Rochdale 3 (Obadeyi 9, Jones 84, O'Grady 90) Dagenham 1 (Scott 10)

Photo: Jon Coluccio

The Dale captain points to the name on back of his shirt after he puts his side ahead.

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Gary Jones' second half pile driver put Rochdale ahead in a game that seemed destined for a draw. Dale were struggling to find a moment of creativity to put them back into the lead after the sides went into the break level after Josh Scott levelled for the visitors within a minute of Temitope Obadeyi giving Dale the lead.

Jones' magic strike and Chris O'Grady's injury time tap in to secure the points put Rochdale five points clear at the top of the league with a game in hand on second place Bury.

After both sides had scored from their opening chances, the game grew stale with both sides struggling to get the ball down. Dale carved out a couple more openings towards the end of the half but did not do enough to re-take the lead before the interval.

A quiet opening ten minutes paved the way for Rochdale to take the lead with the game's first attempt on goal. Will Atkinson gathered the ball on the left and crossed for Chris Dagnall to turn the box. The striker was crowded out but the ball fell for Gary Jones to strike 12 yards out. Tony Roberts saved with his legs but the ball came to Obadeyi to fire his first goal for the club.

Dale would look to build on the foundation of the opening goal but within minute Dale gifted Dagenham an equaliser. Nathan Stanton dallied and had his pocket picked by Jon Nurse, who squared for Josh Scott to complete the simplest of chances.

The home side were unhinged by the setback and struggled to get the ball down and create anything in a very even first half. The football spent most of its time in the air or involved in a midfield scrap as the players struggled on the cut up Spotland pitch.

Chris O'Grady looked the most likely to provide the quality Dale needed to forge ahead for a second time and Dale should have scored when the striker superbly rolled his man in the box, got to the byline and hit a low cross through the six yard box inches away from the toes of Atkinson and Obadeyi.

Dale improved towards the end of the half. Roberts came out to block Dagnall's lobbed header, O'Grady lofted the ball back towards goal but Scott Doe was on hand to hack it clear. Minutes later Roberts dropped a clanger that almost cost his side as he spilled Gary Jones well struck effort, the ball going round the post rather than into the net, saving the keeper's blushes.

The second half played out in much the same fashion as the first with neither side able to get a firm grip on the encounter. Chances for goal were few and far between but Dale should have been ahead following the introduction of Kallum Higginbotham from the bench. The young winger did superbly to get the better of Damien McCrory and square for Dagnall, who lent back and blazed over from 12 yards.

Dagenham seldom ventured deep into Dale territory and when they did they found a goalkeeper in fine form, gathering all crosses that came into the box and at one point diving full stretch to turn Scott's long range drive over the top.

At the other end Roberts was a virtual spectator but he should have been made to save when Higginbotham threaded in O'Grady, but the striker's lack of a right foot caused him to slice well wide.

The home side pushed for a late winner and came within inches when Abu Ogogo's headed clearance fell for Dagnall to volley, his strike flying just past the post with Roberts beaten.

Minutes later Roberts was beaten again, and this time he had to pick the ball out of his net as Gary Jones produced the special something that was needed if either side was to win the game. Space opened up for the captain in front of the Dagenham box, inviting Jones to find the bottom corner with a rasping low drive.

Dale learned from their first half mistake by not gifting the visitors a route back into the game and instead making the points secure in injury time. Dagenham pushed all their men beyond the halfway line and when Higginbotham found Dagnall he had the freedom of the borough to run at Roberts. The striker took the ball round the keeper but carried it to far, his eventual shot fell for Chris O'Grady to tap in.

Rochdale: Fielding, Wiseman, T. Kennedy, Stanton, Dawson, Jones, Taylor (J. Kennedy 71), Atkinson, (Haworth 78) Obadeyi (Higginbotham 57), O'Grady, Dagnall.
Subs (not used): Arthur, Flynn, McArdle, Toner.

Dagenham: Roberts, McCrory, Doe, Arber, Green, Nurse (Vincelot 75), Scott, Ogogo, Montgomery (Thomas 61), Pack, Gain.
Subs (not used): Lewington, Uddin, Currie, Spiller, Walsh.

Booked: Gain, Green.

Attempts (on target): Rochdale 12 (5) Dagenham 3 (2)
Freekicks: Rochdale 12 Dagenham 14
Offside: Rochdale 6 Dagenham 3
Corners: Rochdale 6 Dagenham 9

Referee: K Wright.