Match ends, Rochdale 3, Northampton Town 2.
RochdaleRochdale3NorthamptonNorthampton Town2
Two late goals helped high-flying Rochdale rise to the top of League Two with victory against strugglers Northampton Town.
Luke Norris gave the Cobblers the lead from 25 yards with a dipping strike over Josh Lillis, before Ian Henderson levelled with a low-driven shot.
The visitors re-took the lead through Stuart Dallas's fierce shot but Michael Rose equalised with a late free-kick.
And George Donnelly fired home the winner as the game entered added time.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Rochdale manager Keith Hill told BBC Radio Manchester:
"We fell behind to a wonder goal and it supported their tactics on the evening. The opposition were magnificent in the pursuit of trying to win the match.
"Once we got back into the game, we weren't going to surrender the opportunity to go on and win, or at least make sure we didn't lose it.
"The response in the second half was better, without really being penetrative, but we eventually got there."
Northampton Town manager Aidy Boothroyd told BBC Radio Northampton:
"There are fine moments between winning and losing and for long periods you don't know who's top of the league.
"The reason they are at the top is they keep going and we make silly mistakes.
"I know we're going to pick up results. I have no qualms about that.
"You get so close and you have to be able to finish it off and we didn't."
Line-ups
Rochdale
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Lillis
- 2Rafferty
- 25Rose
- 38Dicker
- 6Lancashire
- 22O'Connell
- 7Vincenti
- 12LundSubstituted forTutteat 43'minutes
- 29CumminsSubstituted forDonnellyat 53'minutes
- 14HérySubstituted forAllenat 68'minutes
- 40Henderson
Substitutes
- 3Bennett
- 5Eastham
- 8Tutte
- 9Donnelly
- 21Thomson
- 24Allen
- 39Bunney
Northampton
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Duke
- 2AmankwaahSubstituted forCollinsat 15'minutes
- 3Widdowson
- 8Morris
- 18Reid
- 27Kouo-Doumbe
- 11Hackett
- 17Deegan
- 33NorrisSubstituted forToneyat 75'minutes
- 4Carter
- 29Dallas
Substitutes
- 6Collins
- 7Demontagnac
- 12Tozer
- 19Emerton
- 21McNamara
- 24Toney
- 26Harriott
- Referee:
- Michael Naylor
- Attendance:
- 2,362
Match Stats
Home TeamRochdaleAway TeamNorthampton
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home8
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Rochdale 3, Northampton Town 2.
Goal!
Goal! Rochdale 3, Northampton Town 2. George Donnelly (Rochdale) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Peter Vincenti.
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Foul by Gary Dicker (Rochdale).
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Ivan Toney (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Rochdale 2, Northampton Town 2. Michael Rose (Rochdale) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Ian Henderson (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Gary Deegan (Northampton Town).
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Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Lee Collins.
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Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Oliver Lancashire.
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Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Jamie Allen.
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Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Michael Rose.
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Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Matthias Kouo-Doumbe.
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Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Matthias Kouo-Doumbe.
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Attempt missed. Stuart Dallas (Northampton Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Northampton Town. Ivan Toney replaces Luke Norris because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt missed. Oliver Lancashire (Rochdale) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Rochdale. Jamie Allen replaces Bastien Héry.
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Josh Lillis.
Post update
Attempt missed. Luke Norris (Northampton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
