A Chris O'Grady goal sealed Dale's promotion to League One as Dale beat Northampton 1-0 at Spotland.
With the excitement inside Spotland at a premium Dale started liveliest, before the game evened out as both sides looked to take the advantage. However, in the 23rd minute came Dale's first goal in five games.
A Tom Kennedy corner found its way to Joe Thompson who forced it goalwards before Chris O'Grady turned on the spot and fired home from three yards out. Spotland erupted.
Dale dominated the rest of the half after the goal and could have had added to their tally. Chris Dagnall had a few good efforts but couldn't find the back of the net, whilst he was also hauled down in the area, with referee Haines waving away any claims.
The second half was much more even with Northampton having a lot of efforts from distance as they looked for an equaliser. However, they couldn't and Dale managed to see out the final minutes to a mass pitch invasion and Dale's first promotion since 1969.
Keith Hill made one change to the side that was beaten by Darlington on Tuesday, with Kallum Higginbotham coming in for Temitope Obadeyi. Frank Fielding was in goal, with Scott Wiseman, Nathan Stanton, Craig Dawson and Tom Kennedy at the back. Jason Taylor and Gary Jones were in midfield, with Higginbotham and Joe Thompson on the wings. Chris O'Grady and Chris Dagnall were up front.
For Dale it was a case of hoping to be third time lucky in securing promotion to League One. The previous two defeats came in games where Dale could have been promoted, but as kick-off approached you would have not guessed Keith Hill's side had suffered two defeats in a row as the fans were in great numbers and great voice even whilst the players were warming up.
It was four games without a goal and a win for Dale going into the game, so the players were bound to be feeling some pressure in the opening minutes. However, it was the home side who made the livelier start with Chris O'Grady almost finding Kallum Higginbotham with a neat back heel, only for a good tackle to half the winger as he was in on goal.
Chris Dagnall was finding himself in some good positions early on. He had a left foot shot from the edge of the box which just went wide of the left post, before he was played in by Kallum Higginbotham to roll one back towards Chris O'Grady and Joe Thompson, but it missed everyone including the Northampton defenders and out of danger.
The opening twenty minutes were very even, with the away side having three or four long range efforts which either went just wide or had to be stopped by Frank Fielding.
But as the game entered the 23rd minute, Dale scored their first goal in five games through Chris O'Grady. Tom Kennedy took a corner which was very poor, but it found itself at the feet of Joe Thompson who struck a weak shot goalwards, which was straight into the path of O'Grady who turned and blasted home from close range. It was a scruffy goal but at this point of the season it doesn't matter how they go in.
The goal brought a sense of relief to Spotland and the volume inside rose hugely. It also signalled a change in the flow of the game, as Dale began to dominate and could have had two or three more in the build up to half-time.
Chris Dagnall was popping up everywhere in the first half. He had a good shot from the left of the box which was saved before going down under the challenge of Peter Gilbert in the area. It looked like a stone wall penalty, but with the whole of the TDS stand on their feet bellowing for it to be given referee Haines waved away the claims much to the shock and anger of everyone inside Spotland.
Dagnall, spurred on by having his penalty shout turned down, almost scored a screamer from the right of the area. He found himself in the area and on the half volley struck a shot which looked destined for the bottom corner. However, it just shaved the right post of Jason Steele's goal and flew out for a goal kick. It would have been a superb goal to double Dale's lead.
With the half winding down, Dale were still dominating and it looked as though only one team was going to get the next goal. A cross from the right was aimed towards Chris O'Grady, but his header flew just over the crossbar.
Three minutes of added time didn't produce anything of comment, and the teams went in at half-time with Dale a goal to the good.
The second half started with the sun now in Frank Fielding's eyes as he guarded the goal in front of the TDS stand. Another half of Dale domination would suit the Spotland crowd down to the ground, but the first chance fell to the visitors. A superb ball in was aimed to Steve Guinan and he had a free header as he sneaked between Nathan Stanton and Tom Kennedy, but his header flew over the bar.
The first twenty minutes of the second half were much the same as those in the first half, as both sides came forward looking for a goal. In the 66th minute came Dale's first effort through captain Gary Jones. He did superb to beat a man before unleashing a shot at goal which was saved by the body of Jason Steele, with Joe Thompson failing to convert the rebound.
With twenty minutes remaining the flow of the game started to favour Northampton. They had a few good efforts from the edge of the area with Frank Fielding being called into action on more than one occasion.
With 76 minutes on the clock came the chance for Dale to double their lead. Chris O'Grady broke free and had his shot deflected, with Jason Steele getting a hand to the ball before O'Grady nodded the ball over Steele and onto the crossbar. The ball then fell for Joe Thompson who hammered a shot at goal which was superbly blocked by the Northampton defence.
As the clock ticked down the fans inside Spotland were making a fantastic noise as that promotion came closer and closer. Northampton were having all the pressure but Dale were defending superbly in keeping them out.
In the final minute Chris Dagnall shot from the right of the area but the ball just flew over the crossbar.
There was four minutes of added time shown by the fourth official, but with Dale winding the clock down nothing came from them, and the referee blew his whistle to an eruption of noise in Spotland and a pitch invasion, as Dale made it across the finishing line and into League One.
Dale: Fielding, Wiseman, Dawson, Stanton, T Kennedy, Taylor, Jones, Higginbotham, Thompson, O'Grady, Dagnall.
Northampton: Steele, Johnson, Beckwith, Osman, Guinan, Holt, Gilligan, Davis, McKay, Gilbert, Thornton.
Referee: Andy Haines (Tyne & Wear). Assistant Referees: Mark Griffiths (South Yorkshire) & Kevin Mattocks (Lancashire). Fourth Official: William Smallwood (Cheshire).
Attendance:
