Rochdale 2 - 1 Northampton

Rochdale 2 - 1 Northampton

Rochdale secured their place in the second round of the FA Cup after leaving it very late to come from behind to beat Northampton at Spotland. Substitute Reuben Noble-Lazarus netted a powerful shot for Rochdale with just five minutes left on the clock to level after Ivan Toney’s early goal had given Northampton the lead. With the game getting set for extra time, Olly Lancashire headed a Michael Rose cross beyond Archer to seal Dale’s passage to face either Portsmouth or Aldershot.

Keith Hill made five changes to the side that lost to Port Vale on Saturday; Joe Rafferty, Olly Lancashire, Matty Lund, Bastien Hery and Jack Muldoon all started.

Northampton’s tactics were evident from the start with a high tempo, pressing game giving Dale no time on the ball at all and it worked as they took an early lead.

Referee Clark took his time in awarding a freekick for a foul on Toney out on the right but the striker dusted himself down to meet the set piece to glance the ball home.

The majority of the attacking football was coming from Northampton. Emile Sinclair should have done better when picked out by Richards whilst Richards will feel he should have done better when played in after a swift counterattack.

Dale took until the 27th minute to register their first attempt, Michael Rose warming the hands of Archer with a 20 yard freekick.

Rhys Bennett, playing in a more unfamiliar forward role, had the best chance of the half for Rochdale but he failed to finish. Rose’s left wing cross beat everybody in front of goal but Bennett couldn’t guide his shot on target, instead firing over the Pearl Street stand from seven yards out.

The second period started much like the first with Northampton pressuring Dale into mistakes but they soon tired and Dale started to stamp their authority on the tie.

Muldoon showed a great turn of pace but was foiled by Archer/

Allen grazed the cross bar after turning a deep Rose cross back into the mix.

Noble-Lazarus sent a heavily deflected shot spinning just over the bar but wasn’t to be denied for long. Calvin Andrew’s knock down fell to Noble-Lazarus who lashed the ball into the top corner from 18 yards.

Dale were certainly on top and looked the only team likely to go on and win in normal time and they did just that.

Rose’s dangerous cross was met by Lancashire’s diving header to steer the ball beyond Archer to win the game deep into the five minutes of added time.

There was certainly a relief around Spotland on the full time whistle.

Dale now have to wait to see if they will travel to Portsmouth or Aldershot in the next round.

Attendance: 1,717

Rochdale: Logan, Rafferty (Allen 68), Lancashire (c), Eastham, Rose, Lund, Dawson, Hery (Noble-Lazarus 54), Bennett, Muldoon (Andrew 68), Done
Subs: (not used) Lillis, Tanser, Cannon, Hasler-Cregg

Northampton: Archer, Tozer, Collins (c), Creswell (Langmead 68), Robertson, Carter, O’Toole (Hackett 78), Murdoch, Toney, Sinclair (Byrom 71), Richards
Subs: (not used) Duke, Alfei, Nicholls, Mohamed

Referee: Mr R Clark
Assistant Referee: Mr D Benton & Mr S Eagland
Fourth Official: Mrs A Fearn