Rochdale 3 - 0 Mansfield

Rochdale served up a real Christmas cracker with a comfortable victory over lowly Mansfield. A Scott Hogan brace sandwiched a Matty Lund goal to move Dale to within three points of top spot in League Two.

Dale’s pre-match preparations were hampered by an illness to goalkeeper Josh Lillis; Robbie Thomson made his debut whilst Peter Cavavnagh returned from injury for his first start since August. Peter Vincenti was preferred in midfield in place of Jamie Allen.

Rochdale started very brightly and raced into a 12 minute two goal lead.

Graham Cummins’ turn and cross was perfect for Scott Hogan who headed into the top corner to open the scoring.

The lead was doubled when Peter Vincenti’s low cross found Lund at the back post for the former Stoke man to fire home.

More goals seemed likely for Dale. Henderson’s dipping shot went just over, whilst in first half stoppage time Cummins’ volley went well wide, although the loanee had time to control before shooting.

A bizarre start to the second half saw Rochdale kick-off whilst Mansfield only had 10 men on the pitch. The visiting players took too long to return from the dressing room so referee Mark Haywood restarted the game without Mansfield's Ollie Palmer on the pitch.

The numbers were levelled up 90 seconds later when Palmer appeared, but it was still only one way traffic.

Marriott denied Dale in the 48th minute when he smothered the ball away from Henderson. The ball fell to Cummins but his shot was blocked on the line.

With the next attack, Dale got their third goal. Good work from Michael Rose down the left gave him space to cross for Hogan to turn the ball beyond Marriott.

Mansfield never troubled stand in Dale keeper Thomson; Palmer heading wide the closest they came.

Hogan almost got his hat-trick with a carbon copy move of the third goal but Marriott got his positioning correct.

Dale moved back into the play-off places and closed the gap at the top to just three points. With Bristol Rovers at Spotland on Sunday, its another chance to gain on the teams at the top.

Rochdale: Thomson, Rafferty, O’Connell, Lancashire, Rose, Lund, Henderson, Vincenti, Cavanagh (c), Hogan (Bunney 82), Cummins
Subs: (not used) Collis, Bennett, Eastham, Hery, Done, Allen,

Mansfield: Marriott, Westlake, Riley, McCombe, Beevers, Murray (c), Dyer (Meikle 50), Clements, Howell, Andrew, Palmer (Daniel 74)
Subs: (not used) Stevenson, McGuire, Briscoe, Sutton, Deakin

Referee: Mr M Haywood
Assistant Referees: Mr B Khatib & Mr J Whiteley
Fourth Official: Mr M Dwyer