Oldham Athletic 2 - 3 Rochdale

Oldham v Rochdale

Rochdale moved to within four points of the League One playoff places with a deserved win against near neighbours despite playing the whole second half with 10 men after Ian Henderson was sent off on the stroke of half-time.

Oldham took the lead with a well worked move before Henderson netted from the penalty spot after Callum Camps was brought down. Henderson saw red for a foul on Curtis Main earning the Dale skipper a second yellow card. Amadi-Holloway headed into his own net early in the second half to edge Dale into the lead before Camps’ wonder strike gave Dale a two goal cushion. Amadi-Holloway set up a tense finale with a dipping volley to reduce the arrears but  Rochdale held on.

After last weekend’s derby win over Bury and the midweek announcement that the football club had bought Spotland Stadium outright, the Rochdale faithful headed down the A627(M) in hope their side could cap off a remarkable week; and they didn’t disappoint.

With Matt Lund injured, Callum Camps was given the nod whilst Grant Holt returned to the bench after missing last weekend through injury.

Dale started on the front foot, dictating the game although never threatening Joel Coleman’s goal and slowly the hosts started to gain a foothold on proceedings. 

On loan Doncaster midfielder Curtis Main was a handful and his neat flick found strike partner Amadi-Holloway but the youngsters shot was pushed away by Josh Lillis.

The home sides persistence paid off when they took the lead on the half hour mark. A neat passage of play saw John Sheridan’s side carve open the Dale defence with Amadi-Holloway finishing off a swift move to open the scoring.

The Latics fans, who saw their side start the day in the relegation zone, sensed survival was in their hands as they continued to press but Dale were awarded a penalty to silence Boundary Park. Tim Dieng’s challenge on Callum Camps looked fair but replays showed the defender caught the Dale man. Ian Henderson clinically drilled past Coleman for his 13th of the season.

Henderson turned from hero to villain when he was sent for an early bath as the clock ticked to the 45th minute after the skipper scythed down Curtis Main.

In his 400th game in charge of Dale, Keith Hill’s half time team talk certainly did the trick as his side came out for the second half looking to take the game to their hosts. 

A Donal McDermott corner caused problems in the home defence with striker Amadi-Holloway diverting the ball into the back of his own net to give Dale the lead.

That lead was extended soon after when Camps was allowed space before unleashing an unstoppable shot that crashed off the underside of the cross bar giving Coleman no chance.

Oldham thought they had reduced the deficit when Amadi-Holloway slotted through Lillis’ legs only to have his celebrations cut short by an assistants flag although he would be celebrating 10 minutes later. The on loan striker sent a superb dipping volley beyond the despairing dive of Lillis to set up a grand finale.

As you’d expect, Oldham threw everything at Dale but the defence stood firm. Tareiq Holmes-Dennis headed just wide whilst Anthony Gerrard grazed  the top of the cross bar with a powerful drive in the last minute.

The win took Rochdale up to 11th in the League One table and to within four points of the top six with nine games remaining.

Is it the impossible dream? Or can Dale  pull off the unthinkable and reach the end of season play offs?

Attendance: 6,117 (1,242 from Rochdale)