Preston North End 1 - 0 Rochdale

Preston North End 1 - 0 Rochdale

Jermaine Beckford’s 36th minute strike was enough to condemn Rochdale to a narrow defeat at Promotion hopefuls Preston. The former Everton striker’s turn and shot went through Josh Lillis’ legs for the only goal of an entertaining game.

Rhys Bennett had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside whilst young full back Andy Cannon saw his shot pushed onto the post by home keeper Sam Johnstone. Ian Henderson had a glorious opportunity to level just after the break but he headed over from six yards out.

Dale’s pre-match plan was disrupted by an injury to skipper Olly Lancashire in the warm up which saw Scott Tanser play at left back with Tom Kennedy moving into central defence.

Dale started well and took the game to their hosts but couldn’t find a way through the stubborn defence.

The first chance of the game fell to Preston’s Callum Robinson when he was played in but Josh Lillis, in for the ineligible Jamie Jones, saved well.

Dale had the ball in the back of the net on the half hour mark but an assistant's flag cut short the celebrations. Kennedy’s cross was flicked on by Henderson to Bennett who beat Johnstone with a firm header but it didn’t stand, although replays appear to show both Dale players to be onside.

That decision was to prove crucial as seven minutes later Preston scored. A throw on the left picked out Beckford who turned two Dale defenders before drilling a low shot which went through the legs of Lillis.

Dale responded well and went close when through Andy Cannon but the youngster was to be denied his first professional goal by the acrobatics of Johnstone who pushed the ball onto the post.

Lillis saved well from Daniel Johnson after the midfielder’s powerful shot forced a flying save.

Rochdale’s leading scorer Ian Henderson should have levelled but he headed over when unmarked six yards out.

Preston, who came into the game second in League One and on an unbeaten run of 11 games, saw the remainder of the game out fairly comfortably.

Joe Garner’s diving header was wayward whilst his next attempt was pushed around the post by Lillis.

Lillis denied Scott Laird a spectacular goal when the full back powered a shot towards the top corner with the Dale keeper at full stretch to tip over.

It was disappointing for the 1,063 travelling Rochdale supporters who will feel their side had enough chances to take something from the game but with Port Vale travelling to Spotland on Easter Monday, it's another chance for Dale to push towards the top six.

Attendance: 12,288 (1,063 from Rochdale)

Rochdale: Lillis, Cannon, Eastham, Kennedy, Tanser, Rose, Bennett, Hery (Noble-Lazarus 63), Vincenti (Brandy 79), Bunney (Andrew 70), Henderson
Subs: (not used) Diba, Rafferty, Camps, Hasler-Cregg

Preston: Johnstone, Laird, Clarke (c), Wright, Woods, Welsh, Johnson, Gallagher, Robinson (Little 81), Garner, Beckford (Humphrey 63)
Subs: (not used) Stuckman, Wiseman, Kilkenny, Davies, King

Referee: Mr A Woolmer
Assistant Referees: Mr M Coy & Mr R Wigglesworth
Fourth Official: Mr A Tankard