Dale produced a fantastic comeback to come from two goals down to beat Accrington 4-2 in a frantic second half at the Crown Ground.

Two goals from skipper Gary Jones, a Chris O'Grady and a sublime Kallum Higginbotham goal saw Dale comeback from two goals down to move 13 points clear of 4^th place.

If the first half of the game was anything to go by then both sets of supporters were in for a quiet afternoon, but the game came to life in the 2^nd half, with Accrington scoring a quick fire double around the hour-mark through Michael Symes and John Miles to take the lead.

However, Dale captain Gary Jones inspired the comeback with a tap-in then a deflected effort, with Joe Thompson having a goal ruled out for offside in between.

With less than ten minutes remaining Chris O'Grady put Dale ahead and looked to have completed the comeback before Kallum Higginbotham spectacularly struck a half-volley from the halfway line to complete the scoring.

Keith Hill named one change to the side that picked up the 1-0 victory at Shrewsbury, with Joe Thompson coming in for Kallum Higginbotham. Frank Fielding was in goal, with Scott Wiseman, Rory McArdle, Nathan Stanton and Tom Kennedy in defence. Jason Taylor, Gary Jones and Jason Kennedy made up the midfield three, with Thompson playing in a free role ahead of them, tucked in behind the strike partnership of Chris O'Grady and Chris Dagnall.

Dale started the game with their backs to the away fans, who had sold out their full allocation for the Accrington away stands.

Keith Hill said before the game that the pitch at the Crown Ground was to a suitable standard, but after passing a pitch inspection earlier in the afternoon the surface was starting to cut-up slightly following the warm-up and early stages of the match.

The opening eight minutes saw both sides getting used to the conditions and the pitch as Dale looked to use their midfield dominance to their advantage. However, the first chance of the game fell to Accrington's Michael Symes, who after a neat one-two with Billy Kee saw his effort well saved by Frank Fielding before being cleared from danger.

Dale's first real moments came with 17 minutes gone. Their first venture into the Accrington half in a threatening manner ended in Chris O'Grady winning a corner from which there was some panic in the home area, but none to trouble home 'keeper Dean Bouzanis.

The first shot of Dale's game came through Chris O'Grady, who was looking like Dale's biggest threat. He picked up the ball on the left before troubling Stanley right-back Tom Lees. He opened up a yard from which he shot, but Bouzanis was equal to it as he collected easily.

The first yellow card of the game came in the 22^nd minute when Chris Dagnall made a late challenge on Tom Lees, with referee Graham Salisbury setting an early precedent by cautioning the Dale striker.

The first half was a scrappy with affair, with neither side able to string together a threatening attacking move. The closest Dale came with ten minutes to go was from a Joe Thompson header, when he had to dive backwards in attempt to nod home a Tom Kennedy cross. However, the ball looped over Dean Bouzanis' net harmlessly for a goal kick.

As the game closed towards half-time Dale started to put more pressure on the Accrington back line. Chris Dagnall had an effort from distance which didn't trouble Bouzanis, but the best chance fell to Jason Kennedy two minutes before the break.

Good link-up play between Scott Wiseman and Joe Thompson led to the Dale right-back passing the ball back to Kennedy who was no more than ten yards out, but the midfield, still awaiting his first goal for Dale, skied the ball well over the Accrington crossbar. It was a poor miss for Kennedy, although there may have been a bobble before he could connect with the ball.

One minute of added time was played, but the half ended goalless with both sides playing scrappy football in an attempt to take the lead.

The second half certainly made a livelier start than the first did, as Dale in particular began to look more threatening when going forward. It was Keith Hill's side who created the first opening five minutes into the second period.

Jason Taylor played a great through ball to Chris O'Grady who was forced wide by 'keeper Bouzanis. He had time to cross and picked out Joe Thompson in the middle, but the young winger couldn't get any power on his header and it was easily collected by Bouzanis.

Dale were looking the more likely side to score in the opening 15 minutes of the half, but they were made to pay for their missed opportunities on the hour mark when Michael Symes gave Accrington the lead.

Billy Kee picked up the ball on the left and split Dale's centre-back pairing of Rory McArdle and Nathan Stanton to play in Symes, who had the simple job of placing the ball past Frank Fielding to put Stanley ahead.

This prompted Keith Hill into an instant substitution, with Kallum Higginbotham replacing Jason Kennedy as Dale reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.

Dale's reaction to going behind would be important as they looked for a way back into the game straight away. However, the worst possible thing happened when Accrington doubled their lead just four minutes later.

Billy Kee again played a defence splitting pass into the path of John Miles who delicately chipped the ball over the on-rushing Frank Fielding to give Accrington a two goal cushion.

This was now an uphill task for Dale if they were to get anything from the game, and it would almost certainly need a quick response from Keith Hill's side.

That is exactly what they got.

Chris O'Grady did well down the left before playing a low ball into the box where Gary Jones and Joe Thompson were waiting. His ball took a slight deflection on its way, which was perfect for Gary Jones as he arrived to tap home a way back into the game for Dale.

Dale were now firmly on the front foot and roared on by the fantastic Dale turn out they started to come forward in waves.

For a moment it looked as though they had found an equaliser with little over 20 minutes to go when after a Chris O'Grady shot was saved by Dean Bouzanis Joe Thompson tapped home, but the assistant referee ruled that he was in an offside position when he poked the ball home.

That was a minor setback for Dale as they searched for another opportunity to equalise, and just moments later they got that opportunity, and took it.

Scott Wiseman did superbly running down the right side before playing a square ball to Gary Jones, who struck the ball at goal and courtesy of a huge deflection which deceived Dean Bouzanis, the ball bounced into the back of the net to the delight of the Dale faithful.

This was turning into a frantic game as both sides pushed for a winner with fifteen minutes to go. However, there was a stoppage in play after a tussle between Michael Symes and Jason Taylor ended in both players being sent off for violent conduct.

With 11 minutes to go Keith Hill brought off Joe Thompson, who had covered a lot of ground, for Ciaran Toner. Toner tucked in next to Gary Jones in midfield with Chris O'Grady, Kallum Higginbotham and Chris Dagnall making up the front three.

Both sides were settling into their new systems but it was Dale who were still on the front foot. Chris O'Grady was causing problems on the left up top for Dale and he had fired in some fierce crosses which Dean Bouzanis had done well to keep out. However, when O'Grady found himself in a shooting position he me made no mistake as he gave Dale the lead for the first time in the game.

Kallum Higginbotham found the ball at his feet just outside the area, and his quick thinking played in O'Grady who took a touch before firing the ball past Bouzanis to send the Dale support ecstatic.

That goal seemed to deflate Accrington who had done so well to get into that two goal lead, but Dale now had the advantage and they had little over five minutes of normal time to see out for a memorable win.

There was four minutes added time for Dale to see out, which seemed short considering the events during the second period, but Keith Hill wouldn't be complaining if his side could hold onto all three points in the dying embers of the game.

Accrington were coming forward in numbers as they looked for a dramatic equaliser late on, but the Dale defence was strong and cleared any danger Stanley posed.

Then came a moment of absolute brilliance from substitute Kallum Higginbotham. Dean Bouzanis ran out to the left and his clearance took a deflection into the path of Higginbotham, who took a touch before absolutely lashing the ball home from the halfway line on the half-volley to make it 4-2 to Rochdale. Higginbotham's reaction told the story as he turned to the Dale bench with a huge grin, to be joined by every single Dale player in mass celebration.

The referee played a little over the allotted time, but Dale held out for a fantastic win, capped off in memorable style by Kallum Higginbotham.

Dale welcome Grimsby next week to Spotland hoping for another three points, but it is unlikely to be as memorable as these.

Dale: Fielding, Wiseman, McArdle, Stanton, T Kennedy, Taylor, Jones, J Kennedy, Thompson, O'Grady, Dagnall.

Accrington: Bouzanis, Kempson, Procter, Miles, Joyce, Kee, Edwards, Ryan, Winnard, Symes, Lees.

Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire). Assistant Referees: Gary Beswick & Simon Clayton (County Durham). Fourth Official: Paul Marsden (Lancashire).

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