Rochdale 4 : 0 Walsall - Dale romp to first home win

Posted Wednesday, September 17, 2014 by PA

Rochdale registered their first home win of the season as they thumped Walsall 4-0 at Spotland.

Three first-half goals had the contest all but won by the interval. They continued to boss the game after the break, but had to settle for an Andy Butler own goal midway through the second half.

The home side took the lead five minutes in when Matt Done raced on to Peter Vincenti's flick-on and rounded Saddlers goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell to score.

It was 2-0 when Scott Tanser's free-kick was glanced home by defender Ashley Eastham on the half-hour mark and seven minutes later Ian Henderson added the third.

The visitors finally tested Dale goalkeeper Conrad Logan when Romaine Sawyers fired from distance. But the home side could have been four-up before the break,Vincenti's close-range effort kept out by the overworked O'Donnell.

Dale continued to dominate after the break with Henderson sending a sublime volley over O'Donnell only to hit the post.

Andy Butler turned Jamie Allen's cross into his own net to complete the rout in the 71st minute, though Done and Henderson went close to adding a fifth.