Accrington 1 Rochdale 2

Ten man Dale came from behind to not only leapfrog their hosts but also move into the top 10 in Coca Cola League 2 in what could best be described as awful conditions.

Numerically disadvantaged for all but 20 minutes and having fallen behind after 24 they thoroughly deserved the win given to them by Man of the Match Kallum Higginbotham and the much more confident looking Glenn Murray.

Dale started the brighter with Murray going close to opening the scoring twice in the early stages but that superiority was turned on it's head as Dave Perkins saw red for a high tackle on Jay Harris after 20 minutes and then around 90 seconds later Ian Crainey produced a terrific free kick from 22 yards to open the scoring via the underside of the crossbar

Undaunted Dale never let their heads drop and aided in part by the negativity of the home side they took almost complete control of the game.

Either side of the break they went close to an equaliser as Adam Rundle fired over after a great burst by skipper Gary Jones and then in the chaos follwing a well delivered Rundle free kick home striker John Mullin did well to scoope the ball off his own line.

The move for the equaliser started with a miscue in his own box by Simon Ramsden that fortunately fell to John Doolan . Having raced out of the box with it Doolan then who curled a superb ball into the path of Higginbotham who raced away from the lumbering Robbie Williams before calmy slotting past the onrushing Ian Dunbavin with the outside of his boot. Cue celebrations in front of the way end, not only for a new and extended contract but a well taken first senior goal-the first of many.



Still Stanley refused to come out and still Dale pressed forward.

Rory McArdle might have done better than head wide from another cross on 70 minutes



 Four  minutes later Glenn Murray showed him how it is done planting a towering header into the net off the underside of the crossbar from yet another Rundle corner.

The only worrying moment of the second half saw Russell save bravely at the feet of Harris on 87 minutes and after it the visitors might have extended their winning margin.

Higginbotham who had run himself into the ground was replaced by Youth team hot shot Ben Wharton and with virtually his first touch the debutant might have scored. Unfortunately the ball stuck at his feet in the mud although Murray followed up and was denied by an excellent save bu Dunbavin.

Despite being outside in an open end to endure the pouring rain, the Dale fans who made up at least 50% of a very disappointing crowd of 1621 went home happy with manager Keith Hill singling them out for praise in his after match summing up.



Onwards and upwards.

Team
Russell,Ramsden, Stanton, mcArdle, Kennedy. Higginbotham (Wharton 89), Perkins, Jones, Rundle, Le Fondre (Doolan 30) Murray
Subs nu Rigby Prendergast Holness