Rochdale beat Oldham 2:0 in League Two's seventh round on Saturday. The hosts took all three points at home, though the contest itself said little about the final score. By then, both sides sat level on seven points in the table.
Daniel Moss opened the scoring in the seventh minute, a quiet start to what would become a frustrating afternoon for the visitors. Oldham pushed for an equaliser but could not find the net. Rochdale doubled their advantage through Dajaune Brown in the 63rd minute, and that price has gone. The second goal killed any hope of a comeback.
Oldham controlled the ball but not the game. They completed 51 per cent of possession with 105 attacks compared to Rochdale's 66, yet managed only one shot on target. Rochdale offered two, both on target, and converted both. To be fair, the hosts defended well and did not give away many clear chances.
Oldham's finishing was blunt. They registered 14 shots off target against just one on target, while Rochdale found the back of the net twice from two attempts. The visitors created nothing of real value, and that is what the statistics show. Rochdale's goalkeeper made just one save, which tells you everything about the nature of this match.
The result leaves Rochdale in 17th place and Oldham in 16th, both on seven points after seven games. This was Rochdale's second win of the season, while Oldham's run of unconvincing performances continues. The gap between them remains negligible, but the confidence from a win like this matters.
