Fleetwood Town 1 - 0 Rochdale

Rochdale went down by the narrowest of margins as they lost 1-0 at Highbury Stadium. In a dour 90 minutes with very little in the way of goalmouth action by either side, Dale conceded just before the hour mark, despite the Rochdale players remonstrations with the referee over an apparent foul on Rhys Bennett in the build up to the goal. Fleetwood’s Josh Morris drilled his side's only shot on target throughout the whole game beyond the despairing dive of Jamie Jones. Dale never really troubled Fleetwood keeper Chris Maxwell with any shots of note.

In an unchanged starting eleven from last weekend’s win over Colchester, Dale were the only team trying to play football in the first 45 minutes.

Jamie Allen’s turn and shot after four minutes lacked power.

Ian Henderson’s rushed 20 yard shot lacked direction.

The best move of the first half came after great work by Henderson and Allen who set up Peter Vincenti but his powerful drive was bravely blocked by Conor McLaughlin.

Fleetwood came out after the break looking a little more lively and came close almost straight from the re-start, Josh Morris drilling a shot across the face of goal.

Jamie Allen forced Maxwell into a low save from a header after good work from Joe Bunney.

The only goal of the game came just before the hour mark, Bennett looked to be fouled but while the Dale players were appealing Morris fired a low shot into the bottom corner of the net from 20 yards.

With a one goal lead, Fleetwood’s spoiling tactics were blatantly obvious with players going down when it was clear there had been little, if any, contact in challenges.

Dale huffed and puffed but couldn’t get close enough to Maxwell’s goal to cause him any problems.

The only other chance came late on when Stewart Murdoch tried his luck from distance but saw his effort come back off the crossbar, Morris on the follow up dragged his shot wide.

It isn’t a game that will live long in the memory of anybody that was inside Highbury Stadium but for Fleetwood it's a win that lifts them to within two points of the play-off places in League One.

Attendance: 3,822 (854 from Rochdale)

Fleetwood: Maxwell, McLaughlin, Roberts, Pond, Morris, Chicksen, Murdoch, Evans (Forbes 86), Schumacher, Proctor, Haughton (McAlinden 46)
Subs: (not used) Dobbie, Moore, Ball, Hunter, Crainey

Rochdale:Jones, Cannon (Lancashire 75), Eastham, O’Connell, Rose, Allen, Henderson (c), Kennedy, Bennett, Vincenti (Tanser 66), Bunney (Brandy 71)
Subs: (not used) Lillis, Noble-Lazarus, Dawson, Hery

Referee: Mr J Simpson
Assistant Referees: Mr G Fyvie and Mr I Siddall
Fourth Official: Mr J Wilson