Aldershot Town fell to defeat on the road as Rochdale scored four times to become the first side to beat the Shots on both occasions in the league this season and inflict their first defeat in nine league games.
Just one change was made from the Shots side that beat Wealdstone 3-1 at Grosvenor Vale on Tuesday night. Tyler Frost didn’t travel with the squad and was replaced by James Henry with Ryan Jones dropping into the left-sided role. Kwame Thomas was on the bench after returning to the Shots on Thursday.
The game started off patiently as both sides looked happy to wait for the right moment to launch a killer final ball or rely on a defensive mistake.
The hosts had the first chance of the game in the ninth minute and found the back of the net, only to see the Assistant Referee’s flag raised and the goal not to count. Ian Henderson had been played through on goal and was able to dink it past Marcus Dewhurst, but Referee Andrew Miller’s whistle had already gone.
Levi Laing pulled off a brilliant last-ditch challenge to deny a Rochdale break down the left, but from the resulting corner, the hosts opened the scoring. A short corner routine was worked well and as Will Armitage slipped as he closed down Sam Beckwith, the Dale defender had time to find his spot and fire it past Dewhurst.
Henderson was causing problems with his runs in behind the Aldershot defence and in the 18th minute, he had to be denied by Marcus Dewhurst after he was found on the left and broke into the Shots box.
As the half-hour mark came round, the Shots were able to put some pressure on their hosts as Josh Barrett’s smart ball cut through the Dale defence and played Cameron Hargreaves down the right of the box, but his cutback was cleared.
Jack Barham launched a first-time effort from the edge of the box over the bar in the 34th minute, but just two minutes later, Rochdale had their second of the game. Aidan Barlow’s effort from outside the area was saved by Dewhurst but fell to the feet of Devante Rodney who was able to turn the rebound in.
Henderson had another opportunity before the half-time break with another well-timed run behind the Shots defence but Dewhurst had rushed out quickly and was able to make the save.
The Shots were able to get two efforts on goal in the final minutes of the first-half – both coming from corners but missing the target – as Cameron Hargreaves fired wide after a short corner found him on the edge of the Dale box, and Luca Woodhouse headed wide in added time.
HALF-TIME
Kwame Thomas was brought on at half-time for his Shots return as Keane Anderson was brought off and James Henry dropped back to central midfield.
A double change was made just six minutes into the second-half as Theo Widdrington and Dan Ellison came on for James Henry and Levi Laing but it did nothing to stop a rampant start to the second-half by Dale as they scored two more goals in the first 10 minutes.
Devante Rodney got his second of the game in the 54th minute as he won the ball in midfield and was able to drive forward and finish well past Dewhurst.
And just two minutes later, Dale had their fourth of the game as Rodney unselfishly squared the ball across goal despite being on his hat-trick and Ian Henderson turned the ball in at the far-post.
Rochdale could have had a fifth in the 68th minute as Kairo Mitchell was played through on goal, but Marcus Dewhurst stuck out a foot at full stretch to superbly deny the Dale striker who had just come on.
Aldershot were still looking to come away from the Crown Oil Arena with a goal to their name at least and Kai Corbett’s introduction posed some fresh problems to the Dale defence. In he 74th minute, his delivery into the middle from the left after receiving the ball back from a short corner found Will Armitage, but his header was straight at Killian Barrett.
Two minutes later, Corbett then saw what looked to be a good effort from the edge of the box blocked as Hargreaves’ effort from further out on the rebound was just over the bar.
There was a late chance for the Shots in which they were able to show some quality with a nice move. Ryan Jones and Kai Corbett played some neat flicks and passes to break forward and allow Maxwell Mullins to see his low shot saved by Barrett.
But Rochdale were able to keep a clean sheet to compliment their win as the Shots fell to defeat for the first time in nine Vanarama National League games.
Attendance: 2270 (198 Away)
Shots lineup: 28. Marcus Dewhurst, 7. Cameron Hargreaves, 10. Josh Barrett (24. Maxwell Mullins, 66′), 11. Ryan Jones, 12. Keane Anderson (39. Kwame Thomas, 46′), 17. Aaron Jones (C), 22. Jack Barham (9. Kai Corbett, 66′), 27. James Henry (6. Theo Widdrington, 51′), 33. Lucas Woodhouse, 36. Will Armitage, 38. Levi Laing (35. Dan Ellison, 51′).
Subs not used: 1. Jordi van Stappershoef, 40. Zion Nditi.
Rochdale lineup: 1. Killian Barrett, 2. Kyron Gordon (C) (11. Michael Adu-Poku, 66′), 7. Tarryn Allarakhia, 8. Harvey Gilmour, 10. Devante Rodney (21. Connor McBride, 72′), 14. Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, 18. Aidan Barlow, 19. Jake Burger, 26. Liam Hogan (6. Ethan Ebanks-Landell, 74′), 33. Sam Beckwith (28. Jack Kingdon, 46′), 40. Ian Henderson (9. Kairo Mitchell, 66′).
Subs not used: 30. Jili Buyabu, 31. Charlie Weston.
