Yeovil 0 - 3 Rochdale

Rochdale made it back-to-back away wins with a fairly comfortable victory over Yeovil Town at Huish Park. On loan defender Jack O’Connell headed his first for the club after just six minutes, with Ian Henderson netting either side of the interval. The skipper thought he’d scored his hat-trick when he finished off a flowing move but was denied the match ball by an assistant’s flag.

After a long away trip in midweek at Swindon, Dale were again on the road for this trip to Somerset but started the game in positive fashion.

Michael Rose, who started in place of the injured Peter Vincenti, sent a perfect corner into the area for O’Connell to power home his header.

Another Rose corner almost brought about Dale’s second, Artur Krysiak in the Yeovil goal spread himself well to deny Lund’s near post header.

Moments later and Yeovil went close. A wonderfully flighted ball picked out Hiwula but the striker was foiled by Logan; Rose on hand to turn the loose ball behind for a corner.

Dale soon doubled their lead after a mistake by Ryan Inniss. The central defender’s clearing header lacked power with the ball landing at the feet of Henderson who made no mistake finding a gap inside the far post.

The Dale skipper almost made it three but was denied by a wonderful save by Krysiak. Henderson picked up on the left hand corner of the area before curling his effort towards the top right hand corner but a wonder save by the keeper kept the score at 2-0.

Dale were attacking at will with some flowing football to boot.

A move involving Lund, Tanser and Dawson created space for the latter to whip a ball in between keeper and defender, Done unable to convert as he bravely slid in.

Logan had to keep alert as the half almost reached it’s conclusion, Jordy Hiwula being denied by an instinctive save.

With the fourth official's board showing two minutes of added time, Stephen Dawson should have increased Dale’s lead. Another sweeping move ended with the former Barnsley man in front of goal but somehow he shot wide of the mark.

Dale started the second half as they had done the first half but couldn’t beat Krysiak.

Henderson saw his instinctive first time shot from a Bennett through ball pushed over.

Bennett will feel he should have done better when he found the ball at his feet six yards out.

The third goal came soon after though and Krysiak could do nothing to stop it. Matt Done’s pace beat the Yeovil offside trap before he crossed to Henderson who leaped at the backpost to nod home from two yards out.

Henderson thought he had picked up the match-ball but was frustrated by the offside flag. Dawson’s cute reverse pass picked out Allen’s run who turned the ball beyond Krysiak for the captain to slam home but the assistant had other ideas.

The remainder of the game was played out with little in the way of chances Rochdale made it seven points from nine and moved themselves up to eighth in League One.

Attendance: 3,601 (243 from Rochdale)

Rochdale: Logan, Rose, Eastham, O’Connell, Bennett, Tanser, Dawson, Allen (Andrew 66), Lund, Henderson (c), Done (Bunney 81)
Subs: (not used) Rafferty, Lancashire, Hery, Muldoon, Diba

Yeovil: Krysiak, Davis, Nugent, Inniss, Sokolik (Lietch-Smith 46), Ralph (Foley 19), Gillett, Edwards (c), Dawson, Hayter (Smith 69), Hiwula
Subs: (not used) Weale, Moloney, Berrett, Twumasi

Referee: Mr P Miller
Assistant Referees: Mr C Lymer & Mr A Quinn
Fourth Official: Mr A Bennett