Exeter 4 (Basham 2, McAllister 2) Rochdale 1 (Full Time Report)

Exeter submitted Rochdale to their heaviest defeat of the season and their first in the league for 11 games.

Braces each for Steve Basham and Craig McAllister saw Exeter take a four nil lead before Clark Keltie’s late consolation from the penalty spot.

The first goal came after Rory McArdle deflected Steve Tully’s cross towards goal. Sam Russell saved well but he could only parry the ball as far as Basham, who made no mistake from a yard out.

For the second time in as many matches a soft penalty decision cost Dale a goal. Referee David Phillips adjudged Scott Wiseman to have pulled Ryan Harley back in the box and then sent off the stand-in Dale centre half.

Rochdale had plenty of chances of their own throughout the half but could not reduce their deficit.

Dale started brightly and they had a good opportunity to take the lead when Jon Shaw almost got past Paul Jones in the Exeter goal to turn the ball in but it travelled narrowly wide.

Adam Le Fondre had a powerful shot tipped over the crossbar by Jones and towards the end of the half the Dale striker went one on one with Jones but he could not bring Dale back into the encounter.

Keith Hill rung the changes at half time, withdrawing both of his wingers, Adam Rundle and Will Buckley, in place of a defender, Marcus Holness, and a striker, Chris Dagnall.

Dale were strong in the second half as Exeter looked to sit back on their lead and if they had taken one of their early chances it would have turned the game into a contest for the remainder. Jon Shaw missed a Simon Ramsden cross by inches, while Rory McArdle forced a strong save from Jones, tipping the defender’s header over his crossbar.

Exeter had plenty of chances of their own on the break but their shooting was wayward, other than when Craig McAllister slid the ball across Sam Russell, who saved well with an outstretched left leg.

The game was finished when McAllister came up with a convincing finish to score a fine solo goal after turning McArdle near the halfway line and charging at the heart of the Dale defence and the substitute glossed over the victory when he tapped in Liam Sercombe’s cross.

There was a consolation for Dale late on when Clark Keltie scored from the spot after Shaw was hauled back by Dean Moxey.

Attendance: 4326

Exeter: Jones, Tully, Gill, Seaborne, Harley, Panther, Stansfield (McAllister), Basham (Stewart), Edwards, Saunders (Sercombe), Moxey.
Subs (not used): Marriott, Murray.

Booked: Moxey

Rochdale: Russell, Ramsden, Kennedy, Wiseman, McArdle, Buckley (Dagnall 45), Toner, Keltie, Rundle (Holness 45), Shaw, Le Fondre (McEvilly).
Subs (not used): Spencer, Jones.
Booked: McArdle

Sent Off: Wiseman

Referee: D Phillips