Goals from Sophie Coates and Alicia Barnett secured all three points to leapfrog Wythenshawe in the North West Women’s Regional League with a 2-0 victory.
Rochdale scored the only goal of the first-half after 12 minutes. Coates bullied her way through the Wythenshawe Town defence and lobbed the keeper to draw first blood and notch her tenth of the campaign.
At the hour mark, Dale made it two. Barnett found herself one on one with the goalkeeper and she he slotted it home to the keepers right for a two-goal cushion.
Minutes after coming onto the pitch, Angela Egbon produced a huge chance to put the game to bed. Unfortunately, the goalkeeper was equal to it and denied the Dale a third.
Lee Atkinson’s side have now won five of their last seven games, moving to within a point of new leaders Salford City having played a game more.
Dale face FC St Helens Women in the Lancashire Women’s FA Challenge Cup next Sunday.
Dale XI | Simpson, Mackie, Jones, Malpuss, Smith, Moran, Whyte, Seals, Taylor, Barnett, Coates.
Subs | Green, Egbon, Fergus, Makin, King.
