Fleetwood Town made it two wins in a row on Saturday afternoon as they managed to beat Rochdale 1-0 at Highbury Stadium.
The Cod Army created chances throughout the game, testing Brian Barry-Murphy’s defence at all stages of the game, but it was an own goal that was the difference on the day as Wes Burns’ cross went past the Rochdale goalkeeper after a deflection off Eoghan O’Connell’s leg.
Fleetwood had the first major chance of the game, and it wasn’t long after kick-off, as Dan Batty whipped in a free-kick from the right towards Callum Connolly at the back post, who rose highest, but headed just wide.
A couple of minutes later, Janoi Donacien burst forward from a defensive position before laying the ball back to the edge of the box, where Batty tried his luck but his shot struck an onrushing defender.
Town carried on the pressure, with another chance coming from a corner. This time it was played short to Danny Andrew, who aimed his cross towards the rising Burns, who headed inches wide of the near post.
Just before the half-hour mark, substitute Kwadwo Baah had a chance on goal but dragged it well wide of the target. Ryan McLaughlin just about kept the ball in play, pulled it back to Oliver Rathbone, whose effort is cleared off the line.
The game had some half-chances before the half, but the next big chance fell to the visitors as Baah cut back onto his right foot, crossed the ball in towards Jake Beesley, whose stooping header is easily saved by Cairns.
Fleetwood broke the deadlock soon after as Burns drove down the right and drilled a cross into a packed six-yard box, but the pass collided with the legs of O’Connell, before going into the back of the net from a couple of yards out.
In the 66th minute, Kyle Vassell looked like he was going to add to Fleetwood’s tally at Highbury as he latched onto a through ball from deep, but he sliced his shot just wide of the far post and was flagged for offside by the linesman.
With ten minutes to go, Burns dribbled past his man on the right, worked his way into some pace, and decided to try his luck, with his effort going narrowly wide, past Jay Lynch’s far post.
Just before the end, Rochdale had some chances to try and level the game up as Aaron Morley tried to catch Cairns off-guard with an effort from distance, which went inches wide of the post. They had another chance soon after as Jimmy Keohane found Baah, but his shot was blocked and eventually cleared.
Town XI: Cairns (GK), Andrew, Connolly (C), Burns (Saunders 90'), Camps, Rossiter, Vassell (Garner 79’), McKay (Rydel 90'), Donacien, Batty (Biggins 79’), Hill.
Subs not used: Coleman (GK), Duffy, Baggley.
Dale XI: Lynch (GK), McLaughlin, Osho, O’Connell (C), Beesley, Keohane, Rathbone, Roberts (Vale 68’), Done (Baah 13’), Grant (Dooley 57’), Shaughnessy (Morley 57’).
Subs not used: Bazunu (GK), McNulty, McShane.