Rochdale AFC

Dale made it back-to-back wins with a 3-1 victory over Scunthorpe United, in what was a dominant performance from start to finish. 

A Michael Rose free-kick gave Dale the advantage at half time before the Iron equalised through Kevin Van Veen.

Dale restored their lead immediately through Ian Henderson, while Peter Vincenti sealed the win late in the game. 

Manager Keith Hill named an unchanged eleven from side which started in Tuesday night's win at Notts County. 

The wind caused problems in the Dale defence early on as it caught hold of a Scunthorpe clearance. The ball drifted over the back line and Paddy Madden raced onto it inside the box, but he dragged his shot across goal and it dribbled wide of the post. 

But it was Dale who opened the scoring after 21 minutes as Michael Rose's free kick evaded everybody in the Scunthorpe box. Dawson had won a free kick on the left of the area which Rose whipped in towards the far post. It went all the way through and although Daniels got a hand to it, he could only help it on its way into the goal. 

Dawson looked to double Dale's advantage as he raced onto a Henderson knockdown on the edge of the box. He took the ball in his stride and flicked it over the defender's head but he couldn't control his shot as he fired the ball over the cross bar. 

HALF TIME: Rochdale 1-0 Scunthorpe United

With 15 minutes of the half played, Scunthorpe found the equaliser through Kevin Van Veen - a soft goal from Dale's point of view The Scunthorpe forward took the ball down with his chest on the edge of the box before firing a tame, left-footed effort which dribbled into the bottom corner, past Jones. 

Rochdale hit back immediately however, as Ian Henderson tapped home into an open net. Rhys Bennet hit a magnificent curling effort from the edge of the box which came back off the angle of post and crossbar. It came back kindly for Henderson though, who slotted the ball into the unguarded goal. 

Dale were unlucky not to add a third as first Henderson broke into the box from the left wing. From the by line, he looked to drive the ball back across goal but Daniels palmed the ball out which this time fell kindly for him, at the feet of his defender who hacked the ball clear. 

Jamie Allen then showed great vision to pick out Henderson's run into the box, splitting the Scunthorpe defence in half. After a good first touch however, the ball bobbled up and he wasn't able to make a clean contact with his effort

The third did come late on, however, as Vincenti headed home his 15th goal of the season. Henderson received the ball on the left wing and twisted and turned his defender before delivering an inch perfect cross to the back post for Vincenti to head the ball home from 2 yards out.

FULL TIME: Rochdale 3-1 Scunthorpe United

Attendance: 2,738

Man of the Match: Stephen Dawson