Northampton 2 - 3 Rochdale

Northampton v Rochdale

Matt Lund scored a first career hat-trick as Rochdale twice came from behind to beat Northampton Town.

Matt Taylor gave the hosts the lead when he curled a free-kick inside the near post but the lead only lasted three minutes as Lund netted his first of the afternoon with a right footed shot after good work from Joe Bunney.

Northampton then re-took the lead just before the hour mark, a mistake by Callum Camps allowed Marc Richards to pick out Sam Hoskins who raced away and finished low past Conrad Logan.

Lund once again equalised for Rochdale when he fired left footed into the corner after Joe Thompson’s initial shot rebounded to him and completed his hat-trick with a headed goal five minutes later.

Coming into the game, Rochdale hadn’t won an away league game 1 October so were looking to turn around their fortunes. Keith Keane returned to the starting eleven after missing last weekend, Harrison McGahey dropping to the bench.

Dale started well and despite seeing more of the ball in the opening exchanges, it was Northampton who took the lead. A free-kick 25 yards out on the left was whipped in by Matt Taylor beating Logan at his near post.

The lead didn’t last long as Lund started his goal scoring exploits for the afternoon. Joe Bunney’s positive run down the left gave him space to fire a low ball into the box with Lund swivelling to fire his side level.

Taylor almost scored an identical goal to his 16th minute effort, this time his set piece whistled just wide.

Davies should have done better when he met a Bunney cross, his header flashed just the wrong side of the post in the last real action of an entertaining first half.

Northampton, promoted from League Two last season, came at Dale from the start of the second half.

John-Joe O’Toole forced a super reaction save from Logan five minutes after the re-start.

A mistake from Camps gifted possession to Northampton on the half way line and when Marc Richards picked out the pacey Sam Hoskins, he out stripped McNulty for pace and fired beyond Logan.

Dale responded well and were back on level terms five minutes later. Joe Thompson’s shot from the edge of the box rebounded to Lund who made no mistake from 10 yards.

The Dale winner came soon after. A deep cross from Bunney was met by Lund as he headed home his third and made sure he was taking home the match ball.

It was a win that kept Dale fifth in League One heading into Christmas and the delight could be seen on everybody of a Dale persuasion at the full time whistle, including the 261 travelling fans who made the journey.

Northampton: Cornell, Buchanan (c), Zakuani, Nyatanga, Phillips, Anderson (Potter 74), McCourt (Richards 48), Taylor, Revell, Hoskins.
Subs: (not used) Smith, Gorre, Beautyman, Iaciofano, McDonald.

Rochdale: Logan, Rafferty (McGahey 76), Keane, McNulty, Bunney, Camps (c), Lund, Rathbone (Andrew 65), Thompson, Davies (Mendez-Laing 77), Henderson.
Subs: (not used) Lillis, Canavan, Noble-Lazarus, Cannon.

Referee: Mr E Ilderton
Assistants: Mr S Wade & Mr L Venamore
Fourth official: Mr P Thompson

Attendance: 5,247 (261 from Rochdale)