Rochdale were defeated 3-2 by Shrewsbury Town in an end-to-end game at the Montgomery Waters Meadow, which saw three goals from the penalty spot.

Steven Davies put Dale ahead from the spot after Bradden Inman was fouled inside the area. Shaun Whalley levelled matters for Shrewsbury with a penalty of their own, before Carlton Morris put the home side ahead before the break.

Dale were awarded the third penalty of the match when Aristote Nsiala handled in the area, with Davies converting again for his brace.

The winning goal came sixteen minutes from time, when substitute Stefan Payne finished excellent after latching onto a ball behind the Dale defence.

There were four changes to the side that drew with Scunthorpe United last weekend. Goalkeeper Brendan Moore, Harrison McGahey, Bradden Inman and Steven Davies all came in for their first starts of the season.

The opening exchanges were even, with both sides having chances. Jon Nolan and Ollie Rathbone fired wide for either team, whilst James Bolton forced Moore into his first Dale save with a poke goalwards.

Ian Henderson’s 30-yard effort flew just wide, before Dale were awarded a penalty when Inman was felled inside the area. Davies stepped up, and fired into the roof of the net to put Dale ahead.

Morris almost replied instantly when he broke through one-on-one, but Moore was out quickly to deny him with an outstretched arm.

Dale came close to doubling the lead just minutes later, when Davies’ effort from Rathbone’s pull back was blocked. The ball fell back to Davies, who with his back to goal, flicked it up and sent an acrobatic effort just wide.

The hosts were awarded a penalty of their own just before the half hour mark, when Rathbone brought down Nolan inside the area. Whalley stepped up and struck the ball just inside left post, sending Moore the wrong way.

Former Dale man Louis Dodds broke through one-on-one when he picked up on Callum Camps’ loose ball backwards, but Moore held onto his effort despite a stumble.

There was nothing he could do a minute later though, when Shrewsbury took the lead. Alex Rodman’s cross from the left side was perfect for Morris, who stabbed home on the volley from six yards out.

Camps picked up a knock shortly before the break, and was replaced by Jamie Allen who came on to make his 150^th Dale appearance.

Shrewsbury had a couple of chances to extend their lead before the break. Bolton curled an effort wide, whilst Rodman was denied by Moore from the edge of the area, before the goalkeeper recovered and denied Ogogo at his near post as he looked to bundle over the line.

Dale made a double substitution at the break, with Joe Bunney and Matt Done replacing Kgosi Ntlhe and Niall Canavan.

The substitutions had the desired effect, as Dale began the second half on top. Davies tested Dean Henderson with a curling effort from distance, whilst the Shrewsbury stopper made a fantastic save from Dale’s Henderson.

Inman’s shot from the edge of the area was controlled by the Dale skipper, whose turn and shot was wonderfully tipped around the post.

A minute later and Dale were awarded their second penalty of the game, when Aristote Nsiala handled an effort from a corner inside the area.

Davies again stepped up, and sent his penalty above the dive of the Shrewsbury stopper for an equaliser.

A super passage of play from Dale almost led to a third shortly after the equaliser. Inman’s ball across was scuffed clear to Rathbone, who fired wide from the edge of the area.

Moore made a fine save with an outstretched foot when Whalley’s ball across came to Rodman at the far post, but he was denied a certain goal by a fantastic stop.

However, there was nothing the Dale stopper could do for Shrewsbury’s winning goal. A Dale clearance came straight back at them, allowing Payne to break through behind the defence and finish excellently beyond Moore.

Dale pushed for a late equaliser they perhaps deserved, but couldn’t find a way through a Shrewsbury side which maintain their 100% league record.