Latics stunned as Dale strike seven
ROCHDALE cruised to a Lancashire Senior Cup first round victory over Oldham Atheltic at Boundary Park on Tuesday afternoon, hitting seven past the Latics without reply.
Jordan Williams netted four in the 7-0 win, while Bradden Inman grabbed himself a brace. Harrison Hopper got the other.
Rochdale were dominant and caused problems throughout the game with their attacking intent, so it was no surprise when they opened up a twogoal advantage inside a three-minute spell early in the first half.
Before taking the lead, Daniel Adshead had already had a shot deflected up and into the hands of Zeus De La Paz, as well as an effort held by the Latics goalkeeper, while Andy Cannon’s snapshot from range was beaten away.
And it was with a quarter of an hour played that Jordan Williams broke the deadlock, beating the offside trap to latch onto the end of Adshead’s threaded pass and lift the ball beyond the Oldham goalkeeper.
Three minutes later, and Keith Hill’s side added a second, with Adshead grabbing another assist. The young midfielder picked out the run of Inman, who coolly finished across goal and into the bottom corner of the net.
Rochdale continued to dominate and had a string of opportunities as the half continued.
Williams came agonisingly close in the 24th minute, when he was denied by the woodwork. His effort had comfortably beaten De La Paz but was cruelly kept out by the inside of the post.
Cannon had an effort from distance saved, while Inman and Adshead both had powerful shots beaten away.
Before Dale netted their third, the home side had their first and only chance of the half, with Ishmael Miller bravely snuffed out by Brendan Moore in the 44th minute, when the Dale stopper got down to smother at his feet.
And it was on the stroke of half-time that Rochdale extended their lead. Luke Matheson got in down the right, before squaring it to Williams to tap home.
Rochdale played the second half in the same manner as they had played out the first, and Williams confirmed his hat-trick six minutes after the restart, after Dale countered from a corner. Inman, with all the time in world, played in the unmarked Williams, who struck past substitute goalkeeper Ewan McFarlane.
Dale’s fifth came three minutes later, as Inman netted his second of the match. Moore’s ball out put Williams through on goal, and after getting to the byline, he squared the ball to Inman to finish from close range.
Just after the hour mark, Williams was in again after Adshead picked him out, but the Oldham stopper was out to quickly charge down his attempted effort at source.
But Dale didn’t have long to wait for sixth, as Williams scored his fourth of the afternoon just moments later, after rounding McFarlane.
Oldham had a rare sight on goal, only their second of the match, when Moore was called into action, pushing away an effort from Jose Baxter.
Tavares replaced Williams in the 69th minute, and had a shot kept out sooner after, when he got through one on one with the ‘keeper.
Andy Cannon and Brian Barry-Murphy made way for Harrison Hopper and Florent Hoti in the 75th minute, and within two minutes of his introduction, Hopper had scored Dale’s seventh.
After McFarlane had rushed out to deny Hoti, the ball made its way out to Hopper, who was 40-yards from goal, and with the ‘keeper stranded, the Youth Team midfielder struck a speculative shot from distance into the vacant net.
A short time later, Hoti had the ball in the back of the net, but his shot on the turn was ruled out for a foul in the build-up.
De La Paz, Baxter, Miller, Benteke, Graham, Norman, Stott, Maouche, Sheridan, Hamer, Gaskell. Subs: McFarlane, Robinson, Norris, Hackett, Pickford.
Moore, Ntlhe, Williams, Done, Perkins, Inman, bbm, Adshead, Cannon, Morley, Matheson. Subs: Hopper, Hoti, Bradley, Tavares, Wade.