FA Cup Third Round: Barrow 0 - 2 Rochdale

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Ian Henderson scored both Rochdale's goals

Rochdale had a safe passage through to the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup with a comfortable victory over National League side Barrow after a goal in each half from Ian Henderson sealed the win.

The striker headed home a Steven Davies corner in the first half before a clinical finish in the second put Rochdale in the hat for the fourth round for the third time in four years.

On what could have been a tricky afternoon for Rochdale, they made light work of their lower league opposition in front of a sell out crowd at Barrow's small Holker Street ground.

The opening goal came in the 17th minute from a corner won when Calvin Andrew's long range shot was deflected wide. With Joe Bunney injured, striker Steven Davies took over set piece duty and his first attempt was perfect for Henderson to nod the ball into the bottom corner.

To be fair to Barrow, they responded well and soon afterwards had their best chance of the game. A ball lifted over the Dale back line fell kindly to Richard Bennett whose first touch was impeccable but his shot was well blocked by Logan. The loose ball fell back to central defender Moussa Diarra but his follow up effort fell straight into the hands of the Dale keeper.

Matt Lund had a great chance but he fired agonisingly wide from eight yards out.

The second half certainly belonged to Dale with Barrow having little opportunity to get back on terms.

Davies went within a whisker of doubling the lead with a 30 yard free kick.

Lund missed another clear chance after good work from Callum Camps.

Davies thought he had scored just after the hour when his curling effort had the net bulging, but only after it had flashed wide and rebounded off the perimeter wall.

The second goal was coming and duly arrived in the 67th minute. A perfectly weighted through ball by Ollie Rathbone picked out Henderson who didn’t have to break stride before slotting beyond Jon Flatt for his 11th of the season.

It was a valiant effort from Barrow but they were beaten by the much better side.

Barrow: Flatt, Beeley, Diarra, Livesey, Anderton, Hughes (Howorth 71), Harvey, Rowe (Wright 71), Williams, Harrison, Bennett (Hannah 77).
Subs: (not used) Coughlin, Meikle, Murray, M Anderson.

Rochdale: Logan, McGahey, Keane (Canavan 90), McNulty, Rafferty, Camps (c), Lund, Rathbone (Allen 87), Davies, Henderson (Cannon 80), Andrew.
Subs: (not used) Lillis, Mendez-Laing, Noble-Lazarus, Owusu.

Referee: Mr D Webb
Assistants: Ms A Clayton and Mr H Byrne
Fourth Official: Mr A Backhouse

Attendance: 4,414