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Rochdale 3 Barnet 0

Richard Partington
15/ 4/2008

Rochdale took another firm step towards securing a play-off finish with a 3-0 victory over Barnet at Spotland.

Adam Le Fondre, back in the starting line up for the clash, scored the only goal of the first half and Dale added two more after the break courtesy of Rene Howe and Kallum Higginbotham.

It was game on at the third time of asking – this fixture having been postponed twice earlier in the season.

Rochdale enjoyed all the possession in the opening 10 minutes, but with strikers Adam Birchall and Anthony Thomas playing right up against the hosts’ backline, Barnet’s threat was always in the back of the mind when Hill’s men attacked.

With plenty of energy from both sides, chances were few and far between, Higginbotham’s cross for Howe cut out by Lee Harrison being the closest we came to a goal up to the 20-minute mark.

Barnet had the first genuine chance when Birchall latched on to a loose ball in the area, his diving header guided past Tommy Lee but blocked by Nathan Stanton on its way to goal.

Le Fondre hit a fine strike from 25 yards that forced a full-stretch save from Harrison in the 24^th minute and two minutes later, at the opposite end, Birchall’s low drive from the edge of the box was held by Lee.

A shot on the turn from Birchall 29 minutes in was followed by Simon Ramsden’s substitution, the fullback picking up a dead leg injury and being replaced by Marcus Holness.

Jordan Parkes advanced from wide on the right before testing Lee with an angled effort, the keeper plucking the ball out of the air.

Rochdale took the lead in 34^th minute when Stanton’s freekick was headed up into the air by Howe, Gary Jones making the ball his in the area and heading it into the path of Le Fondre, who showed great poaching instincts to chest down and poke home past Harrison.

Le Fondre was almost on the end of an Adam Rundle cross soon after, keeper Harrison coming off his line to deny the striker.

Four minutes into the second half and Dale went two up. The move for the goal started deep in their own half, Tom Kennedy feeding Rundle, whose run at the Barnet defence had the visitors on the back foot. Rundle picked out a terrific burst forward from Jones and skipper in turn fired across goal for Howe, unmarked at the back post. The striker showed composure in collecting the ball and beating Harrison from close range.

Howe and Le Fondre linked up to good effect in the 54^th minute, the former unable to squeeze the ball in at the near post.

Barnet hit back, and a deflected corner from Thomas looked to be heading into the net, Lee gratefully gathering the ball at the far post.

A great pass from Jones sent Higginbotham away down the right in the 69^th minute and his first time cross picked out Le Fondre, six yards from goal, Unfortunately, the ball stuck under the striker’s feet and his effort beat Harrison but held up short of the line. Within a minute of that close call, Howe struck a rising drive into the side netting.

The third goal, in the 72^nd minute, was a masterclass in team-work, Rundle breaking away down the left and sending Howe clear with an inch-perfect pass that split the Barnet defence. Howe drew Harrison before unselfishly squaring into the path of Higginbotham who tapped home into the empty net.

Lee pulled off a magnificent save to deny Albert Adomah while Jason Puncheon blazed a ripping effort well wide. The game was up for Barnet by that stage, however, though Lee made another good stop in time added on, turning over Birchall's shot.

Rochdale: Lee, Ramsden (Holness 29), McArdle, Stanton, Kennedy, Higginbotham, Jones, Perkins (Basham 82), Rundle, Howe, Le Fondre (Dagnall 75). Subs not used: Button, Muirhead

Barnet: Harrison, Parkes, Nicolau, Leary, Burton, Puncheon, Adomah, Bishop, Porter, Birchall, Thomas (Akurang 64). Subs: Carpenter, St Amie, Grazioli, Carew

Att: 2,925

Referee: AR Hall