A late Joss Labadie goal denied ten Rochdale at least a point on the road on Tuesday night as Torquay emerged as 2-1 winners at Plainmoor.
minute to secure an vital victory for the division's basement side.stKyrstian Pearce gave the home side the lead on 17 minutes, but Jamie Allen ensured the sides went in level at the interval as he struck six minutes before the interval. Labadie regained the lead for the Gulls in the 81
There were two changes for Rochdale for the match, with the injured Scott Hogan and the suspended Ian Henderson being replaced by George Donnelly and George Porter. Graham Cummins and Matty Lund returned from injury to take their place on the substitute’s bench.
The opening exchanges was a lively affair as both teams looked to get a foot hold on the game, and while Dale applied the early pressure, Torquay had the first real opportunity of the match with seven minutes on the clock.
Enoch Showunmi had powered through on goal, and after being dispossessed, the ball fell kindly for Courtney Cameron, whose shot was deflected fractionally wide of the upright.
From the resulting corner, Donnelly cleared the initial ball, but only as far as Joss Labadie, who fired an effort into the hands of Josh Lillis.
minute through a set piece.thThe home side grew in confidence after their first effort on goal, and they went onto opening the scoring in the 17
Cameron curled his free-kick into the packed area, and Krystian Pearce headed beyond Lillis to give the Gulls the lead.
GOAL: TORQUAY 1-0 ROCHDALE (Pearce, 17 minutes)
Four minutes later and Torquay applied the pressure on Dale once more, forcing Jack O’Connell to literally throw his body on the line to deny the home side.
Lillis had come to collect Elliot Benyon’s initial cross, but after spilling the ball and leaving himself stranded, Cameron stabbed an effort at goal, but was kept out by the quick thinking central defender.
On the half hour mark appeals for a Dale penalty were waved away after Porter was upended inside the area. The pacey winger got back to his feet quickly to lose his marker and sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal. Donnelly rose high at the back post to send a powerful effort goal wards, but was kept out by the fingers of a stretching Martin Rice.
minute.thThe game evened out after the effort, and as Dale grew back into the match, they went onto level proceedings in the 39
Porter picked out Vincenti at the back post and he headed back across the face of goal for the awaiting Allen, who smashed his effort beyond Rice.
GOAL: TORQUAY UNITED 1-1 ROCHDALE
Although Dale were level, they could have found themselves a goal down for a second time almost immediately after pulling level. After taking centre, the Gulls were on the attack, and with only the woodwork denying Showumni.
It was the last clear cut opportunity of the half and the teams went in tied at the interval.
HT: TORQUAY UNITED 1-1 ROCHDALE
There were no changes for Dale at the interval.
Both teams enjoyed plenty of the ball after the break, but it was the home side who were applying plenty of pressure in the final third during the early exchanges, albeit from set pieces.
The Dale defence were resolute, however, in dealing with the threat posed by the Gulls.
The visitors are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the Sky Bet League Two table and there were making it difficult for Dale in what fast becoming a hard out fought out affair.
minute.thDue to the nature of the game, clear cut opportunities were at a premium for Rochdale, but they continued to work hard in order to find an opening, and Dale began to ask more questions, following their first substitution, which saw Allen replaced by Reece Gray in the 69
Immediately after the change Rochdale were awarded a free-kick following a foul on Porter, and Lancashire was denied by the woodwork after stooping low to get a head on the Rose set piece.
Dale’s second substitution of the match soon followed, with Porter making way for Joe Bunney.
minute – Joss Labadie with the goal.stRochdale had been building, but were dealt a blow when the home side regained the lead in the 81
minute, but Rochdale were reduced to ten men four minutes later when Olly Lancashire was dismissed for a second bookable offence.thAs Dale went in search of an equaliser Cummins was introduced onto the field of play, replacing Rose in the 84
Despite having a man less, Rochdale went in search of an equaliser, but to no avail as the Torquay defence stood strong.
It finished Torquay United 2, Rochdale 1.