Rochdale AFC ended a long derby drought with a 2-0 victory over Oldham Athletic at the Crown Oil Arena. Goals from Daniel Moss and Dajaune Brown secured a vital three points in front of a sold-out crowd.
The win halted a dismal run of six consecutive defeats against their local rivals, a streak that had lasted nearly a decade. Both sides had entered the fixture level on seven points, but Rochdale's performance lifted them to 17th in the League Two table. They now have two wins, a draw, and four losses from their opening seven matches, a recent form that sees them climb the standings. The victory was built on a solid defensive display, with the team achieving their goal of 90 minutes of concentration to keep a clean sheet.
Manager Ian Watson had highlighted the importance of home advantage before the sell-out. "We wanted to use our home ground fully, but all tickets were gone before the match," Watson said. The manager will be looking for more of the same intensity in their upcoming fixtures.
Injury list remains long
Despite the positive result, Watson continues to manage a lengthy injury list. Sam Beckwith, Devante Rodney, Bryant Bilongo, Ryan East, Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Casey Pettit, and Will Jenkins were all unavailable for the derby. The sole piece of good news was the return of Ed Francis, who served a one-match suspension.
The match also served as the latest contest for the Ernie Cooksey trophy, named in honour of the former player who represented both clubs before his death in 2008. Rochdale's victory ensures the trophy stays at the Crown Oil Arena for now.
Attention now turns to the next league fixture, an away trip to face Fleetwood Town on September 26.
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