Rochdale 3 - 0 Southend United

Calvin Andrew scored Dale's second goal

Rochdale made it six wins in a row as they comfortably dispatched Southend United at The Crown Oil Arena.

Niall Canavan and Calvin Andrew gave Dale a 2-0 lead before the break with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing latching onto a Steven Davies pass to fire past Mark Okley to finish the scoring late on.

Sixteen-year-old Aaron Morley, making his football league debut, went close to getting his first professional goal on a couple of occasions.

Keith Hill made two changes from the side that beat Charlton at The Valley last weekend, Morley starting his first league game whilst Andy Cannon was given an attacking midfield berth alongside.

The opening minutes were a scrappy affair until Dale took the lead in the 18th minute. Southend skipper Adam Barrett’s clumsy push on Calvin Andrew gave Dale a free kick in a dangerous position. Joe Bunney, who seems to be making the left full back position his own, stepped up to put a perfect ball towards the back post for Canavan to thump his header past Oxley to open the scoring.

Southend rarely threatened throughout the whole game, the one time they did find a way through, and David Mooney scored, an offside flag cut short the celebrations.

Within minutes, Dale doubled their advantage. Morley played a tremendous through ball for full back Rafferty who was tackled as he made his way into the area resulting in a corner ball. Rafferty’s corner kick was perfect for Andrew, although Barrett got in to block. The loose ball fell to Mendez-Laing but again Barrett blocked bravely but the Southend captain couldn’t do anything to stop a third attempt. Rafferty put in another good ball with Andrew rising above everybody to power his header into the bottom corner.

From that point on, Dale looked in complete control with Lillis having very little to do.

Morley forced a low save out of Oxley just after the half hour mark with a low shot from 18 yards out.

The second half was played in a similar vein as the first with Rochdale in control.

Mendez-Laing, on early in the first half for the injured Joe Thompson, raced away down the left wing before sending a delicious ball across goal with Andrew agonisingly close as he slid in.

The majority of the 2,600 inside the Crown Oil Arena thought Morley had scored his first ever goal when he curled a wonderful effort agonisingly wide with Oxley beaten.

The scoring was wrapped up with seven minutes left when Davies turned Barrett well on the half way line before feeding Mendez-Laing down the left channel. The winger’s pace meant Luke O’Neill couldn’t catch up and he finished firmly despite Oxley getting a hand to his shot.

The win makes it six wins in a row now in all competition and stretches the unbeaten run to eight. Dale have moved from bottom of the league a month ago up to sixth heading into the derby game at home against Bury next Saturday.

Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty, Keane, Cnavan, Bunney, Camps (c), Morley (Rathbone 70), Cannon, Thompson (Mendez-Laing 19), Davies (Odelusi 90), Andrew.
Subs: (not used) Logan, McGahey, McDermott, Noble-Lazarus.

Southend: Oxley, Barrett (c), Inniss, Ferdinand, O’Neill, Wordsworth, Leonard, Coker, Mooney (Antoine-Firtune 34), McLaughlin (Cox 69), McGlashan (Ranger 51).
Subs: (not used) White, Thompson, Atkinson, Smith.

Referee: Mr D England
Assistants: Mr D Strain and Mr P Thompson
Fourth Official: Mr T Nield

Attendance: 2,600