York thrash promotion rivals Rochdale

York climbed to within three points of the top of the National League table with a resounding 4-1 win at home to promotion rivals Rochdale.

Dale were themselves looking to go top of the league and they responded well to Ollie Pearce’s 35th-minute opener as Tobi Adebayo-Rowling rifled in an equaliser four minutes later.

But in the second half the home side took control. They regained the lead less than a minute after the interval, striker Josh Stones winning the ball inside the Rochdale half and driving goalwards before finishing well.

Stones got his second from inside the box to give his team a two-goal cushion three minutes later, then Pearce added York’s third goal in 14 explosive second-half minutes to move them up to fifth.