A stoppage time goal from Bastien Hery earned Rochdale three points against high flying Swindon Town on Tuesday evening.
The Frenchman headed home from a Michael Rose corner ball to seal a victory for Keith Hill’s side at the County Ground.
Anton Rodgers’ first half goal gave the home side a 1-0 lead heading into the interval, but Dale drew level five minutes after the re-start through Matty Lund.
Peter Vincenti sent Dale ahead on the hour mark, before Smith got the game back on level terms. Bastien secured all three points in stoppage time.
There was one change to the eleven that lined up against Gillingham at the weekend, as Matthew Lund started ahead of Michael Rose, who was named on the bench.
Dale had the first real opportunity of the game, however Ian Henderson, who got on the end of a first time cross from Matty Done, was foiled by goalkeeper Wes Foderingham.
Seven minutes later, Rochdale were again kept out by the ‘keeper, following a swift counter attack.
Amari’i Bell’s quick feet had seen him track up the left hand side of play, before cutting inside and driving into the area, but after getting into a good position he went down easily as Conrad Logan came to close him down. With the referee not interested in the penalty claim, Dale broke through Logan’s excellent distribution. He picked out Hendo, who in turn played in Done. The left back turned frontman forced Foderingham to turn his shot on the angle round the near post.
Rochdale had limited the Robins to less than a handful of opportunities, which had failed to truly test Logan, but they found a way past 'keeper on 35 minutes. A ball across the edge of the area evaded several players before landing at the feet of Anton Rodgers, who drilled a shot into the back of the net.
GOAL: SWINDON TOWN 1-0 ROCHDALE
The game had already been played at a high tempo, but it fired up a gear after the goal as the home side almost netted a second immediately after the re-start - Andy Williams’ effort dropped just over the bar.
Straight up the other end, and Dale had the opportunity to get back on level terms less than two minutes after the home side had taken the lead, however, Henderson, who was sent clean through on goal, could only send his effort wide of the target from 8-yards.
Five minutes before the interval Hill made his first substitution of the game as Rose replaced Scott Tanser.
HT: SWINDON TOWN 1-0 ROCHDALE
There were no further changes for Dale at the interval.
The home side applied the pressure immediately from kick-off as Nathan Byrne smashed an effort narrowly wide of the upright, but Dale started the second half as lively and as hungry as they had been throughout the first 45 minutes and netted a deserved equaliser just five minutes after the re-start. Done did well to control the ball, before cutting inside and clipping an excellent ball in towards the awaiting Lund, who headed beyond Foderingham.
GOAL: SWINDOWN TOWN 1-1 ROCHDALE (Lund)
Rochdale continued to threaten and they got their just rewards on the hour mark as an unmarked Peter Vincenti sent a bullet header beyond the ‘keeper from a Rose corner ball.
GOAL: SWINDON TOWN 1-2 ROCHDALE
Jubilation turned to concern just two minutes later, though, as Vincenti awkwardly went to ground and was unable to continue. The Jerseyman was stretchered off the pitch to a standing ovation from both sets of supporters and was replaced by Calvin Andrew.
In the 70th minute, Logan was on hand to deny Michael Smith as he tipped his effort up and over the bar.
Six minutes later, he pulled off another excellent save to keep out substitute Jake Reeves, who powered an effort goal wards, and it was from the resulting corner ball that Swindon drew level through Smith.
GOAL: SWINDON TOWN 2-2 ROCHDALE
In the closing stages of the match the Robins applied the pressure as Williams firstly fired an effort wide of the target, before Jordan Turnbull headed inches wide of the upright. And in the 89th minute Logan pulled off an excellent save to deny Smith’s stooping header which was heading for the back of the net.
Dale too continued to work hard with grit and determination, and they scored a winner in stoppage time, as substitute Bastien Hery glanced a header home from a Rose corner ball.
GOAL: SWINDOWN TOWN 2-3 ROCHDALE
It finished Swindon Town 2, Rochdale 3.