York City registered a commanding victory over play-off pushing Rochdale AFC curtesy of four goals from Pearce, Richardson and Fallowfield.
The first set-piece of the game came in the form of a free-kick in a crossing position. Harvey Gilmour took it but Callum Howe headed clear.
Rochdale were creating chances in the early stages, the next coming when a cross from the left-hand side was met by Kairo Mitchell at the front post but his shot went wide.
Connor McBride was next to try and test City. His shot from inside the box was superbly blocked off the line by Malachi Fagan-Walcott.
The Minstermen’s first shot at goal came in the 12th minute. Lewis Richardson’s corner finding it’s way to Ollie Pearce on the edge of the box who shot at goal but Sam Waller made the save.
The deadlock was broken after 24 minutes. Joe Felix with an inch perfect cross into the path of Ollie Pearce who with some clever skill, back-heeled the ball into the back of the net.
The final chance of the half fell to Pearce again who got on the end of another cross from the right-hand side. This time his shot went wide, aided from the linesman’s flag anyway.
Despite a calm opening to the second half it was again the Minstermen to score again. An incredible through ball from Pearce was met by Richardson who ran down on goal before calmly slotting the ball past Waller.
The York party was made even greater when substitute Dipo Akinyemi’s through ball into the ball was met at the back post by Pearce who made absolutely no mistake in slotting the ball in.
The commanding performance continued. Akinyemi again carving the Rochdale defence wide open. This time Ryan Fallowfield raced onto the end of the low-ball before placing the ball past sub keeper Brad Kelly and into the net to further extend the lead.
City left Lancashire with all three points following a hugely impressive performance in the red rose county.
ROCHDALE: Waller, East, Gilmour, Mitchell, Adebayo-Rowling, Ayinde, McBride, Hogan, Kingdom, Buyabu, Beckwith.
YORK CITY: Male, Fallowfield, Howe, Sinclair, Hunt, Pearce, Armstrong, Richardson, John, Felix, Fagan-Walcott.
ATTENDANCE: 2707.
