Rochdale 3-0 Wealdstone: Hayes scores twice for hosts![Copy icon](/ls-web-assets/svgs/common/link-471b4.svg)
![LiveScore logo](/ls-web-assets/images/press_association_circle-dba08.webp)
![Cian Hayes scored twice (Barrington Coombs/PA)](https://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/dd92c23c5a569bbea1eaa393f7469693Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzA5MTU2Njc3/2.68473952.jpg?rect=0,38,1835,1032&ext=.jpg&operations=fit(707:)&w=707&quality=100)
Cian Hayes struck twice in an inspired first half as Rochdale blew Wealdstone away with a 3-0 win at the Crown Oil Arena.
Dale skipper Ethan Ebanks-Landell put the hosts ahead in the 26th minute, converting when the away defence failed to adequately deal with a ball fired into the box.
Only a linesman’s flag denied him a second soon after but Hayes’ quickfire double in the final moments before the break made the points safe.
He made no mistake after Kairo Mitchell’s effort came back off a post and then hoisted a cross-cum-shot high over a wrong-footed Marcus Dewhurst. The relegation-threatened visitors could not muster any kind of comeback in the second period and stay out of the bottom four on goal difference only.