Rochdale 2 (Dagnall 11, T. Kennedy 45 pen) Barnet 1 (J. Hyde 85)

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Tom Kennedy puts Dale two up from the spot.

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Rochdale survived a late Barnet onslaught to return to winning ways in a top of the table clash that entertained throughout its enthralling duration.

Dale were two up at the break thanks to goals from Chris Dagnall, a tidy finish after showing Ishmael Yakubu a clean pair of heals, and Tom Kennedy from the penalty spot after Will Buckley was bundled over by Breen.

It could have been more convincing for Dale at half time, as Buckley and Simon Whaley came within a fine block and excellent save respectively of killing the game off altogether before the break, but Barnet showed why they are they are challenging at the top late on. Jake Hyde's excellent first time volley from a corner gave them hope and it took some backs to wall defending for Dale to hold on to a crucial three points.

Barnet suffered the early loss of full back Joe Devera to injury and their backline was rocked further as Dale took an early lead. The Barnet centre half pairing were flat on their heals as Chris Dagnall collected the ball in acres of space, drove all too easily beyond Yakubu and finished low into the bottom corner.

Dagnall and strike partner Chris O'Grady were proving to be a real handful, but Dale were not having things all their own way against a Barnet outfit that looked lively going forward but shaky at the back.

That shaky back line almost cost the visitors a second time when Breen failed to advance in line with his fellow defenders, playing Dagnall onside as O'Grady flicked the ball on. Dagnall beat the Northern Ireland international again but this time his poked finish was wide.

O'Grady was next to try his luck as Dale pushed on towards the end of the half, the rangy striker turning twenty yards out to rifle a low just past the post.

Dale went rampantly in search of a second, their football at times a joy to watch. A wonderful move involving Gary Jones, Tom Kennedy and Dagnall released Will Buckley into the box but Breen went someway to attoning for his poor first half by blocking the shot at full stretch.

Still the second wouldn't come, Simon Whaley and Jones got in each others way as they looked to blast home in space 14 yards out, the ball falling to Buckley who blazed over, and then Whaley came within Jake Cole's outstretched right hand of doubling Dale's advantage, the keeper making an excellent save from the winger's low shot.

Dale had to survive a distinct scare before they did finally get their second. Albert Adomah found Paul Furlong in the box and the striker's excellent turn put him clear, Kenny Arthur making a fine stop at close quarters, before Dale somehow, at the third time of asking, hacked the ball clear.

Arthur's save brought the ultimate reward as minutes later Dale made it two. Buckley burst into the box past two defenders before Breen's hapless afternoon went from bad to worse as he hauled the young winger over. The referee pointed to the spot and Tom Kennedy dispatched the spot kick low to Cole's right.

The next goal would play an important part in the outcome and into the second half Dale pushed for a match clenching third. O'Grady glanced a header over the top and Whaley was on target with a well struck free kick, which Cole watched carefully into his hands.

Barnet hit the post as they started to show a steady improvement. Substitute Albert Jarrett, with his first touch, curled a free kick low, the ball missed everyone, and cannoned back off the Dale upright.

At the other end Dale's best move of the half saw O'Grady produce a fine moment of skill in the left hand channel, clipping the ball in to Dagnall, who laid it off for Jones, whose low drive brought a fine save from Cole.

By now the game was end to end and Furlong's stunning volley, latching onto Yannick Bolasie's low cross, would surely have brought Barnet back into the game had it been anywhere but straight at Arthur.

With fifteen minutes to go Barnet put Dale under a period of sustained pressure and Keith Hill introduced Matt Flynn in place of Scott Wiseman to add more height to his back line as the visitors looked to load the ball into the box at every opportunity.

Barnet had their lifeline with five minutes to play thanks to substitute Jake Hyde's sweetly struck goal. Hyde stole a yard to latch onto Bolasie's corner and produced a strike right out of the top drawer, curling his first time volley in off the crossbar.

It was backs to wall stuff as Barnet loaded the ball into the box time and time again, but the Dale defence, marshalled superbly all afternoon by Nathan Stanton, held firm without any further clear chances for the visitors. The win moves Dale up to fourth and things are looking up again for Keith Hill's men after the minor splutter at Burton last week.

Rochdale: Arthur, Wiseman (Flynn 76), T. Kennedy, Stanton, Dawson, J. Kennedy, Jones, Buckley (Thompson 71), Whaley (Rundle 90), O'Grady, Dagnall.
Subs (not used): Edwards, Spencer, Stevens, Holness.

Booked: Jones.

Barnet: Cole, Devera (O'Neill 9), Gillet, Hughes, Yakubu, Breen, Adomah (Jarrett 59), O'Flynn (J. Hyde), M. Hyde, Bolasie, Furlong.
Subs (not used): Carpenter, Kamdjo, Deen, Tabiri.

Booked: Cole, Hughes.

Attempts (on target): Rochdale 15 (6) Barnet 8 (4)
Free kicks: Rochdale 19 Barnet 16
Offside: Rochdale 5 Barnet 9
Corners: Rochdale 8 Barnet 10

Referee: C Webster.