Dale rewarded
ROCHDALE left it late to progress to the third round of the Checkatrade Trophy as two goals in stoppage time finally saw off ten-man Oldham.
Keith Hill’s side had the better of the chances in the first-half and after Mohammed Maouche’s red card shortly after the break, completely dominated the second period.
The game looked to be heading for penalties, but Joe Rafferty scored from the spot in added time before Dan Adshead’s first goal for the club wrapped up the win.
There six changes to the side that drew at AFC Wimbledon in league action on Saturday, with Magnus Norman, Jordan Williams, Ollie Rathbone, Bradden Inman, Aaron Morley and Matty Gillam all starting.
Academy graduate Morley captained the side, whilst the bench was made of either Academy graduates or scholars.
Rathbone fired over from 25-yards after driving forward through midfield, before Ryan Delaney sent a free header wide from Morley’s corner, as Dale started well.
Goalkeeper Norman palmed away a cross from the left-wing, before parrying Cameron Dummigan’s follow-up effort away.
Inman saw a shot blocked behind by Oldham captain Peter Clarke, with Delaney’s header from the resulting corner being held by Daniel Iversen.
Dale’s best chance came on the half hour mark when Rathbone’s good run to the byline allowed him to pull the ball back to Gillam, whose tame shot was blocked.
Hill’s men ended the half strongly with Rathbone firing just wide, Perkins seeing an effort deflected narrowly over the crossbar and Jordan Williams heading wide Inman’s cross.
Dale began the secondhalf as they ended first, with Delaney having a header held by Iversen, before the visitors were reduced to ten men, when Maouche’s late challenge on Adshead earned him a straight red.
Gillam sent a curling effort narrowly wide of the post and also saw his cross inches away from being turned home by Jordan Williams, before Delaney had a header cleared away.
Gillam then almost scored a spectacular scissor kick, sending his effort from Rafferty’s cross narrowly wide.
Delaney saw another header claimed by Iversen, Gillam sent two efforts off target and Inman headed straight at the Latics goalkeeper, as Dale completely dominated second-half proceedings.
Visiting goalkeeper Iversen kept out Rathbone before his follow-up was deflected behind, whilst Oldham’s only two efforts from Christopher Missilou and Rob Hunt both ended up off target from distance.
Jordan Williams sent a fizzing effort on the turn narrowly wide and it looked like the game would head for penalties, before the referee gave Dale a penalty for a handball from MJ Williams’ shot.
Rafferty stepped up and found the bottom corner with his effort, despite Iversen going the right way, to put Dale in front.
And passage through to the third round was sealed by Adshead when Inman’s drive forward and through ball found the youngster, with Adshead sprinting clear and finishing beyond Iversen for his first Rochdale goal, and to wrap up the win.