Football: Bury 0 - 2 Rochdale

Rochdale moved to within a point of safety after this derby day win over relegation haunted Bury. Dale’s Ryan Delaney and Ian Henderson scored in a dominant first half that pushes the Shakers nearer to the relegation trap door. The home side improved after the break although captain Neil Danns squandered a glorious chance when he dragged his penalty wide after Callum Camps’ handball. The win moved Dale up one place and closed the gap on Wimbledon in 20^th to just a point and they still have at least one game in hand on teams above.

Having beaten promotion hopefuls Shrewsbury at the Crown Oil Arena on Good Friday and results in the games on Easter Monday ending in favourable results, Rochdale came into this game knowing a win would heap pressure on those above whilst the home side already looked destined for the drop before the game.

Keith Hill’s side were quick out of the blocks and perhaps should have taken the lead as early as the eighth minute. Good work from Inman down the left created space for the cross which found Henderson unmarked but the usually reliable Dale captain fluffed his lines as he fired wide from seven yards out.

The opening goal came on the half hour mark through central defender Ryan Delaney’s first goal in English football. The Irishman, fresh back from Republic of Ireland Under 21 duty, rose highest to power home an Inman corner to give Dale the lead.

Dale doubled their advantage just before the interval with a terrific finish from Henderson. Lillis’ long punt upfield was headed on by Andrew and when the ball fell to Henderson towards the left of the area, Rochdale’s leading scorer drilled an unstoppable shot across Ripley and into the far corner for his 18^th of the season in all competitions.

Troubled Bury boss Ryan Lowe made a double change at the start of the second period with James Hanson replacing George Miller whilst two former Dale players swapped placed with Harry Bunn replacing Andrew Tutte.

Despite the changes, the early stages of the second half continued in the same vein as the first with Henderson seeing a volley deflected wide inside the opening sixty seconds whilst from the subsequent corner the Dale captain was left frustrated by a wonderful one handed save by Ripley from his powerful header.

Ryan Delaney saw another header from a corner go close as Hill’s side looked for a third.

The game looked to have turned just after the hour mark when Camps was adjudged to have handled inside the box with a penalty awarded by the referee.

Four Bury players were arguing over who should take the spot kick with the captain Neil Dann pulling rank to take responsibility. After the arguing had died down, Danns stepped up to tamely send his kick wide of the post.

Moments later Dale had Josh Lillis to thank when he brilliantly pushed away a Harry Bunn shot low to his left after the summer signing from Huddersfield found himself unmarked 12 yards out.

Dale were rarely troubled after that although they could have added to their tally at the other end. Rathbone saw a low shot blocked by the legs of goalkeeper Ripley whilst substitute Humphrys was thwarted at the near post when Clarke defended well with the on loan Fulham man about to pull the trigger.

The result puts Dale within striking distance of safety but with the next three games against promotion hopefuls Portsmouth, Wigan and Peterborough, Hill’s side need to back up the Easter campaign with more points on the board.

Rochdale: Lillis, McGahey, McNulty, Delaney, Rafferty, Done, Camps (Ntlhe 73), Inman (Wiseman 68), Rathbone, Henderson ©, Andrew (Humphrys 79)
Subs: (not used) Moore, Davies, Hart, Dobre

Bury: Ripley, Cooney, Thompson, Clarke, Skarz, Ismail (O’Shea 78), Styles, Mayor, Danns ©, Tutte (Bunn 46), Miller (Hanson 46)
Subs: (not used) Murphy, Edwards, Ince

Referee: Mr G Eltringham
Assistants: Mr B Smallwood & Mr D Avent
Fourth official: Mr R Jones

Attendance: 4,628 (1,540 from Rochdale)