Change of tack
ROCHDALE followed up a performance of promise at Charlton with an equally impressive display against Peterborough at the Crown Oil Arena – this time with a result to match.
Keith Hill opted for a new system with three at the back and the two Joes, Bunney and Rafferty, employed as wing backs.
It worked a treat, with Posh never really threatening and Dale always in control of the game.
The first real opportunity of the day was created on the right by Calvin Andrew and Rafferty, the latter advancing into the area before lifting a cross to the back post for Bunney. His attempt to wrap his foot around the ball was not the easiest of tasks given the height of the delivery, but the strikerturned-fullback was still disappointed with his scuffed connection.
Just seven minutes into the game, Dale were forced into a change with Matty Done hobbling off to be replaced by Jordan Slew.
Andrew headed a fine Bunney cross over the top while a run across the face of the area from Bunney ended with Ian Henderson feeding the overlapping Rafferty, the fullback’s drive deflected over the crossbar by Posh stopper Connor O’Malley.
Marcus Maddison, brilliantly marshalled all afternoon by Olly Rathbone, had Peterborough’s first effort on target in the 23rd minute of the match when a Dale free kick was quickly turned over and the visitors broke upfield at devastating pace, Maddison collecting the ball on the right of the penalty area and testing Josh Lillis with a shot from a narrow angle.
Henderson saw a shot charged down and the pressure finally told in the 33rd minute with a finish of real quality from Andrew. Rafferty stubbed a pass to the striker from wide on the right and Andrew, with his back to goal, shifted to the side and wrongfooted Andrew Hughes, buying just enough space to lift the ball into the far corner of O’Malley’s net from the apex of the six-yard area.
The lead was doubled within three minutes, Bunney lining up a shot from the edge of the area only to have his feet taken from beneath him. Callum Camps – who up to that point had not enjoyed his most productive afternoon – took out his frustration on the set-piece, rifling a stunning free-kick into the top corner of O’Malley’s goal.
Andrew had another opening on 40 minutes when a hashed clearance from O’Malley dropped to him. He beat Michael Doughty on the right but screwed his shot wayward.
Danny Lloyd thumped a 25-yarder wide but at the interval Dale were good value for their two-goal lead.
And in response to a poor first-half showing from his side, Posh boss Grant McCann made three changes at the break. On came Ricky Miller, Chris Forrester and Idris Kanu, replacing Lloyd, Doughty and Anderson. They were marginally better in the second half, but Dale always had their measure.
Kanu was quickly into the action, sweeping a
‘It was down to the players and the commitment to the plan we wanted to go with’
shot goalward when he connected with Leonardo Lopes’ cross and forcing Lillis to dive to his right and smother the ball.
Matty Gillam replaced Slew on the hour mark and shortly afterwards