Mansfield Town 3 - 0 Rochdale

Mansfield Town versus Rochdale

Rochdale’s six game unbeaten run came to an end as they were beaten 3-0 at mid table Mansfield Town. Three second half headers from set pieces had the beating of Dale who drop to second in the table. Ian Henderson and Joe Rafferty both hit the woodwork but it wasn’t to be for Dale.

Fit again Scott Hogan returned to the starting eleven, Joe Bunney dropping down to the bench.

Mansfield almost capitalised in the opening 60 seconds when Rhys Bennett was caught in possession by Colin Daniel but he couldn’t pick out team mate Ollie Palmer.

There was a lack of communication between Ollie Lancashire and keeper Josh Lillis when a left wing cross came in, Lancashire took the ball off Lillis but Palmer couldn’t finish off with a virtually open goal.

Dale’s best chance of the half came just after the half hour mark with a swift breakaway. Henderson’s intelligent through ball set Hogan away but the home goalkeeper was quickly out to smother with the ball falling at the feet of Henderson. He tried to lob Price but his deft chip came back off the post.

Henderson saw a snap shot fly over the bar from an angle whilst Lund’s effort lacked power with Price saving easily.

If Dale shaded the first half, Mansfield certainly owned the second. A glancing header from Ryan Tafazolli flashed just wide whilst Matt Rhead also went close with a header.

When the opening goal came it had an air of predictability about it as the majority of Mansfield’s chances came through an aerial route. A left wing corner was met by defender Martin Riley who headed powerfully beyond Matt Done on the line.

Mansfield grew in confidence after the goal but Dale went very close to levelling in bizarre circumstances. A Joe Rafferty volley from outside the box looked a poor effort, even Rafferty dropped to floor in disappointment at his effort. Somehow the ball stayed in play and dropped onto the crossbar before being cleared.

With three minutes left on the clock, Mansfield doubled their lead, again from a corner. A deep corner kick was headed home by Rhead after he out jumped Lancashire.

The second goal killed off any Dale fightback and the third duly came from another set piece. The referee, who had given some strange decisions all game, awarded a free-kick to Mansfield when Rafferty appeared to win the ball. Another lofted ball into the Dale box wasn’t defended and Tafazolli headed home from close range to finish the scoring.

After five clean sheets in a row, it was a surprise that Dale lost so convincingly but they are still on course for promotion to League One.

Attendance: 3,843 (869 away)

Rochdale: Lillis, Done, Rafferty, Bennett, Lancashire, Cavanagh (c) (Donnelly 75), Lund (Kennedy 66), Allen, Henderson, Hogan, Vincenti (Cummins 66)
Subs: (not used) Eastham, Thomson, Rose, Bunney

Mansfield: Price, Sutton, Riley, Tafazolli, Jennings, Westlake, Clements, Murray (c), Daniel (Thomas 90), Palmer ( Clucas 80), Rhead
Subs: (not used) Dempster, Briscoe,Stevenson, Speight, Meikle

Referee: Mr T Kettle
Assistant Referees: Mr M D’Aguilar & Mr Iain Siddall
Fourth Official: Mr D Benton