Football: Rochdale 2 - 3 Boston United
Dale's play-off hopes were dented slightly after this defeat
Their unbeaten streak came to an end with a 3-2 home defeat to Boston United, despite a late fightback.
The in-form visitors took control early on, netting twice in the first half before adding a third midway through the second period. Goals from Ian Henderson and Jay Bird gave Dale hope, but they ultimately fell short.
A closer look at what happened
Jimmy McNulty made four changes to the side that started at Oldham, handing a debut to Michael Adu-Poku, while Ryan East, Ethan Ebanks-Landell and Jili Buyabu also came into the starting eleven.
Dale started brightly, with Bird—who netted a stunner at Boundary Park, seeing two early efforts blocked. At the other end, Sam Waller had to be alert to turn a Jimmy Knowles shot wide, while Harvey Gilmour produced a crucial block to deny Jacob Hazel.
However, Boston capitalised on a misplaced Dale pass in the 25th minute, with Hazel pouncing to fire past Waller. Two minutes later, Zak Mills doubled the visitors’ lead, finishing at the near post after the ball fell kindly for him.
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Waller was called into action again to deny Hazel before Adu-Poku went close, his low drive parried by Cameron Gregory. Aidan Barlow also saw an effort blocked in first-half stoppage time.
After the break, Dale pushed to get back into the game. Ebanks-Landell threaded a clever ball through to half-time substitute Henderson, but his first-time strike drifted wide. Moments later, Adu-Poku’s effort was blocked, with Barlow’s follow-up well saved by Gregory’s legs.
The visitors remained a threat, though, and Waller had to be sharp to turn Connor Teale’s shot wide before Keaton Ward’s strike was deflected behind. Gilmour then tested Gregory with a powerful strike, while Ebanks-Landell headed over from a corner.
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Despite Dale’s pressure, Boston struck again in the 69th minute with a sweeping counter-attack finished off by Knowles.
Rochdale refused to go down without a fight. East rattled the outside of the post with a deflected strike before Bird fired over. Henderson then pulled one back with a superb half-volley, curling a left-footed effort into the far corner.
Kairo Mitchell, on as a second-half substitute, saw a shot blocked before turning provider for Bird, who shrugged off his marker and drilled home to make it 3-2. Dale then pushed for a dramatic equaliser, but Boston held firm to take all three points.
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