Rochdale 1 - 0 Oldham Athletic

Want to buy this photo?

Matty Lund scored the only goal of the game

Matt Lund’s neat left footed finish just before half time ensured another derby day victory for Rochdale, this time against Oldham Athletic. Lund swept the ball past Connor Ripley fiive minutes before the interval after being picked out by Calvin Andrew to make it three derby wins in a row after previously seeing off Bolton Wanderers and Bury.

Dale were dominant in the first half with Ripley pulling off a string off saves to deny Dale further goals.

Oldham improved after the interval; substitute Billy McKay heading over was the closest they came to troubling Josh Lillis in the Dale goal.

With a very vocal travelling contingent from down the A627(M), Rochdale set about trying to silence the near 2,000 Oldham fans but their keeper Connor Ripley kept the scoreline at 0-0 time and time again.

Ripley pulled off a wonderful one handed save to push Joe Bunney’s 25 yard free kick onto the crossbar and he denied Bunney again minutes later when tipped a cross/shot over the bar.

The only goal of the game came after incessant Dale pressure led to Calvin Andrew having all the time in the world inside the area to pick out Lund who swept the ball into the bottom corner from 12 yards out.

More terrific defending from Oldham kept the scoreline down just after the goal.

Lund’s centre looked perfect for Steven Davies but Oldham’s captain Peter Clarke just about got a toe on the ball ahead of the Dale striker to turn it behind for a corner ball.

Oldham manager Stephen Robinson made a change at half time bringing on Billy McKay and it certainly helped sway the flow of the game in his sides favour.

The opening 20 minutes of the second half saw Oldham camped inside the Rochdale half of the pitch although the defence stood strong.

McKay will feel he should have done better when he met a Paul Green cross, his header flashing just over.

After riding Oldham’s pressure, Dale started to control the game once more.

Mendez-Laing’s pace saw him race into the Oldham area, his shot was poor when through on goal.

Lee Erwin fired a powerful shot just wide of the far post with Lillis seemingly beaten, but that was as good as the second half got for Oldham as Dale saw out the remainder of the match.

Camps’ stunning volley deserved more but Ripley somehow getting back to claw his shot away.

Last gasp defending from Clarke stopped substitute Joe Thompson from getting onto the scoresheet when he blocked his shot wide for a corner.

Rochdale moved up to sixth in League One as they head into a tricky looking FA Cup tie at National League side Maidstone United next weekend.

Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty, Canavan, Keane, Bunney, Camps (c), Lund, Cannon (Rathbone 71), Andrew, Mendez-Laing (Thompson 68), Davies (Odelusi 88).
Subs: (not used) Logan, McNulty, McDermott, Morley.

Oldham: Ripley, Dummigan, Burgess, Clarke (c), Reckord, McLaughlin, Fane (Jahraldo-Martin 90), Green (Winchester 73), Flynn, Ladapo (McKay 46), Erwin.
Subs: (not used) Kettings, Wilson, Banks, Osei.

Referee: Mr T Harrington
Assistants: Mr T Peart and Mr M McGrath
Fourth Official: Mr S A Oldham