Exeter City 0 - 1 Rochdale

Rochdale moved back into the automatic promotion places of League Two after this narrow victory at Exeter. Jamie Allen’s fourth goal of the season on the stroke of half time was enough to earn the three points.

Dale boss Keith Hill made three changes to the side that drew in midweek against Burton. Club Captain Peter Cavanagh and Olly Lancashire returned after injuries whilst Jamie Allen was preferred ahead of Peter Vincenti.

Rochdale almost took the lead after five minutes when a powerful Hogan run saw the ball out to Done. His intelligent pull back found Allen but the youngsters shot was well saved by the legs of Pym.

Clear cut opportunities were few and far between in the opening 35 minutes but the Exeter had a glorious opportunity as the half entered its last 10 minutes. Joe Rafferty’s tackle inadvertently diverted the ball to O’Flynn who from seven yards out, and the goal gaping, fired horribly over the bar.

That sparked Dale into action as they laid siege to the Exeter goal.

Lund’s through ball sent Hogan clear but the strikers shot squirmed through the keepers hands but cleared before it could cross the line.

Henderson pull back from the line looked perfect for Hogan but Pym clawed the ball away.

Hogan’s pace caused the Exeter defence no end of problems with Dale’s leading scorer being denied by the Exeter goalkeeper once again.

With the clock striking 45 minutes Dale finally got the breakthrough. A quickly taken throw on the left picked out Henderson almost on the goal line. The winger clipped the ball into the danger area with Pym touching the ball away but only to Allen who from eight yards out, fired home.

A double change from Exeter at the start of the second half saw Dale having to answer a few more questions than in the first half.

Nichol’s snap shot from 18 yards was brilliantly tipped over by Lillis the closest they came to getting back on terms.

Dale came agonisingly close to a second when Henderson fed Lund only for his shot to come back off the inside of the post.

Rose’s freekick was well flicked on by Vincenti with Lund and Donnelly both having shots blocked.

Exeter rallied in the last 15 minutes but couldn’t breach a solid Rochdale defensive line.

With results elsewhere going in favour of Dale, they now sit third, just one point off top spot.

Attendance: 3169 (147 from Rochdale)

Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty, Lancashire, O’Connell, Done, Cavanagh (c), Lund (Kennedy 88), Allen (Donnelly 70), Rose, Henderson, Hogan (Vincenti 70)
Subs: (not used) Thomson, Eastham, Gray, Porter

Exeter City: Pym, Butterfield, Woodman, Bennett, Coles (c), Sercombe, Oakley, Davies (Richards 46), O’Flynn (Wheeler 76), Keohane (Nichols 46), Grimes
Subs: (not used) Hamon, Moore-Taylor, Parkin, Gill

Referee: Mr A Woolmer
Assistant Referees: Mr A Fox & Mr T Wood
Fourth Official: Mr A Bromley