dan Adshead with the 17 year old showing maturity beyond his tender years to finish past Iverson with aplomb for his first professional goal.

Victory sees Dale reach the same stage they reached last season and face Manchester City U21’s at the Crown Oils Arena in the next round.

Rochdale: Norman, Rafferty, MJ Williams, Delaney, Done, Perkins, Morley ©(Adshead 85), Rathbone, J Williams, Gillam (Yonsian 85), Inman
Substitutes: (not used) Wade, Matheson, Hoti, Hamzat, Hopper

Oldham: Iverson, Dummigan (Hamer 29), Edmundson, Clarke ©, Hunt, Lang, Missilou, Nepomuceno (Branger 87), Maouche, Surridge, O’Grady (Lyden 54)
Substitutes: (not used) Coke, Miller, Graham, McFarlane

Referee: Mr O Langford
Assistants: Mr A Howson and Mr P Dermot
Fourth Official: Mr P Bankes

Attendance: 1,854 (911 from Oldham)