Words John Edwards | Pictures Jonathan Moore

Altrincham 0 Rochdale 3

A first-half demonstration of why Rochdale sit proudly atop the Enterprise National League proved decisive in condemning Altrincham to defeat in front of the DAZN cameras at The J.Davidson Stadium on Friday night.

Much as they tried, Alty could not cope with a dazzling display of pinpoint passing at pace in the opening 45 minutes, as the visitors surged into a two-goal lead by half-time.

It was much more like it from the Robins in the second half, and they could count themselves unfortunate not to halve the deficit, not least when Tom Crawford forced a stunning save from Nathan Broome in the 67th minute with a close-range header.

But there was no way back for Alty when Rochdale made it 3-0 in the 74th minute with a superbly-crafted goal in front of their 1,000-plus travelling fans.

Dale had much the better of the opening stages and went close in the eighth minute when a deflected shot by Ryan East had to be turned away at full stretch by Luke Hutchinson.

Hutchinson was called into action again two minutes later when a lightning burst of acceleration by Charlie Waller took him past two challenges, only for his mishit effort from 20 yards to be gathered comfortably by the Alty keeper.

Just when Alty seemed to be working their way into the game, they fell behind to a goal that was scrambled in from close range by Joe Pritchard after a cross from the right was met at the far post by a header back into a congested six-yard box in the 17th minute.

Rochdale should have doubled their lead in the 21st minute when a slick passing move in and around the Alty area ended with Ian Henderson needing only to turn six yards out and slot the ball home.

Fortunately for the Robins, he managed the first part of the equation but not the second, as he prodded the easiest of chances wide of the right-hand post.

There was another scare for Alty in the 31st minute when East found space for a low left-foot shot from 20 yards that Hutchinson was equal to with a sprawling save.

Alty found themselves further adrift in the 34th minute when Connor McBride cut in from the right and measured a perfectly-executed lob that floated beyond the reach of Hutchinson and came to rest in the far corner of the home net.

Looking to reduce the arrears before half-time, Alty thought they had earned themselves the ideal opportunity when Lucas Weaver sidestepped a challenge inside the area and looked to be upended as he tried to advance towards goal.

To the Robins' consternation, referee Peter Wright waved away the spot-kick pleas, despite Weaver's protestations that he had been fouled.

There was some early encouragement for Alty at the start of the second half when a short corner was worked towards Eddy Jones, whose deep cross was met by Crawford just beyond the far post.

Crawford connected well enough with a left-foot volley from close range, but it was blocked and hacked behind for a corner that came to nothing.

Staying on the front foot, Alty threatened again in the 55th minute, as Weaver took a step to his right and followed it with a sharp enough turn of pace to open up space for a shot that Broome struggled to turn round the post, diving to his right.

When Crawford won a tackle decisively midway inside the Rochdale half in the 65th minute, it gave Isaac Marriott the chance to curl a shot that looked bound for the top corner until Broome touched it over at full stretch.

A minute later, Alty again had penalty appeals turned down following a challenge inside the Rochdale area, as the visitors began to come under pressure.

As the Robins continued to press, it took an exceptional save from Broome to deny the persevering Crawford a goal he would have deserved for consistently popping up in the right areas.

Timing his run into the box to perfection, Alty's midfielder met a cross from the right with a bullet header that was fingertipped over by a remarkably sharp reflex action from the Rochdale keeper.

After so much second-half endeavour by the Robins, it came as a cruel blow when Dale fashioned an excellent third goal in the 74th minute.

Tobi Adebayo-Rowling fastened on to a clever back-heel on the right, and when he crossed low into the area, substitute Tyler Smith was on hand to flick it home from close range.

Both sides made alterations by sending on further substitutes, but there was no change to Rochdale's attacking edge, as the impressive East again brought the best out of Hutchinson with a low effort that the diving keeper managed to palm away in the 79th minute.

Beeline VIP Travel Man Of The Match Tom Crawford

Altrincham Hutchinson; Baines (c), Crankshaw, Marriott, Knowles (Gale, 78'), Kosylo, Weaver (Reddin, 56'), Crawford, Golden, Jones (Ward, 77'), Sassi. Subs not used: Cooper, German, Kirk, Beddow.

Rochdale Broome; Gordon, East, Ebanks-Landell (c), Gilmour (Burger, 71'), Adebayo-Rowling, Pritchard (Pettit, 71'), McBride (Rodney, 84'), Waller (Moss, 77'), Galvin, Henderson (Smith, 71'). Subs not used: Tutonda, Amantchi.

HT 0-2

Goals None | Pritchard 17', McBride 34', Smith 74'

Yellows None | McBride 45'

Reds None | None

Referee Peter Wright

Assistants Andrew Daniels & George Eaton

Fourth official Oliver Noonan

Attendance 3,332

Next Up

We head for FC Halifax Town on Boxing Day. Admission is by cash turnstiles only at The Shay, with kick-off at 3pm.