ROCHDALE consolidated their position at the top of League Two with victory over Morecambe at Spotland.

Sammy McIlroy’s men started brightly brightly and went close twice in the opening two minutes. Michael Twiss saw a volley parried wide by Tom Heaton while Wayne Curtis fired Garry Hunter’s cross over from six yards.

But the hosts took the lead when Will Atkinson set up Chris O’Grady, the on-loan Oldham man stabbing the ball past Barry Roche at the second attempt.

Atkinson had a great chance to double the lead when he raced through in the 20th minute only to fire wide of the near post but the second goal arrived within 60 seconds as O’Grady fed Chris Dagnall and the hitman danced around Roche before slotting into the unguarded net.

Dagnall smashed a volley against the crossbar before the break while Roche made a succession of saves after the interval to keep Morecambe in with a shout.

But it was game over when Tom Kennedy’s cross was headed home by Atkinson in the 72nd minute, Wayne Curtis’ 84th minute effort little more than consolation for Morecambe.

Atkinson rounded off the victory in the 87th minute when Roche was unable to keep out his clever backheel flick.

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