Notts County vs Rochdale. Sky Bet League One.
Meadow Lane StadiumAttendance6,199.
Saturday 24 September 2011 19:17, UK
Notts County moved into the play-off zone after a 2-0 win at Meadow Lane that also dumped Rochdale into the relegation zone.
Martin Allen's men were on top throughout, with powerful forward Ben Burgess heading wide from Alan Judge's cross. Burgess then turned provider for the goal in the 35th minute, playing the ball into an unmarked Lee Hughes on the penalty spot and the veteran marksman found the bottom corner with a simple left-foot finish. Just before the break, Gary Jones' shot from outside the area had County keeper Stuart Nelson diving across his goal but it was never a serious threat. Notts had the better chances in the second half too, with Alan Sheehan hitting a slow volley straight at England Under-20 goalkeeper Jake Kean. Substitute Cristian Montano then played in Hughes, who slipped the ball to Judge, but his first touch was heavy and Kean collected. Montano almost settled the game in the last minute with a sweet volley from the left but it was left to Sam Sodje to wrap up the win, glancing home Sheehan's free-kick from the right with the last meaningful move of the game.
