Rochdale were left to rue missed opportunities as Grimsby Town netted in stoppage time to deliver a late sucker punch.
Luke Waterfall headed home from a corner to win it for the Mariners, in a game where Dale had numerous chances to score.
Ultimately, the side couldn’t find the goal they were deserving of, and the visitors came out 1-0 winners.
There were two changes to Tuesday night’s starting eleven. Richard O’Donnell came in for Cieran Slicker, whilst Ian Henderson replaced Tyrese Sinclair.
Rochdale should have opened the scorning after just two minutes but James Ball was denied on the line by a fellow Dale player. Rayhaan Tulloch had sent Femi Seriki away up the right and after the on loan Sheffield United wing-back pulled the ball back for Ball, he got his shot away but it hit the back of Devante Rodney who knew nothing about it.
Moments later, Rochdale were in again. Toumani Diagouraga sent the ball out wide to Rodney who crossed for Ian Henderson. Henderson took the ball down on his chest and struck goalwards, only to see it defended away.
Henderson was in again soon after. Some excellent work by Abraham Odoh saw him bring down Ben Nelson’s diagonal ball and play in the Dale forward, who struck wide of the target.
Grimsby had a rare sight on goal with a quarter of an hour played, but Kieran Green sent his overhead-kick well, well wide.
Rochdale were dominating chances and they had another five minutes later. It was another good move from Dale which saw Ball play in Tulloch, who in turn laid it off to Henderson. Henderson clipped it over the defence for Rodney to run onto, but a defender made a superb last ditch tackle to turn it behind for a corner as he was about to get his shot away.
Ethan Ebanks-Landell then had a header from Cameron John’s corner held by Max Crocombe, before Tulloch, after having the ball played into feet by Seriki straight from a drinks break, had a shot blocked at source. The Dale skipper then got on the end of a John corner again a short time later, this time heading wide.
Up the other end, Ryan Taylor turned an effort over the bar without troubling, while Gavan Holohan hit a volley from range over after a corner was cleared out as far as him.
In stoppage time, Bryn Morris rattled a 25-yard strike off the bar.
After the break, Anthony Glennon curled a free-kick wide of O’Donnell’s post early on.
Nelson’s game was cut short, when he was forced off through injury six minutes after the restart and was replaced by Sam Graham.
Soon after, O’Donnell pushed away Harry Clifton’s shot at the near post, before a second Rochdale substitution followed, with Tulloch making way for Sinclair.
There were chances for both sides as the half continued. Rodney showed great strength and pace to get into the area before having his shot pushed behind the ‘keeper. Michee Efete then had a looping effort held by O’Donnell, while immediately up the other end, Henderson, from O’Donnell’s kick-out, got in on goal but stuck wide.
Sinclair closed down a Grimsby ball forward and Rodney used his strength to win the ball before seeing a low shot held.
The Mariners’ Clifton then glanced a header narrowly wide of O’Donnell’s left hand posts, and with five minutes of the game remaining, Sinclair curled a free-kick over from a free-kick.
In stoppage time, Grimsby delivered a late sucker punch, when Waterfall headed home from a corner to steal the points for the visitors.
Rochdale tried in vain to find an equaliser during added time, but John had an effort deflected wide, whilst Sinclair blasted over from a tight angle.