Rochdale 4 (O'Grady 12, Dagnall 22, Atkinson 72, 86) Morecambe 1 (Curtis 84)

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Atkinson wheels away to celebrate the first of his two goals.

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Rochdale end 2009 five points clear at the top of league two after a convincing home win over Morecambe. A second half brace from Will Atkinson sealed the points after strikes from Chris O'Grady and Chris Dagnall put Dale two goals clear at the break. Morecambe fans only had Wayne Curtis' consolation to cheer on a day they were soundly beaten.

It was an awkward start for Dale as Morecambe peppered the home side's box with high balls and the defence struggled to clear its collective lines. Tom Heaton had to be at his best to prevent Morecambe from taking an early lead as a weak Tom Kennedy header fell for Stewart Drummond to strike towards the bottom corner. Heaton was at full stretch to turn the ball behind.

Dale were slow to settle but it was they who got the early goal as Chris O'Grady flicked on Craig Dawson's raking long ball, Will Atkinson collected and O'Grady was on hand to pick up the pieces when the young winger's cross was deflected into his path.

Morecambe looked as though they had plenty to offer and picked up from where they began after the goal but their defence could not deal with O'Grady and Chris Dagnall up front for the home side and it was that combination that doubled Dale's lead. O'Grady held the ball with his back to goal and produced a wonderful flicked pass to put his strike partner clear. Dagnall rounded the keeper and the rest was simple.

A minute later it could have been three as Dale again tore through the Morecambe backline and the ball bounced up for Dagnall to volley an emphatic shot against the face of the crossbar.

Dale went off the boil after grabbing their second and Morecambe should have been back in it just before half time as Aaron Taylor, with his first touch of the game after coming on to replace Michael Twiss, fired just past the post when well placed 12 yards out.

The home side showed some resurgence as the half ran out and Barry Roche had to be sharp to claw out O'Grady's flicked header that was destined for the top corner. Dagnall flashed a shot wide and Joe Thompson miss-timed a free header as Dale sought a match clenching third before half time.

A quiet start to the second half was brought to a sudden end as Dale broke at pace through Jason Taylor and O'Grady. The scorer of Dale's opener found Thompson wide on the right and the winger cut the ball back for O'Grady who waited 12 yards out to fire a shot that Roche did well to turn behind. A minute later Dale again came up against a goalkeeper in fine form as Roche parried a low Dagnall drive.

Dale continued to push for a third against a spent Morecambe force. Thompson latched onto Kallum Higginbotham's excellent ball through but fired a weak finish at Roche before the home side made the points secure as Will Atkinson rose to nod home Tom Kennedy's superb centre.

The game was secure and all Morecambe could do was give their supporters something to cheer. Craig Stanley came within an inch with a rasping twenty yard drive and then they got their goal as Wayne Curtis got the better of Craig Dawson and produced a calm finish.

The goal seemed to anger a Dale side that had taken its foot off the gas and the home side simply went up the other end and added a fourth. Jason Taylor crossed low for Atkinson to flick towards goal and although Roche got his hand to it he could not keep it out.

Attendance: 4,309

Rochdale: Heaton, McArdle, T. Kennedy, Stanton, Dawson, J. Kennedy, Taylor, Atkinson, Thompson (Rundle 71), O'Grady, Dagnall (Higginbotham 64).
Subs (not used): Taberner, Flynn, Toner, Glover, Jones.

Morecambe: Roche, Artell (Bentley 55), Stanley, Twiss (Taylor 40), Hunter, Curtis, Drummond, Duffy, Wilson, Parrish, Haining.
Subs (not used): Moss, Adams, Davies, Panther, Poole.

Booked: Hunter, Wilson.

Attempts (on target): Rochdale 17 (9) Morecambe 11 (3)
Free kicks: Rochdale 11 Morecambe 16
Offside: Rochdale 3 Morecambe 3
Corners: Rochdale 6 Morecambe 3