Fleetwood Town 0 – 3 Rochdale

Fleetwood Town v Rochdale - Jean Louis Akpa Akpro

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If Rochdale have an easier game this coming season they will be fortunate; as well as they played to cruise to a comfortable victory, Fleetwood were at best ordinary, they worked hard but lacked any penetration.

It was all change for Dale following the weekend victory over Rossendale as manager Keith Hill swapped youth for experience in naming a strong side for the visit to Fleetwood.

That the game went ahead in torrential rain is testament to the Blue Square side’s commendably good pitch, in what has to be said is an impressive stadium for a non-league side.

Dale took the lead as early as the sixth minute and never looked back. Excellent work between O'Grady and Widdowson led to an O’Grady shot from a Widdowson cross that Hurst in the Fleetwood goal saved only for O'Grady to score with his second effort.

Midway through the first half, that was being dominated by Dale, new signing Jean Louis Akpa Akpro hit a superb shot from outside the area that was so powerful the first Hurst in the Fleetwood goal saw of it was when he picked it out of the back of the net.

The two goal lead was nothing more than Dale deserved; solid at the back, building play through midfield and with the lively forwards always giving the ball player options. Fleetwood gave Dale far too much time on the ball and in truth Dale can expect to face far stiffer tests when the season gets underway.

Dale had opportunties to make it three before half time, the closest when the impressive Akpro hit the post with a header.

Fleetwood's only first half effort was a Darren Racchi shot that went well wide.

Though Fleetwood gave a better account of themselves in the second half, Dale began  as they ended the first, in control, perhaps the only surprise was it took until the 63rd minute for the third goal to arrive. Joe Thompson receiving the ball eight yards out with his back to goal, one touch, quick turn and then slid the ball under the advancing Hurst.

The third goal stirred Fleetwood into action, perhaps fearing an embarrassing score line they had their best spell of the game with their midfield finally keeping possession and feeding their previously ball starved front men. For all their work and industry, and the spell of possession they enjoyed, Fleetwood still lacked penetration and couldn’t conjure up a serious threat to Dale’s goal. Ian Craney did give the home crowd something to cheer about as his superb control in bringing a difficult ball down before hitting a sweet volley, that had the underworked Lillis worried in the Rochdale goal, that flew wide.

Dale manager Hill will be well satisfied with his team’s performance; however, he will surely temper his satisfaction when taking into account the limited opposition. Dale can certainly expect a far sterner test at Spotland on Saturday when Bolton visit.

Fleetwood: Hurst, Cavanagh, Smthye, Grand, Brown, Miles, Craney, Barry, Racchi, Thorpe, Seddon. Subs: Beeley, McNulty, Wright, Maguire, Camozzi, Sumner, Duggan, Davis.

Rochdale: Lillis, Wiseman, Widdowson, Dawson, Holness, Murphy, Kennedy, Jones, Akpro, O’Grady, Thompson. Subs: Done, Edwards, Goodall, O’Donnell, Reece, Flynn.

Referee: P Hodgkinson