Sam Shilton put the Harriers back on track for the play-offs tonight when he grabbed our first ever goal at Spotland. This win moves us up just one place in the league but with York dropping two points at Carlisle it narrows the gap slightly.
With probably the toughest run in of any club we must win our four remaining games to go higher. The two most important being this weekend when we play fellow hopefuls Wrexham and then travel to York on Easter Monday. The proverbial six pointers.
Harriers manager, Ian Britton, made just one change to the side that lost at Oxford, bringing back Drewe Broughton in place of Andy Bishop. He knew that against Dales big defenders Drewe would be able to make more of an impression than Bish.
Surprisingly there was no place for Scott Stamps in defence after some poor defensive displays in recent weeks. He retained his place on the bench.
It was the Reds on the attack from the very first minute when Sam Shilton fired wide of the post from outside the area. Adie Smith then tried his luck after he burst through the Dale defence but his shot was easily saved by Neil Bennett in goal.
Rochdale weren't prepared to sit back and watch though. The impressive Patrick McCourt showed his potential when he shrugged off our defenders in a mazy run that, luckily for us, ended with a weak shot that caused Stuart Brock little bother.
By midway through the half Rochdale started to get on top with chances falling for Grand, who headed over, and Hockenhull who cleared the bar from just six yards out.
Our only other chance of the half came from Bo Henriksen but he could only fire into the side netting.