Football: Rochdale 1 - 0 Charlton Athletic

Date published: 06 May 2018

Rochdale avoided relegation to League Two after Joe Thompson’s strike earned Dale victory whilst Oldham could only draw at Northampton meaning its them that are relegated.

Having been 12 points adrift of safety just two months ago, the sheer fact that safety was a possibility for Rochdale AFC going into the final day was probably unthinkable to most and it came down to either Dale or Oldham would be relegated.

Oldham started the day knowing victory would secure their league one status as they sat one point ahead of Rochdale albeit with an inferior goal difference. What that meant was if Oldham dropped points, Dale would leapfrog above them with a better result.

On a scorching day in front of a crowd of well over 5,000, Dale set about their task with a high intensity which almost led to the opening goal after just seven minutes. Olly Rathbone was upended just outside the box and when Charlton keeper Ben Amos could only parry Camps’ stinging free-kick, captain Ian Henderson, returning after his four-match ban, crashed the re-bound back off the inside of the post when it looked easier to score.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amos denied Dale again soon after when he pushed away a Ryan Delaney header following a corner from the left.

On the stroke of half-time at the Crown Oil Arena, a cheer went around the home support as news came through that Northampton Town had equalised against Oldham at Sixfields, which gave renewed hope for the Dale faithful and things were to get better for Rochdale during half-time.

The game taking place over 100 miles away had run on longer than the game at the Crown Oil Arena and deep into stoppage time, when most Dale fans were getting their half-time refreshments, another goal for Northampton meant a draw would be enough if scores stayed the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The atmosphere around the ground at the start of the second half was electric but was slightly hushed when Oldham scored a second to level the score-line at Sixfields – Rochdale needed a goal.

With the news filtering through, Keith Hill made a double change in the 67^th minute. Forwards Steven Davies and Joe Thompson came on in place of a defender and a midfielder and it was a decision that was to prove pivotal as just minutes after coming on, Thompson scored the goal that secured League One survival.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joe Rafferty’s hopeful ball into the area saw Henderson bundled to the ground and while the fans were appealing for a penalty, Calvin Andrew nodded the ball to Thompson who took a great touch before hitting a low left-footed shot into the corner to spark jubilant scenes.

The remainder of the game was played out with little trouble to either goal and at the full time whistle, the wait for news from Sixfields began...

A few supporters ran onto the pitch but were soon pushed back into the stands as most of the Rochdale players went into a huddle in the centre circle whilst others waited in the tunnel area where Sky Sports, who had broadcast the game live, had a monitor screen with a live feed from the other game.

After almost a ten-minute wait, the full time whistle 108 miles away brought scenes reminiscent to a promotion party as the 2-2 draw between Northampton and Oldham meant both would be playing in League Two next season whilst Keith Hill can prepare Rochdale to face the likes of Sunderland in League One.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rochdale: Lillis, McGahey, McNulty (Davies 67), Delaney, Rafferty, Done, Camps, Rathbone (Thompson 67), Henderson (c), Inman (Hart 86), Andrew
Subs: (Not used) Moore, Wiseman, Kitching, Humphrys

Charlton: Amos, Konsa, Bauer, Pearce (c), Dasilva, Aribo (Jackson 89), Forster-Caskey (Reeves 61), Kashi, Marshall, Kaikai (Mavididi 71), Zyro
Subs: (Not used) Dijksteel, Magennis,  Phillips, Sarr

Referee: Mr T Harrington
Assistants: Mr M Dwyer and Mr G R Russell
Fourth Official: Mr R L Lewis

Attendance: 5,294 (1,161 away)