Rochdale 2 (O'Grady 8, Tootle o.g. 46) Crewe Alexandra 0

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Chris Dagnall shapes to shoot low under Steve Phillips.

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Chris O'Grady's wonderfully struck volley and Matt Tootle's disastrous own goal got Rochdale back to winning ways.

Dale started both halves lightning quick. O'Grady rifled the opening goal into the roof of the net and the points were secured when Tootle put through his own net six yards out with not a Dale player in sight.

It was an entertaining opening period with both sides looking capable of scoring on frequent forrays forward. Dagnall and Temitope Obadeyi came close to doubling Dale's lead while at the other end Byron Moore pleaded for a penalty when Craig Dawson went into wholeheartedly into a tackle with the striker in the clear.

Dale were quickly into their stride in search of a first goal in 180 minutes of football. The lightning start paid off. Temitope Obadeyi had a sighter as he latched onto Tom Kennedy's cross and headed just over the crossbar. Five minutes later Dale struck. Chris Dagnall was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet as his mazy run took him into the Crewe six yard box. The striker fired under Steve Phillips but Mark Tootle was on hand to clear off the line. The ball came to O'Grady who took a touch before rifling a volley into the roof of the net.

Slowly Crewe came into it as they began to recover from the early loss of Calvin Zola to injury. Frank Fielding stopped a free kick destined for the top corner, Luke Murphy fired high when well placed on the edge of the box, and then there were strong shouts for a Crewe penalty when Byron Moore got the wrong side of Craig Dawson and the young defender stretched out a leg which appeared to bring the substitute down. A penalty and possibly a red card for Dawson looked possible but the referee waved away the claims.

The visitors came on strong towards the end of the half but Dale had the final say with a three corners in quick succession. O'Grady got on the end of the second one, his header scrambled off the line, and the third came out for Jason Taylor to crack towards goal, Harry Worley doing well to fling himself in to block. There was just time for Dagnall to rifle one last shot before the whistle, Phillips flinging himself full length to turn the ball away.

Dale started the second half as they had the first and they grabbed a second in fortunate circumstances. O'Grady broke down the left channel and fired in a wicked low cross and Mark Tootle, with nobody anywhere near him, contrived to put the ball into his own net from six yards.

The two goal cushion allowed Dale to play increasingly more attractive football. Will Atkinson capped a fine move from front to back with a header that spun towards the top corner before Phillips intervened.

Dale introduced the lively Kallum Higginbotham and he gave the home side some impetus in search of a third. The young winger came close to repeated his feat at Crewe on Boxing Day as he cannoned a shot from twenty yards which rifled towards the top corner before Phillips turned it over the top.

The keeper kept his side in it again when Tom Kennedy whipped a half cleared corner back into the danger zone and Craig Dawson planted a powerful header towards goal that Phillips again did well to turn away.

Not to be outdone, Fielding ensured there were to be no late nerves for the home side as he turned away Luke Murphy's low drive and then saved at the feet of Joel Grant as he burst into the Dale box.

Rochdale: Fielding, Wiseman, T. Kennedy, Stanton (McArdle 39), Dawson, Jones, Taylor, Atkinson, Obadeyi (Higginbotham 60), O'Grady, Dagnall.
Subs (not used): Arthur, Flynn, Haworth, J. Kennedy, Toner.

Crewe: Phillips, Brayford, Schumacher, O'Donnell, Zola (Moore 5), Miller, Murphy, Westwood, Tootle, Worley, Walton (Shelley 64).
Subs (not used): Legzdins, Ada, Donaldson, Grant, Martin.

Attempts (on target): Rochdale 13 (9) Crewe 7 (5)
Free kicks: Rochdale 13 Crewe 18
Offside: Rochdale 2 Crewe 7
Corners: Rochdale 5 Crewe 2