Colchester United 1 - 2 Rochdale

Colchester United v Rochdale

Rochdale ended the season with victory over relegated Colchester with a goal in each half from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Calvin Andrew. The win takes Rochdale onto 69 points, a record point total in the third tier for Dale.

After manager Keith Hill announced his retained list earlier in the week, players not being offered contracts weren’t present on the scorching hot day in Essex. Grant Holt, Rhys Bennett, David Syers, Rueben Noble-Lazarus and Michael Rose will all have to find new clubs for next season, although Rose did travel to watch the game from the stands.

Colchester, already relegated to League Two next season, gave a debut to 20-year-old goalkeeper James Bransgrove as they prepare for life in English football’s basement division.

Colchester should have taken an early lead when Macauley Bonne beat the offside trap in the second minute but his pull back was well read by Andy Cannon who cleared the danger.

Mendez-Laing’s pace has caused problems for many defences this season and his speed led to the opening goal. The winger pounced when Joe Edwards hesitated on the half way line before exchanging passes with Ian Henderson and slotting into the bottom corner.

Colchester never looked out of the game and perhaps should have drawn level before the interval. Josh Lillis misjudged the bounce whilst outside of his area after a long kick, his header falling for Bonne who lobbed his shot at the unguarded goal on to the roof of the net.

Colchester, who have had a fragile defence all season particularly after going a goal down, rallied and drew level soon after half-time. A right wing cross was gathered by Edwards who fired into the top corner from inside the box.

The Dale boss wasn’t present at The Kingston Homes Community Stadium after flying out to America to be with his sick father but he would have been pleased with his side's response as they controlled the remaining 37 minutes.

Substitute Calvin Andrew was brilliantly denied when his diving header was somehow kept out by Bransgrove whilst Mendez-Laing’s dangerous cross was cleared by Frankie Kent with Andrew ready to pounce.

Dale’s winner came after Andrew’s perseverance around the Colchester area. The big striker saw his first shot blocked and when all other avenue’s appeared closed he picked out a curling shot into the far corner for his sixth goal of the season.

The win saw Dale finish the season in 10th place, and with the majority of the squad already contracted for next season, it could be just as exciting.

Attendance: 3,435 (209 from Rochdale)

Rochdale: Lillis, Cannon, Lancashire, Eastham, McNulty, Lund, Allen (c), McDermott (Andrew 39), Mendez-Laing (Vincenti 73), Bunney (Camps 61), Henderson
Subs: (not used) Diba, Rafferty, Tanser, Hooper

Colchester: Bransgrove, Briggs (Shorey 46), Wynter, Kent, Edwards (James 64), Gilbey (c), Moncur, Lapslie, Massey, Lee, Bonne (Porter 48)
Subs: Parrish, Wright, Harrison, Dunne

Referee: Mr A Davies
Assistants: Mr S Purkiss and Mr C Pollard
Fourth Official: Mr C Fitch