Rochdale strengthened their position at the pinnacle of the English National League with a commanding 2-0 triumph over Eastleigh at the Crown Oil Arena. A second-half own goal from Lloyd Humphries and a composed finish from Tarryn Allarakhia secured a deserved three points for Jimmy McNulty’s side, extending their impressive winning run and underscoring their promotion aspirations.
The initial period at the Crown Oil Arena was a tentative affair, with neither team able to establish dominance. Rochdale, as anticipated, enjoyed the majority of possession, seeking an avenue against a well-organised Eastleigh defence. However, genuine scoring opportunities were scarce. The visitors, keen to end a concerning winless streak, defended resolutely, restricting Rochdale to speculative efforts from distance. Neither goalkeeper was significantly troubled, and the first half concluded goalless, a testament to the tactical stalemate on display.
The second half, however, witnessed Rochdale emerge with renewed intent. The home side began to exploit the spaces in the Eastleigh lines, creating more opportunities in the attacking third. The opening goal arrived in the 54th minute, somewhat fortuitously. A searching ball into the Eastleigh penalty area was met by Lloyd Humphries, who, under pressure from a Rochdale attacker, inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net, giving the hosts a crucial advantage.
This goal visibly galvanised Rochdale, and they continued to press their superiority. Eastleigh, now compelled to push forward in search of an equaliser, committed more players ahead, leaving them more susceptible to counter-attacks. This tactical adjustment proved costly in the 73rd minute. A swift Rochdale break saw Kyron Gordon deliver a precise pass to Tarryn Allarakhia. Allarakhia made no mistake, calmly finishing to double Rochdale’s lead and effectively seal the victory.
Eastleigh attempted to respond, introducing tactical substitutions in an effort to inject urgency into their play. Harvey Saunders was replaced by Aaron Blair in attack in the 70th minute. Later, Josh Lundstram received a booking in the 81st minute for a foul. However, Rochdale, now in firm control, managed the remainder of the contest professionally. Further substitutions from both camps led to a more fragmented conclusion, with Rochdale comfortably seeing out the match.
This victory sees Rochdale maintain their strong hold on the summit of the National League, extending their lead. Their current form is formidable, with this win marking their third consecutive success. Eastleigh, conversely, remain in mid-table, their recent form a significant concern, having failed to secure a victory in their last five outings and struggling to find the back of the net. Rochdale’s efficient second-half performance, combined with Eastleigh’s inability to penetrate their defence, ultimately proved to be the decisive factors in this encounter.