Robins snatch draw at death to deny Dale
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ROCHDALE secured a point on the road on Saturday with a 2-2 draw against Swindon Town at the County Ground.
After going behind in the first half through a Ben Gladwin half-volley, Dale responded superbly well during the second period and turned the game on its head.
George Broadbent equalised, before Liam Kelly put Rochdale ahead. Johnny Williams, however, struck home in stoppage time to ensure the points would be shared.
There were three changes to the side that lined up against Crawley Town last weekend, as Jimmy Keohane, George Broadbent and Danny Cashman came in for Aidy White, Liam Kelly and Abraham Odoh.
Aaron Morley had a couple of fierce strikes blocked early on, but in a game of two halves, the first 45 minutes belonged to the home side.
From one of Morley’s efforts that was defend away, the Robins hit Dale on the break. But after Jack Payne got through on goal, he could hit straight into the hands of Joel Coleman.
Soon after, Iandolo’s low delivery across the face of goal, which evaded everyone, came to Ben Gladwin who appeared to be caught in two minds and opted to dink the ball to the back post where it went behind without troubling, and the chance was gone.
A short time later, Harry Mckirdy’s shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection and wrong footed Coleman, but thankfully it creeped inches wide of the upright.
He then flicked a header wide from a free-kick.
On the half hour, Jeriel Dorsett sent Corey O’keeffe up the right after the on loan Mansfield Town fullback played a free-kick short to him. Sam Graham came charging in at the back post in an attempt to get on the end of the delivery but he couldn’t make a connection.
Seven minutes later, Gladwin broke the deadlock, as he smashed a halfvolley into the top corner.
Before the half was out, Jake Beesley, from a Morley corner, sent a head straight at Lewis Ward.
Rochdale rallied in the second half and turned the game on its head.
Grant had an effort held by Ward, before O’keeffe sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal. Agonisingly, there was noone there to turn it home.
Jimmy Keohane, after being sent a pass down the line from Broadbent, took the ball past his marker before picking out Grant. Grant was always stretching, though, and he lifted his effort over the bar.
Dale’s early second half pressure paid off moments later when Broadbent netted an equaliser, in the 57th minute, with a fine finish as he struck into the bottom corner.
A double
Rochdale change followed, with goal Broadbent and Grant making way for Liam Kelly and Abraham Odoh, respectively.
Coleman pulled off an important save with his legs soon after, as he came out to deny Mckirdy, when it looked like the home side could regain the lead.
But Dale kept at it and they went ahead with 78 minutes on the clock.
After Odoh was fouled, he he took a quick freekick and sent Beesley in on goal. Swindon stood