A second-half Oliver Rathbone strike moved Rochdale out of the League One relegation places with a crucial win over fellow strugglers Accrington Stanley.
The former Manchester United academy player powered in his sixth goal of the season on seventy-one minutes after good work from Aaron Wilbraham to settle a tense encounter and send nine hundred and eighty-six travelling Dale fans into ecstasy.
Accrington had the better of the opening exchanges and with Sean McConville forcing a good stop from Dale keeper Josh Lillis and winger Jordan Clark twice failing to find the target when in excellent positions.
The second-half saw both sides pressing for the crucial three points with Luke Armstrong testing Lillis from close range for the hosts before Rathbone decisively found the net.
The hard-fought win saw Brian Barry-Murphy’s side move up to nineteenth in the table with Stanley just two places above them on goal difference.
Dale fans were understandably thrilled with the result which has boosted their hopes of League One survival for another year.
Here is a selection of their reactions to the win on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/TheSandyLaner1/status/1115725284173651968
@ollie_rathbone @RyanMcL2 stand out performances tonight. Absolutely amazing. Great effort lads! WE ARE STAYING UP! Come on Dale! 🔵
— Dan (@Dangrant95) April 9, 2019
I'm off work ill at the moment and this has just sorted me right out, up the dale
— Mike Parr (@retromikey6) April 9, 2019
What a fantastic night get in DALE. @ollie_rathbone shall I say it again 🤔… superb again pal 👌🏼👌🏼
— Mark WillyWilliams (@markwilly39) April 9, 2019
Come on the DALE
We can do this— Jack Kirkby (@JackKirkby6) April 9, 2019
One of the best away days of the season!! Well done lads!😄😄😄👍😂👏👊
— Joe Bamford (@joembeebam) April 10, 2019
Enjoying this morning just as much, my office is full of City fans! It isn’t that often I get to be smug!
— Clair P (@cprovers) April 10, 2019
Be the first to comment