Rochdale 2 - 0 Barnet

Rochdale recorded their first win of the season as they easily swept aside Barnet at Spotland.

Ashley Grimes got his first of the season when he slotted home a George Donnelly freekick and Dele Adebola opened his Dale account by turning home a Matt Pearson centre.

John Coleman was forced into one change in his starting line-up. Captain Peter Cavanagh failed a late fitness test, Brian Barry-Murphy replaced. Deadline day signing Bobby Grant had to make do with a place on the bench.

Dale started quickly and thought they had taken the lead inside 2 minutes. Andrew Tutte’s centre was met by Grimes but his header came back off the post.

The striker got his name on the score sheet 12 minutes later. Kennedy was chopped down just outside the area with Donnelly stepping up to take but the strikers shot was scuffed, although the ball fell fortuitously to Grimes whose neat turn and shot beat keeper Stack.

It was a much better performance for Coleman’s men than last time out at Torquay and soon one turned into two as Dale doubled their advantage. Pearson’s mazy run down the right made space for a cross with Adebola sliding in at the back post to score his first in a Dale shirt.

Dale were comfortable with their advantage; Barnet’s best effort of the first half came when Yiadom’s sliced cross hit the crossbar.

The second half was a fairly dour affair, although the introduction of Putterill and new addition Grant added a little bit more energy to the home side.

Adebola showed great skill when he beat three men but his shot was gathered by Stack.

Tutte  flashed a powerful drive just wide.

Barnet gave the home fans one final scare when Byrne’s diving header went just wide when really he should have done better.

Coleman’s men saw the game out quite comfortably to net their first three points of the campaign and with Burton Albion up next at Spotland in the League, the Spotland faithful will be hoping for the same again next weekend.

Att:2021

Rochdale:Lillis, Pearson, R Edwards, P Edwards, McIntyre, Tutte (c), Barry-Murphy(Putterilll 61), Kennedy, Grimes(Grant 61), Adebola, Donnelly

Subs: (not used) Smith, Bennett, Curran, Rafferty, Craney

Barnet: Stack, Fuller, Brown, Fortune, Saville, Lee (Abdulla 64), Byrne (Warren 82), Yiadom (Edgar 82). Weston, Holmes, Hyde

Subs:(not used) Cowler, Kamdjo, Ganbin, Lowe