Football: Peterborough 4 - 1 Rochdale

Rochdale were well beaten on the road after Peterborough netted a 4-1 win with Jonson Clarke-Harris scoring a first half hat-trick. The home side were awarded an early penalty after referee Brett Huxtable penalised Tolaji Bola for a push on Idris Kanu; Clarke-Harris sending Jay Lynch the wrong way from twelve yards.

Dale levelled four minutes later through Stephen Humphrys who fired past Pym from a Morley ball over the top. That was as good as it got for Dale as the home side powered in three more before half-time. Clarke-Harris headed his second from a Harrison Burrows cross a minute after Dale’s equaliser and sealed the match-ball with a neat finish from close range in the 22nd minute. Nathan Thompson headed the fourth five minutes from the interval from a corner to seal an emphatic victory.

Dale manager Brian Barry-Murphy was without two key players through injury with Ollie Rathbone and Ryan McLaughlin being replaced by Jimmy Ryan and Tolaji Bola.

Peterborough, who welcomed fans back into the stadium for their first league game since March, came close to opening the scoring after just 90 seconds when Reece Brown crashed a shot off the left hand post but the supporters wouldn’t have to wait long for the first goal. Kanu burst into the box under pressure from Bola with Kanu going to ground with little if no contact; referee Huxtable pointing to the spot. Clarke-Harris, a big money summer signing, stepped up to send Lynch the wrong way.

The lead lasted less than three minutes with Humphrys scoring his third goal of the season. Morley’s ball over the top was perfect for Humphrys to cushion a shot past Pym.

Parity was only restored for less than a minute as Clarke-Harris headed his side back in front. Young wing back Harrison Burrows found space down the left and swung in a brilliant cross which Clarke-Harris nodded in.

The striker completed his hat-trick inside 22 minutes with a shot from close range that beat Lynch after Mark Beevers’ initial shot ricochet to him.

The scoring was complete before the interval, Thompson stooping to head into the bottom left of the net from another corner.

Dale improved slightly after the break but never troubled the scoresheet with Lynch having to beat away a couple of efforts from home substitute Mo Eisa.

It was another disappointing afternoon for Dale fans who will be hoping for some good news next week when it will be decided if fans can return to the Crown Oil Arena.

 

Rochdale: Lynch, Keohane, O’Connell (c), Roberts, Bola (McNulty 72), Lund, Ryan, Morley (Brierley 89), Dooley (Tavares 89), Newby (Done 82), Humphrys (Baah 89)
Substitutes: (not used) Chalton, McShane

Peterborough: Pym, Thompson, Beevers (c) (Mason 81), Kent,  Kanu, Burrows, Taylor, Brown (Reed 81), Clarke-Harris (Broom 81), Dembele (Eisa 62), Clarke (Szmodics 66)
Substitutes: (not used) Gyollai, Edwards

Referee: Mr B Huxtable
Assistants: Mr C Farrell & Mr L Marks
Fourth Official: Mr C Husband