Rochdale 2 - 2 Chesterfield

Honours even at Spotland as Rochdale and Chesterfield left with a share of the spoils in a very entertaining game.

Chesterfield took the lead through former Dale loanee Marc Richards but Dale were back on terms on the half hour mark.

Two penalty kicks were awarded for Dale for different incidents within moments of each other.

Michael Rose was upended with George Donnelly seeing his spot kick come back off the post whilst just seconds later goalkeeper Tommy Lee brought down Scott Hogan - Andrew Tutte making no mistake with his effort from the spot.

A wonderfully crafted second gave Dale the lead with Hogan finishing off a swift move only for Gary Roberts to lift the ball over Lillis 14 minutes later for 2-2.

Hill made two changes to his starting 11 from last weekend. Tutte replaced Peter Cavanagh who started his three match suspension, whilst on loan Blackburn defender Jack O’Connell was preferred in the centre of defence in place of Ashley Eastham.

Chesterfield arrived at Spotland unbeaten in their two league games so far and yet to concede a goal, so it was no real surprise when they took the lead. A cross from deep by Roberts found Richards who had all the time in the world to plant his header beyond Lillis.

Then came an amazing spell of play which had statisticians reaching for the record books.

Michael Rose was brought down right on the edge of the area with referee Haines seemingly blowing for a free-kick but the signal from his assistant, Duncan Street, was that it was inside the area.

George Donnelly rattled his kick against the inside of the post. The ball ricocheted out to the Dale right, Peter Vincenti put the ball back into the mix and with Hogan poised to collect, Tommy Lee slid out and clattered the Dale striker. Assistant, Street, again signalling penalty. The remonstrations by the visiting players meant yellow cards for Lee and Roberts and after the furore had died down, Tutte stepped up to send Lee the wrong way.

The penalty incidents upset Chesterfield's flow and Dale were able to stamp their mark on the game.

Vincenti thought he had put his side into the lead but Lee superbly denied him with an outstretched foot.

Sam Hird was lucky to stay on the pitch as the game neared half time after the defender upended Hogan outside the area earning a yellow card and then three minutes later used an arm to fend off the Dale man, this time referee Haines deeming a talking to enough.

Vincenti went even closer with his next effort but his looping header, although beating Lee, didn’t beat the woodwork.

With the board showing four minutes of stoppage time, Hogan went on a pacey run but fired wide.

Dale came out for the second half looking to take the game to their visitors and deservedly took the lead six minutes in. A long ball from defence was glanced on by Hogan to Henderson down the left. The former Colchester man did well to hold up the ball allowing Hogan to catch up and when he was played in, he used his pace and strength to beat Edwards and fire across Lee for 2-1.

Chesterfield responded well and when Henderson was caught in possession on the half way line, Jimmy Ryan clipped the ball over the Dale defence to Roberts who lifted the ball over Lillis from just inside the area.

In the end a draw was a fair result and every one of the 2,899 inside Spotland left feeling they had been thoroughly entertained.

With two away games in the next two weeks against much fancied Plymouth and Oxford, Dale will need to match this performance if they want to take anything from those games.

Rochdale manager, Keith Hill said: “I thought it was a superb game, fiercely contested. It had a feel of an end of season promotion game. It had superb energy, commitment and ability.

"That was a severe test of our credentials today. We are probably playing against the best squad in the league.

"There were times where you just had to applaud the opposition, and vice versa I believe, as I thought we were excellent. Both teams tried to win it. I enjoyed watching them as much as I enjoyed watching us.

When you’re playing against Gary Roberts, who is probably the stand out player of the league, concentration levels had to be high and I thought we did well.

"Both penalty decisions were correct, we missed one we scored one. I leave it to the players to decide who takes them, I don’t really get involved in the selection process.”

Attendance: 2,899

Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty (Bennett 85), Lancashire, O’Connell, Rose, Henderson, Tutte, Lund, Vincenti, Hogan (Done 79), Donnelly
Subs: (not used) Thomson, Camps,, Eastham, Allen, Bunney

Chesterfield: Lee, Talbot (c), Smith (Doyle 53), Edwards (Cooper 58), Hird, Ryan, Morsy, O’Shea, Humphreys, Roberts (Darikwa 83), Richards
Subs: (Not used) Chapman, Brown, Togwell, Gnanduillet

Referee: Mr A Haines
Assistant Referees: Mr P Cook & Mr D Street
Fourth Official: Mr J Hull