Rochdale AFC held onto top spot in the Enterprise National League with a narrow 1-0 home win over Carlisle United on Saturday afternoon.
Dan Moss scored the only goal of the game just before half-time, sliding in at the back post to convert Aidan Barlow’s wide free-kick for his first goal since joining the club. The victory extends Dale’s winning streak to six matches under manager Jimmy McNulty.
McNulty made two changes from Tuesday’s 4-1 win against Boreham Wood, bringing in Moss and Barlow in place of Tarryn Allarakhia and Jake Burger. Connor McBride returned to the bench.
Despite a speculative early effort from Carlisle’s Alex Gilliead, Rochdale dominated possession throughout the first half. Ethan Ebanks-Landell threatened from set pieces, while Moss made a crucial defensive intervention to block a Carlisle attack from Harvey Macadam.
The breakthrough came in the 41st minute. Barlow’s deep free-kick evaded everyone except Moss, who stretched to finish from close range. Ebanks-Landell almost doubled the lead before the interval with a glancing header that went wide.
Rochdale stayed on the front foot in the second half. Devante Rodney and Ebanks-Landell both had attempts, while goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff was only called into action once, gathering an attempted lob from Macadam.
In the closing stages, Dale pushed for a second. Substitute Ian Henderson was denied by a smart intervention from Carlisle keeper Gabriel Breeze, and then sent a chip just wide after beating the back line.
Strong defending in five minutes of added time saw Dale safely over the line in front of a 4,725-strong crowd at the Crown Oil Arena, including 1,325 travelling fans.
- 7 Feb 2026 - Rochdale 1 - 0 Carlisle United
- 7 Feb 2026 - Rochdale 1 - 0 Carlisle United
- 7 Feb 2026 - Rochdale 1 - 0 Carlisle United
- 7 Feb 2026 - Rochdale 1 - 0 Carlisle United
- 7 Feb 2026 - Rochdale 1 - 0 Carlisle United
- 7 Feb 2026 - Rochdale 1 - 0 Carlisle United
- 7 Feb 2026 - Rochdale 1 - 0 Carlisle United
- 7 Feb 2026 - Rochdale 1 - 0 Carlisle United
- 7 Feb 2026 - Rochdale 1 - 0 Carlisle United
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