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Rodney Strikes as Rochdale Dominate Hartlepool in 3-0 Victory

Rodney Strikes as Rochdale Dominate Hartlepool in 3-0 Victory

Connor McBride and Kairo Mitchell had put the visitors in control.

More teams, including Rochdale, joined the list of teams on an unstoppable streak, as they were comfortable winners 3-0 against Hartlepool United in the National League, thanks to a performance capped by a goal against his former club by Devante Rodney. Hartlepool United's woes were deepened as they suffered their third consecutive defeat, while for Rochdale, the victory secured their desired updraft.

Hartlepool started eagerly trying to get the better of the Rochdale defense right at the beginning of the game. Joe Grey's shot, blocked by the Rochdale defense for a corner in the return kick, put pluses as to what to expect from the opening exchanges. Veteran midfielder Nicky Featherstone went close for the hosts with a wide swinger from 20 yards out in the return kick. Hartlepool are keen on getting their current disastrous spell back on track. They could not, however, gain a breakthrough in the opening phases.

Rochdale, under the tutelage of manager Jim McNulty, was at least showing a bit of craft themselves and were starting to have some opportunities of their own. A visiting player to watch was Kairo Mitchell, who was given the chance to put his side ahead when he met Tobi Adebayo-Rowling's accurate cross, but his header sailed over the bar. The visitors were on their toes too, and Jake Burger had a shot that cleared the bar from a counterattack. As this game looked going into the break, all was set for this dour affair between the two to limp on to a draw, only for McBride to produce a decent, well-struck effort for Rochdale two minutes before halftime, giving the visitors a preciously vital lead.

His composed finish silenced the home crowd and swung the momentum firmly in favor of Rochdale.Hartlepool came out with a new sense of urgency at halftime. However, Gary Madine was not able to get his close-range shot past Rochdale goalkeeper Luke McNicholas, who made an excellent save to keep his team ahead. Just when Hartlepool were just getting their breather, a second goal by Rochdale ruled out the home side's hopes by Mitchell, a constant thorn in the side of Hartlepool all night long, who easily converted a cross by Adebayo-Rowling as Rochdale asserted a two-goal lead over Hartlepool.

With time running out, Devante Rodney, once a darling of the fans at Hartlepool, made sure this one would not have a melodramatic ending. His shot was set up by substitute Ian Henderson's brilliant through ball as he calmly rounded Hartlepool's goalkeeper Adam Smith and slotted it into an open goal with 11 minutes to go. His was the kiss of death for Hartlepool, extinguishing any comeback hopes and wrapping up a thoroughly professional performance from Rochdale.

It was just another defeat to add to the growing concerns of a season going down the drain for Hartlepool, not being able to go more than two games without losing, and three successive league defeats. Flickers of promise aside, Rochdale proved to be the more clinical opponent as Hartlepool succumbed to defeat. And questions will surely be asked of Hartlepool boss John Askey as his side struggles on, while McNulty and his team could take positives from having managed the game so astutely, taking their chances when they came.

Rodney's aim against his old club threw in an extra emotional flavor to the match, as the player remains one of the key elements for the current masters. "It is always special to score, but to do it here, at a place that suits me very much, makes it even more memorable," Rodney said after the match. As this will mark the third consecutive victory for Rochdale and will push them toward a better position in the National League, Hartlepool will have to gather the pieces and get answers before long if the season is to be revived. A performance like this, however, is setting true ambitions for the season of Rochdale.

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