Football: Southend United 1 - 2 Rochdale

Rochdale ended a 33 year wait for a victory at Southend after Callum Camps’ late header ensured the 111 Rochdale fans at Roots Hall started their Christmas celebrations early.

Camps headed home with three minutes left to play which came just five minutes after Southend had equalised following Jordan Williams’ first half opener.

After defeat, last week against Plymouth, Keith Hill made four changes to his starting line-up. Josh Lillis, who’s howler gifted Plymouth the win, was dropped in favour of Brendan Moore whilst there were also starts for Dan Adshead, Jordan Williams and Matty Gillam.

Rochdale started the game the better of the two sides with Gillam causing problems upfront. The youngster using his muscle to beat his defender before playing in Henderson; the ball wouldn’t sit for the captain and the ball was smothered away.

Rathbone saw his side footed shot go narrowly wide whilst Adshead brought about a good save from Bishop in the Southend goal.

Rochdale took the lead midway through the first half when Camps’ delightful ball over the top was perfect for Williams who powered past Bwomono before firing through the legs of Bishop.

Southend improved after the break, but the Rochdale backline stood firm with Delaney bravely blocking Simon Cox’s goalbound shot.

Rochdale had to defend a plethora of corners and eventually the pressure paid when defender John White headed home at the back post to level the score with just eight minutes left to go.

Rochdale could have crumbled but they responded well and got the goal that earned them maximum points. Henderson took two attempts to get the cross in from the left with his second ball finding Camps who had pealed away from his marker to head home from close range.

The remainder of the game was seen out with little drama as Rochdale took the points for the first time since ‘We are the world’ was number one in the charts.

 

Rochdale: Moore, Rafferty (Ntlhe 59), MJ Williams, Delaney, Done, Camps, Adshead, Rathbone (Perkins 66), Henderson (c), J Williams ( Andrew 76), Gillam
Subs: (not used) Lillis, McNulty, McGahey, Morley

Southend: Bishop, Bwomono, White, Moore, Hendrie, Hyam (Hutchinson 66), Mantom (c), Dieng, McLaughlin (McCoulsky 46), Cox, Robinson
Subs: (not used) Smith, Turner, KIghtly, Yearwood, Klass

Referee: Mr N Hair
Assistants: Mr L Crowhurst & Mr M Lee
Fourth Official: Mr G Kane

Attendance: 5,735 (111 from Rochdale)