Football: Wycombe 3 - 0 Rochdale

Rochdale went down to a heavy defeat on the road in Buckinghamshire as Wycombe Wanderers ran out comfortable winners in Sky Bet League One. A terrible mistake by goalkeeper Brendan Moore gifted the Chairboys the opening goal when he allowed a 35 yard free kick to squirm through his hands early in the first half.

Dale rallied after the interval and had a number of penalty claims waved away by referee Brett Huxtable who seemed intent on frustrating the visitors. The hefty Adebayo Akinfenwa doubled the home sides advantage with a terrific control and shot and five minutes later on loan Millwall winger Fred Onyadimna powered a header past Moore.

Having beaten Bradford on Saturday, Dale came into the game full of confidence with Keith Hill making one tactical change; MJ Williams’ height preferred to Olly Rathbone’s tenacity.

Dale carved open the first chance of the game in only the second minute when some good interplay from Camps and Dooley saw the latter place a perfect pass through for Rafferty in space inside the area. The fullback pulled a delightful ball back towards Jordan Williams with the striker unable to connect.

The opening goal came when Ryan Delaney fouled Alex Samuel well outside the area and with seemingly no danger, Bryn Moore tried his luck from the free-kick which should have been simple for the Dale keeper but the ball flew through him and into the net.

The mistake seemed to affect the American who failed to claim a number of crosses and fumbled another punt upfield by his opposite number.

Rochdale rarely troubled the Wycombe keeper in a poor first half from Keith Hill’s side.

Andy Cannon was introduced just before half-time; replacing the already booked Kgosi Ntlhe and he added a little more bite into the midfield.

Ian Henderson curled a shot just wide of the post after good work from Done whilst Jordan Williams volleyed agonisingly over from the edge of the area.

Aaron Wilbraham, on for MJ Williams early in the second half had three penalty claims turned down, two of which seemed stonewall penalties. The big striker left the field with his shirt ripped at the sleeve after the rough treatment from the Wycombe defenders.

Akinfenwa netted Wycombe’s second when he controlled a lofted forward ball before turning and volleying into the bottom left corner.

2-0 soon became 3-0 with Onyedinma getting on the act, powering a header from close range after a cross from the right.

Wilbraham had another clear penalty claim dismissed, this time whilst trying to reach a Matt Done cross; Jason McCarthy the lucky man to get away with his misdemeanours.

Callum Camps hit the outside of the post with a powerful drive deep into stoppage time but ultimately by that point, Dale were soundly beaten.

 

Rochdale: Moore, Rafferty, McGahey, Delaney, Ntlhe (Cannon 41), MJ Williams (Wilbraham 54), Dooley, Camps, Done, J Williams (Inman 68), Henderson (c)
Subs: (not used) Lillis, McNulty, Rathbone, Clough

Wycombe: Allsop, Harriman, El-Abd (c), McCarthy, Jacobson, Cowan-Hall, Morris, Thompson (Bean 79), Onyedimna (Kashket 90), Samuel, Akinfenwa (Freeman 89)
Subs: (not used) Ma-Kalambay, Jonbati, Mackail-Smith, Charles

Referee: Mr B Huxtable
Assistants: Mr C Fitch-Jackson & Mr O Williams
Fourth Official: Mr S Ogles

Attendance: 3,997