Rochdale's Relegation Worries Ease With Win at Macc

Macclesfield Town 1 - 3 Rochdale

Given Rochdale’s recent winless run fans could be forgiven for harbouring worries that the club might be sucked into the relegation battle but a vital win at Macclesfield Town on Saturday has put those worries to rest as Dale now lie 8 points clear of the dreaded drop-zone with three games in hand, indeed Dale’s chances of the playoffs are not yet over following Saturday’s victory over a lacklustre home outfit.

Rochdale took advantage of weary opponents to record a comfortable victory as the Silkmen looked shell shocked from their midweek defeat in the Area Final of the LDV Vans Trophy, missing out on a trip to Cardiff on penalties. It was a desperately poor performance from Macclesfield and defeat leaves them very much in the relegation fight as Rochdale progressed easily to only their second win of the year.

Steve Parkin looked to take the game to his opponents as Chris Dagnall was drafted into a three man front line which caused the home defence problems throughout the afternoon. A lively opening ensued with early chances for both sides as Christie poked the ball wide following a Gallimore header into the box for the visitors and John Miles should have done better than to fire a powerful shot at Gilks at the other end.

Macclesfield struggling to build any further attacks as numerous passes went astray, the ball more often finding touch than its intended target. Rochdale were looking good on the counter attack as the home side lost the ball all too often in midfield with the midfield able, for the first time in many games, to play to the striker’s strengths and get the ball to feet of Lambert and Christie whilst Dagnall made some tricky runs off his strike colleagues.

Lambert was instrumental in creating Dale’s opener on twenty-five minutes. With the ball half cleared to Gary Jones following a corner, the Rochdale captain slipped a lovely ball back to corner taker Lambert who hit a delightful first time cross to the unmarked Rory McArdle at the back post and he couldn’t fail to find the net with his free header.

Rochdale continued to look comfortable and Matthew Gilks was seldom troubled with the excellent Dave Bayliss and McArdle, buoyed by his goal, putting paid to Macclesfield’s attacks. The visitors continued to look threatening at the other end but efforts from Christie and Dagnall failed to add to the scoreline before half time.

Rochdale continued in the same vein as soon as the second half began and almost immediately they doubled their advantage. Christie bundled his way past two challenges on the edge of the box and stabbed the ball to Lambert inside the area. Dale’s top-scorer turned and fired only for Fettis to produce an excellent low save but with the keeper lying vulnerable on the floor, Christie scored the follow up via the post and numerous defenders who all made a mess out of clearing the ball off the line.

Rochdale were now by far the dominant force and it looked as though they might cruise to victory for the final half hour. All Rochdale fans will know, however, that victories are never so easy to come by and the visitors lost their control of proceedings by conceding a sloppy goal. A Macclesfield corner was won by McIntyre for the home side but his goal bound header hit Miles whose flick took all the pace from the ball but the Dale defence somehow failed to clear and it trickled into the far corner of the goal and the home side had a lifeline.

All of sudden Macc had built up a head of steam and Rochdale had their backs to the wall to maintain their lead. Decent half chances came and went for the Silkmen before boss Brian Horton introduced former Dale striker Kevin Townson to try and rescue a point for his side. Townson gained an immediate clear cut chance but the diminutive front man failed to get the ball from under his feet and McArdle was able to avert the danger. Rochdale had seemingly weathered the storm and it looked as though the home side had run out of the few ideas they had had all afternoon.

Rochdale were able to attack once more with Dagnall, who had a superb second period, and Christie both having efforts saved by Fettis before Rickie Lambert hit his sixteenth goal of the campaign and restored Dale’s two goal cushion. The best goal of the game saw Ernie Cooksey make a powerful run to the by-line and his cross was met by a glancing Lambert header at the near post to give Fettis no chance and to seal the game for the visitors.

Rochdale had finally ended their winless run and they fully deserved the three points to lift them away from the League Two strugglers and to gain some momentum in the right direction. Rochdale will face much tougher tests in the games against Grimsby and Wrexham this coming week were they will hope to end a winless home record that stretches back to November. There is a common footballing phrase that you can only beat what you come up against; most sides would have beaten a Macclesfield side that played as poorly as this but Rochdale despatched of them comfortably all the same.