Rochdale 2 - 1 Port Vale: Rochdale battle back for three points against Port Vale

Posted Sunday, November 29, 2015 by PA

Rochdale came from a goal down to clinch a 2-1 victory against Port Vale at Spotland.

The home side were close to an opener when Ian Henderson saw a lobbed effort pushed over the crossbar by Jak Alnwick, but the visitors landed the first telling blow in the 13th minute.

Rhys Bennett's attempt to drive the ball up the right flank was blocked and ricocheted back towards the Dale goal, holding up on the heavy Spotland surface to allow Chris Birchall to nip in ahead of Jim McNulty and round goalkeeper Joel Castro Pereira and slip a finish inside the near post.

Rochdale levelled via Ian Henderson's spot-kick after Carl Dickinson's foul on Donal McDermott in the 40th minute.

Both sides hit the woodwork after the break, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing slamming a shot against the foot of the post for Dale and Dickinson seeing a header graze the top of Pereira's crossbar.

The winner came in the 78th minute when Port Vale managed to keep out James Hooper's effort but the rebound ran kindly for Mendez-Laing who applied a cool finish, finding the bottom corner of Alnwick's net. Dickinson was sent off in time added on for an off the ball challenge on Henderson.