Ian Henderson became the first player to score for Dale in three separate tiers of football, to earn a 1-0 win at Oxford City.

His second-half goal proved to be the difference in scoreline, although Dale were dominant throughout against a stubborn home side.

Jimmy McNulty made one change from last weekend’s game against Ebbsfleet United, as Ian Henderson came in for Devante Rodney, who missed out entirely.

The hosts had a couple of shots well blocked early on, from Josh Parker and Aaron Williams-Bushell, before Dale had a goal ruled out for offside moments later.

A nice one-two on the edge of the area led to Ian Henderson receiving the ball inside the area. He clipped it over the onrushing goalkeeper, but the offside flag went up against him.

Josh Ashby and Adam Clayton exchanged efforts off target before Parker’s fierce effort straight at Louie Moulden was well held by the on-loan goalkeeper.

Dale were well in control of possession, as The Hoops sat very deep in their own half in order to frustrate McNulty’s men.

His side kept plugging away, with Harvey Gilmour having a shot inside the Oxford area well blocked, whilst Henderson had a sliding effort cleared off the line after being found by Gilmour.

Ashby and Alfie Potter, twice, sent shots off target for the hosts as the half came to a close, but after the break Dale stepped up the tempo.

Kairo Mitchell forced Oxford goalkeeper Chris Haigh into a save just two minutes into the half, when he flicked Jimmy Keohane’s low cross goalwards.

The home goalkeeper was called into action ten minutes later when he partially beat away Michael Afuye’s cross into the path of Clayton, whose first-time effort was saved by the legs of Haigh.

Mitchell headed a free-kick into the arms of the goalkeeper and George Nevett got a head on a corner kick, but could only divert wide under pressure.

There were debuts for McDermott and Uchegbulam, who were both introduced midway through the second-half, with the latter bursting down the right channel with his first action of the game and sending in a dangerous low ball which Mitchell was inches away from.

Then came the breakthrough, in the 72^nd minute. Tyrese Sinclair found Keohane on the right side of the area, who pulled the ball back into the middle towards Henderson. He had timed his movement to perfection and slotted home from the edge of the six-yard box.

Dale, as they had throughout the game, controlled possession and never really looked threatened by the hosts.

Henderson had a great chance to double his tally and Dale’s lead with five minutes remaining, when he was found by Uchegbulam, but he side-footed wide of the far post.

There was another Dale debut when Kwaku Oduroh replaced Sinclair with five minutes remaining, before McDermott fired over on the stretch after some neat passing play, with what would prove to be the final action of the game.

Dale XI | Moulden, Keohane, Ebanks-Landell, Nevett, John (66’ McDermott), Clayton, Gilmour, Afuye (66’ Uchegbulam), Sinclair (85’ Oduroh), Mitchell, Henderson.

Unused subs | Shubbar, Ferguson.