Rochdale come from behind to beat Scunthorpe

Posted Sunday, February 20, 2022 by PA

Rochdale came from behind to earn their first victory of 2022 as they beat struggling Scunthorpe 2-1.

The bottom-of-the-table Iron had gone in front in the 13th minute when defender Manny Onariase scrambled home, only for second-half goals from Liam Kelly and Max Taylor to earn the visitors all three points.

Dale had been distinctly second best in the opening 45 minutes.

They fell behind to Onariase’s goal – which was forced home from inside the six-yard box after the visitors failed to clear a free-kick – and Scunthorpe continued to threaten, with Mason O’Malley curling an effort wide and keeper Jay Lynch holding a well-worked strike from Liam Feeney.

The second half, though, followed a completely different pattern, with Kelly firing Rochdale level six minutes after the restart courtesy of a deflected strike that keeper Rory Watson got a hand to but could not keep out.

Substitute Alex Newby almost bagged a quick second with a curling shot that was not far off target and Scunthorpe defender Ryan Delaney headed off the line as the visitors upped the pressure.

Yet just when it looked like draw specialists Dale – who had been held in four of their previous five games – were going to have settle for another stalemate, Taylor pounced in a crowded area to fire home an 83rd-minute winner after seeing an initial effort saved.