ACCRINGTON Stanley are now without a win in five League One games after Ian Henderson’s second half header earned Rochdale a 1-0 win at Spotland.

The Reds had their chances in an even contest and will be disappointed to have conceded from a routine set piece when the evergreen Henderson arrived unmarked to power home a header from Matt Done’s left wing corner.

The simplicity of the winner will have no doubt frustrated Stanley boss John Coleman and after falling behind the visitors rarely threatened an equaliser despite plenty of endeavour.

The Reds, who host Wycombe on Tuesday, started the brighter and created the first chance inside the opening 60 seconds when Dan Barlaser advanced and saw his shot parried around the post by home keeper Josh Lillis.

Rochdale were seeing more of the ball but it was Stanley who had the better chances of an engaging first 45 minutes.

Nick Anderton volleyed wide after a neat move involving Sean McConville and Offrande Zanzala before Jordan Clark’s angled effort flew past the post.

The wideman was impressing for Coleman’s men floating in from the right and he fed Callum Johnson whose dangerous cross was cut out by Joe Rafferty with Zanzala lurking.

The striker then headed over from Sean McConville’s free kick before the Reds really should have taken the lead on 33 minutes. Again Clark played his part, driving forward and seeing his shot fall to Billy Kee who was denied from inside the penalty area by Lillis before the Reds striker saw his follow up effort also blocked by the keeper.

At the other end Dale were neat and tidy around the box but in truth failed to force Connor Ripley into a save of note.

The Reds had the final chance of the half when Zanzala beat the booked Ryan Delaney and crossed for McConville who pulled the ball down beautifully at the back post to fox Joe Rafferty but couldn’t squeeze a shot past Lillis from an angle.

The visitors began the second half with a bit more zip to their play and Clark and Barlaser had early shots off target before home sub Calvin Andrew brought a save out of Ripley at his near post after being played in by Callum Camps.

And Dale took the lead just after the hour when Ian Henderson met Matt Done’s near post corner to power a header past Ripley.

Stanley will be disappointed to concede such a simple goal and it allowed the home side to manage the contest in the final quarter.

The Reds huffed and puffed and sent on Sam Finley, who volleyed over, as they tried to find a way back into the contest.

Connor Hall and Piero Mingoia were summoned from the bench and the former headed over with four minutes to go but there was  no way through the Dale defence and the Reds will now aim to bounce back at home to Wycombe on Tuesday night.