​Rochdale 2 (O’Grady 8, Tootle o.g 46), Crewe 0

Gwyn Griffiths reports from Spotland

CREWE were swotted away all to easily by League Two’s runaway leaders.

Competitive Rochdale were too strong in midfield and too potent up front to let tame Alex, hampered by the early loss of leading scorer Calvin Zola, off the hook at Spotland.

Chris O’Grady’s fierce eighth-minute volley - his 16th goal of the campaign - set Dale on their way.

Then youngster Matt Tootle blotted his copybook with an embarrassing own goal at the start of the second half, which left Dario Gradi’s side with a mountain to climb.

The Alex boss offered Shaun Miller the opportunity to prove his worth up front, drafting him in for the out-of-form Clayton Donaldson, while a rejuvenated Luke Murphy replaced Joel Grant on the left.

But Crewe’s attacking ambitions were hit when they suffered an early blow as Zola hobbled off after just four minutes.

The big striker slipped attempting a routine block on Tom Kennedy’s clearance and appeared to have pulled a muscle as he was helped down the tunnel by Alex fitness coach Andy Franks. Byron Moore was the early replacement.

That seemed to unsettle the Alex and Temitope Obadeyi put the first effort on goal when he launched a header a yard over from Will Atkinson’s cross.

And Dale soon swept in front with O’Grady adding to his large tally in spectacular style.

Strike partner Chris Dagnall slipped in behind some static marking and although Matt Tootle managed to divert his effort off the line, the ball lopped into the path of O’Grady who thundered a volley under the bar.

Crewe responded with Steve Schumacher testing Frank Fielding with a thumping free kick, which the Blackburn loan keeper needed heolp from Tom Kennedy to clear after palming away at the far post.

O’Grady was threatening a second after Atkinson had twisted and turned on the edge of the box to set up his shooting chance. But John Brayford was in his own six-yard box to boot the striker’s goal-bound effort away.

With Rochdale pressing hard and closing down space in the middle, Crewe took their time getting into any sort of stride.

But a few flowing moves suggested they could get back in the game. When Schumacher laid the ball infield for Murphy, the youngster drove a yard over the top corner.

And they were denied a nailed-on penalty just before the half-hour mark when Moore slipping clear in the box onto Ashley Westwood’s pass was scythed down by Craig Dawson, only for referee Steve Rushton to wave play on.

Dagnall was soon firing low and hard at Steve Phillips in a game offering plenty of incident, while Jason Taylor lifted a left-footed drive clear of the top corner.

Wetwood flashed a volley over from 25 yards before Dale replaced injured centre half Nathan Stanton with Rory McArdle.

Harry Worley’s anticipation to cut out a telling cross from Gary Jones denied Dagnall a chance to stretch the lead as the half closed.

And the centre half put his head in the way of Taylor’s long-range volley as Dale finished the half as strongly as they started.

Dagnall forced Phillips into action with a dipping shot, which the keeper did well to push out.

Crewe started the second-half catastrophically with Tootle showing a complete lack of awareness in his box as he turned Dagnall’s shot-cum-cross into his own net.

Moore latched onto Murphy’s crossfield pass, but under close attention from McArdle he dragged a tame shot at Fielding.

Crewe were devoid of inspiration as Gradi drafted on youngster Danny Shelley for Simon Walton in the 64th minute.

Substitute Kallum Higginbotham, with thoughts no doubt of emulating his spectacular effort at Gresty Road before Christmas, let rip from 25 yards only for Phillips to push the ball up in the air.

And the Alex keeper kept down the score with another super save to deny Dawson’s header after Tom Kennedy had launched the ball in the box.

Phillips was hurt wrestling with Dagnall on the by-line as the striker attempted to pinch the ball.

At the other end, Fielding was making a smart low stop to keep Murphy’s shot from hitting the bottom corner.

The midfielder was soon making way for Grant, who got in down the left only to be denied by a combination of Fielding and Jones.

 

 

TEAMS

Rochdale: Fielding, Wiseman, Tom Kennedy, Stanton (McArdle, 39), Dawson, Jones, Taylor, Obadeyi (Higginbotham, 59), Atkinson, O’Grady, Dagnall.

Subs: Arthur, Flynn, Haworth, Jason Kennedy, Toner.

 

Crewe: Phillips, Brayford, Tootle, O’Donnell, Worley, Schumacher, Westwood, Walton (Shelley, 64) Murphy (Grant, 76), Zola (Moore, 5), Miller.

Subs: Legzdins, Ada, Donaldson, Martin.

 

Referee: Mr Steve Rushton (Staffs)

 

Attendance: 3,164