Rochdale maintained their 2 point lead at the top of the Vanarama National League after they were able to hold on despite second half pressure from Carlisle United.

This result means that Rochdale strengthen their chances at auotmatic promotion and go 11 points clear of their opponents.

Whilst Carlisle drop down into 4th place after Scunthorpe United won their home game 1–0 against Southend.

The majority of the first half was an end to end affair with neither team being able to create themselves any clear cut chances, leaving the keepers with a minimul amount to do.

However in the 41st minute, Carlisle gave away a free kick in a dangerous area which gave Rochdale a chance to get the ball in the mix, which led to Carlisle’s Ryan Galvin seeing a yellow card.

Rochdale took full advantage of the freekick when it was whipped in the from the right, finding winger Daniel Moss at the back post, who headed the ball and got his first goal of the season after the Carlisle keeper Gabriel Breeze got a hand to it.

The 19th minute saw the home fans having something to laugh and cheer about as the Rochdale defenders passed it between them for a whole minute straight without any pressure from the Carlisle attackers, meaning the home fans cheered everytime a pass was made.

At the stroke of half time Rochdale nearly doubled their lead when striker Mani Dieseruvwe found the side netting after his head connected with the ball from a corner.

The second half had a very similar feeling as the first, this is as it was a very end to end situation with neither team taking risks.

Rochdale failed to double their lead late for the second time, as substitue Ian Henderson beat the keeper to a lose ball but put the ball wide after it was dinked over Gabriel Breeze.

Carlisle came inches from equalising at the mid point in the second half as Elliot Embleton tooka chance at goal from the otuside of the box, bending it into the top left corner, but it went narrowly wide.

As the full time whilste went at full time there was a feeling from the Rochdale fans that they can go on to reclaim a sport in the EFL.