ROCHDALE 1, SALFORD CITY 0
Manager Jim Bentley said it was “written in the stars” that Ian Henderson became Rochdale’s all-time record goalscorer as well as the matchwinner against Salford City.
The striker’s 130th goal, netted during two spells at the Crown Oil Arena, earned Dale a massive win in their battle to steer clear of danger at the foot of League Two.
The win lifted Dale from 22nd to 19th place and three points clear of the drop zone, having lost their first five league games to be rock bottom.
And as Bentley said: “One-nil Henderson has the perfect ring. It was not like it was 3-0 and he got the third.
“It was at home in a derby under the lights against his former club and one of the division’s fancied sides. It was written in the stars.”
Bentley also praised Henderson’s achievement, explaining: “It was fully deserved. He is a top player and has been one of the best around.
“I cannot pay him enough compliments as he gives you maximum output and is minimum maintenance.”
Bentley described it as a “big win” as Dale continued to inch clear of the relegation places.
It was especially painful for Salford as 37-year-old Henderson was their player until the summer when he was re-signed by Dale.
The Ammies missed a chance to reclaim a promotion play-off place which they would have done with a point.
Salford, with only one win in their last seven league and cup games, enjoyed 65 per cent possession and had more goal attempts than Dale, but lacked a cutting edge.
“It hurts as I did not see us losing the game as we had good chances and the amount of domination we had,” explained head coach Neil Wood.
“It is something we have seen in the last couple of months, we need to be more ruthless in the final third.
“We played excellent football and created excellent chances, but the final piece of the jigsaw is not quite there, and we were undone by one piece of naïve defending.”
The match was a slow burner taking almost half an hour for its first clear-cut chance when Dale’s Tyrese Sinclair fired narrowly over.
Salford’s Ryan Watson, a player with an eye for goal, saw an on-target goal attempt deflected for a corner.
Dale finished the opening period strongly as Devante Rodney and Sinclair had shots deflected for corners.
They also had a strong appeal for a penalty rejected with Dale claiming Ibou Touray handled Jimmy Ball’s header from Cameron John’s corner.
There was an electrifying start to the second period, a stark contrast to the opening 45 minutes.
Dale would have taken the lead but for a great save from Tom King to deny Rodney with the follow-up effort scrambled to safety.
Salford striker Marcus Dackers, on his full league debut, missed a chance to cover himself in glory.
Theo Vassell sent a low ball across the face of goal for Dackers, free at the far post, inexplicably slicing his shot wide when he looked certain to score.
Salford had another great chance when Ibou Touray crossed from the left and Luke Bolton’s glanced near-post shot struck the far upright.
Dale went straight up the other end to score the winner as substitute Ethan Brierley’s looping cross was headed home at the far post by Henderson, his fifth goal of the season to claim the record previously held by club legend Reg Jenkins.
They managed the later stages well to pick up three huge points and improve what before kick off had been the worst home record in League Two.