Peterborough United vs Rochdale. Sky Bet League One.
Weston Homes StadiumAttendance5,163.
Saturday 14 February 2015 17:44, UK
A rip-roaring start paved the way for Peterborough to see off Rochdale 2-1 at the ABAX Stadium on Saturday.
The damage was done early on with both Posh goals arriving in the opening seven minutes. Michael Smith's right-wing delivery was headed in by Harry Beautyman in the fourth minute and only a fine Josh Lillis save prevented the same combination from having further joy shortly afterwards. But, from the resulting Joe Newell corner, Christian Burgess was on hand to bundle in the home side's second goal. Rochdale spectacularly halved their arrears after 24 minutes when full-back Joe Rafferty rifled in the first league goal of his career from 25 yards out. Smith was closest to finding the net in a second half of few chances as his fierce shot struck the side-netting before Jon Taylor twice went close after returning from a three-month injury lay-off. Posh handed a debut to new recruit David Norris, who came on as a substitute, while Rochdale saw out the final 13 minutes with 10 men after one of their three used replacements, Calvin Andrew, picked up an injury.
