Rochdale edge Sutton United 1-0 as Mani Dieseruwe sinks U’s at Crown Oil Arena
Mani Dieseruwe, who powered a hat trick to beat Sutton United at Hartlepool last season, again proved decisive, flicking home a low cross from Harvey Gilmour five minutes after the interval to give Rochdale a lead they would hold on to for a fourth win in five National League games. Sutton battled hard but could not find an equaliser, Ashley Nadesan’s late effort curling wide after a sweeping move.
Sutton named a back four with Edon Pruti at left-back and Mo Dabre making his first appearance of the season, alongside Wadham in front of the defence. Jaiden White also started, with Junior Eccleston making his first league start too. They were missing Liam Vincent (suspended) and Eduino Vaz (injured). Rochdale, meanwhile, made a striking start to life under a fresh XI, having changed all eleven starters for the second game running after Saturday’s defeat at Brackley.
The hosts began the brighter, with Joe Pritchard firing narrowly wide from space on the left and Devante Rodney latching onto a miscue by Eccleston to create another chance, though Jack Sims saved well. Sutton carved out chances of their own, with Sam Beckwith’s long-range effort tipped over by Sims and Ethan Ebanks-Landell glancing a header narrowly wide from a corner that Sutton might have expected to be a goal kick. Sutton’s best moment of the half came just before the break when Lewis Simper’s shot cannoned back off the ground and over the bar after a Pruti cross.
The interval wasn’t kind to Sutton as, three minutes into the second half, Dieseruwe found space on the left and cut the ball back for a low finish from close range to edge Rochdale ahead. Sutton responded with renewed urgency as Rodney tucked a shot past the post after Rochdale substitute Connor McBride set him up, but a mix of stubborn Rochdale defending and some wasteful finishing kept the score at 1-0.
As the second half wore on, Sutton’s front line pressed in search of an equaliser. Whatmuff had to leave his line to clear Brandon Njoku’s danger, and the arrival of substitutes added intensity to the closing stages. With time running out, Whatmuff’s goal-kick was mishit straight to David Ogbonna, whose cross found Nadesan at the far post. A touch too heavy from the Sutton striker sent the ball away from goal, and Rochdale held on for the win.
Sutton: J Sims; J Eccleston (sub D De Silva 87), E Pruti, J Taylor, H Phipps; J Wadham, J White (sub D Ogbonna 57), L Simper, K Crichlow (sub B Njoku 61), A Nadesan, M Dabre (sub J Harris H-T). Substitutes not used: D Aziaya, S Odelusi, A Jones.
Rochdale: O Whatmuff; K Gordon, J Pritchard (sub T Allarakia 73), R East, S Beckwith, E Ebanks-Landell, T Adebayo-Rowling, H Gilmour (sub C Pettit 86), M Dieseruwe, D Rodney (sub D Moss 86), A Barlow (sub C McBride 40). Substitutes not used: D Tutonda, A Gomez-Mancini, L Amantchi. Booked: Gilmour.
Referee: Declan Brown
Attendance: 2,647 (67 away)
What this means: Rochdale’s latest win keeps them in the upper half of the table as they continue to rotate and test options in attack, while Sutton’s struggle to turn chances into goals persists as they chase consistency and results. The match also highlighted Sutton’s emerging squad, with several players earning starting league minutes for the first time this season, and could offer lessons as both teams prepare for their upcoming fixtures.
Summary: A close, competitive contest decided by a second-half strike from Mani Dieseruwe, as Rochdale outworked Sutton United and claimed a vital home win. Sutton created chances but were unable to convert, leaving them to reflect on their finishing and the effectiveness of their evolving lineup.
Positive note: Sutton can take heart from their persistence and the competitive spell after the break, plus the exposure given to younger players who are gaining valuable first-team experience.