Dale Edge Past Poor Posh

Rochdale 1 - 0 Peterborough United

Rochdale had had an Easter to smile about by tea time on Monday, backing up their late equaliser at Rushden by recording their first home win since November and in the meantime breaking a run of games without a clean sheet that stretches back even further. A goal from substitute Iysden Christie gave Dale the points and a result that makes them almost certain to be playing League football next season.

They came up against a Peterborough side that showed little evidence of the fact they are play-off contenders. They offered very little going forward, meaning a Dale defence that has struggled all season had little to cope with for the afternoon. Typically, the Rochdale surface dictated the style of play and a difficult start for both sides ensued but already Dale were looking a much more solid outfit than in recent weeks; typified by Simon Ramsden’s excellent block on a Richard Logan goal bound effort early on.

Also different from recent weeks, Rochdale endeavoured to play some neat football and began to take the game to their opponents with a spell of pressure mid-way through the opening half. Rickie Lambert was at the heart of Dale’s intricate play; he played a neat touch to Dagnall, who beat two defenders before setting up Cartwright whose shot was saved. Gary Jones and Ben Kitchen then had chances to open the scoring as Dale kept up the pressure. Jones excellently struck volley was unfortunately straight at Tyler but Kitchen should have done better when faced with a decent Ramsden cross but the youngster allowed Newton to nick the ball away.

The game again entered a dull phase as the Rochdale pressure subsided and Peterborough continued to show little sign of an attacking threat; long balls being easily dealt with by the head of Gareth Griffiths who had a solid game. With half-time looming Rochdale’s best move gave them an excellent chance to open the scoring; another wonderful touch by Lambert sent Dagnall free inside the box but his low effort across the keeper was well saved. The move gave the home fans hope for the second period with Dagnall and Lambert again linking well together; indeed the hopes will be more long-term if the two continue to forge a partnership with Lambert’s vision and goalscoring ability allied with Dagnall’s pace and trickery.

Peterborough finally showed what they were capable of at the start of the second half and should have taken the lead when Logan was presented with a guilt-edged chance at the far post following an excellent Crowe cross. Logan did everything wrong and avoided testing Gilks, putting the ball clumsily wide with the goal gaping. Rochdale were not be outdone on the excellent chances front as Lambert and Dagnall combined once more. Again the young striker raced into the box only for his shot to be blocked, the referee mistakenly awarding a goalkick, which earned Lambert a yellow card for his protests.

With twenty minutes gone Steve Parkin made what proved to be a match changing substitution as John Doolan and Iyseden Christie took to the field in place of Kitchen and Cooksey. The Rochdale fans did not exactly view the substitution in a positive light and audible chants of dissatisfaction were made towards the dugout. The chants seemed harsh with Dale in need of a shake-up and Christie rewarded his manager with the winning goal, whilst Doolan turned in an adequate display. Lambert found himself with time and space on the edge of the Dale box and in typical fashion, the Dale striker did not hesitate to test Tyler. The goalkeeper could only parry the low drive and Christie raced in and dinked the ball over the grounded Tyler to give Dale the lead.

The remaining twenty minutes proved to be a nervous time for the home fans but in truth they need not have been as Peterborough failed to create anything meaningful. Indeed, Rochdale had the better of the remaining half-chances; Mark Arber defending well to deny Dagnall a goal that his performance had deserved. The final minutes were played out comfortably and the game ended to the clear elation of the Dale fans and players at securing a vital win that leaves them five points and seven places clear of the drop zone. Many Dale fans are none too happy with the mistakes Steve Parkin has made this season but on this occasion they should give him credit for making the substitutions which led to Rochdale’s first home win in nearly five months.