Rochdale 2 - 1 Chesterfield

Want to buy this photo?

Scott Tanser opened the scoring

Rochdale progressed to the Area Quarter Finals of the Football League Trophy after a dominant display against Chesterfield. Scott Tanser’s heavily deflected shot gave Dale the lead with Ashley Eastham turning the ball into his own net to give Chesterfield parity. Lewis Alessandra’s first goal for the club sealed Dale’s passage through to the next round.

Dale boss Keith Hill made the maximum allowed five changes to his starting eleven for this Football League Trophy game. Ashley Eastham, Scott Tanser, Matty Lund, Lewis Alessandra and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing all got starts.

From the off, Rochdale made all the running with Chesterfield struggling to cope with Dale’s pace and intricate passing.

In the first half alone, Peter Vincenti could have had a hat-trick but the leading marksman misfired.

Dale took the lead after 18 minutes when Scott Tanser, making his first appearance of the season, fired a powerful shot from outside the area that deflected up off a defender and into the roof of the net.

With the goal advantage, Dale pressed but couldn’t find a second goal their play deserved.

Alessandra and Mendez Laing, both making their full debuts, caused problems but neither managed to test keeper Tommy Lee.

A double change by Chesterfield at half time stemmed the tide to an extent but Dale were still on top. When the Chesterfield saw any sight of goal, good defending by Tanser and McNulty quelled any fears.

Alessandra had the ball in the back of the Chesterfield net, however, an assistant’s flag cut short the celebrations.

Lee saved well with his legs from Mendez-Laing.

Without a shot on target so far in the game, it came as a surprise when Chesterfield levelled. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake sent a terrific ball into the box which caused problems with Mani Dieseruwe in the thick of things. The panic in the area led to Ashley Eastham turning the ball over his own line during a mass scramble to level the scores.

Rochdale didn’t let that set back bother them and, within sixty seconds, retook the lead. Donal McDermott’s wizardry saw two defenders on their backside with Lee foiling the Irishman. The loose ball fell to Alessandra who coolly dropped his shoulder before unleashing a powerful strike to beat Lee.

Josh Lillis had to be alert to claw away a freekick from wide on the left.

Dieseruwe flashed a header just wide as Chesterfield started to threaten.

The scoreline could have been more emphatic in stoppage time with Alessandra, Vincenti and Mendez-Laing all going close.

It was a thoroughly deserved victory for Dale, with some players certainly giving the manager food for thought ahead of the weekend trip to Sheffield United in the league.

Attendance: 1,042

Rochdale: Lillis, Cannon (Bennett 21)(Noble-Lazarus 53), Eastham, McNulty, Tanser, Camps, Lund, McDermott (Barry-Murphy 84), Vincenti (c), Mendez-Laing, Alessandra
Subs: (not used) Diba, Hooper

Chesterfield: Lee, Talbot (O’Shea 46), Hird (c), Raglan, Jones, Simons (Banks 79), Donoghue, O’Neil, Dieseruwe, Orrel, Gnanduillet (Ebanks-Blake 46)
Subs: (not used) Cairns, Humphries

Referee: Mr J Simpson
Assistant Referees: Mr I Dudley & Mr G Liddle
Fourth Official: Mr N Barnard