Swindon Town 2 - 3 Rochdale

Substitute Bastien Hery netted a stoppage time winner as Rochdale came from behind to record a first ever win over Swindon Town. The Frenchman headed home from a Michael Rose corner two minutes into added time. Anton Rodgers gave the hosts a first half lead but Matt Lund headed Dale level four minutes into the second half. Peter Vincenti then gave Dale the lead but was then carried off on a stretcher minutes later with what looks a serious knee injury. Swindon drew level with 13 minutes left on the clock before Hery sealed the points for Dale.

In very blustery conditions as ex-hurricane Gonzalo battered Britain, Swindon and Rochdale played out a thoroughly entertaining five goal thriller at The County Ground.

The opening exchanges belonged to Rochdale with Ian Henderson and Matt Done forcing home keeper Wes Foderingham into action. Done’s cross was perfect for Henderson but the stopper was equal to the Dale Captain.

Henderson then turned provider for Done after a long pass from Conrad Logan; the result was the same with Foderingham denying him.

The opening goal came slightly against the run of play with 10 minutes left of the first half. Dale’s defence couldn’t quite react quickly enough to a low ball into the area with Rodgers on hand to fire over Logan.

Straight from the re-start, both sides went close. Within seconds, Swindon won the ball back with Andy Williams trying to chip Logan from outside the area. From the goal-kick, Logan found Henderson high up the field although the Dale captain fired horribly wide from seven yards with just the keeper to beat.

Swindon’s Nathan Byrne was a real threat and carved open the Dale defence just 11 seconds into the second half. Straight from the kick-off, Byrne jinked through the visiting defence but fired wide.

Dale drew level four minutes into the second half with a brilliantly worked goal. Lund won the ball in midfield before picking out a perfect through ball to Done on the right. Done turned his man before crossing for Lund who finished off the move with a header that beat Foderingham.

Dale were certainly showing they weren’t just there to make up the numbers and went in front just after the hour mark. Michael Rose’ corner was met by Vincenti who powered home. Vincenti’s elation turned into despair moments later though as he went down with a serious looking knee injury. An innocuous looking turn whilst trying to retrieve the ball saw the midfielder crumble on his right knee as he beat the turf in agony. A lengthy stoppage ensued while the medical teams tended to him before carrying him off on a stretcher.

The injury seemed to upset the Dale rhythm as Swindon pressed for a leveller. Michael Smith and Jake Reeves forced Logan into flying saves; the latter resulting in the corner that Swindon levelled from. Smith meeting the flag kick and nonchalantly flicking the ball over the line.

Swindon had the upper hand and Dale’s defence looked stretched and had to rely on lady luck and some more wonderful goalkeeping from Logan to keep them out.

Defender Jordan Turnbull headed just wide whilst Byrne fired across goal when well placed. Byrne crossed for Smith but his diving header was brilliantly tipped over by Logan.

With six minutes of stoppage time added on, the Swindon fans sensed they could go on and claim maximum points but it was Dale who had other ideas.

Michael Rose sent another dangerous corner in at the near post; Bastien Hery was quickest to react as he headed home at the near post to earn the three points for Rochdale.

Attendance: 6,718 (174 from Rochdale)

Rochdale: Logan, Bennett, Eastham, O’Connell, Tanser (Rose 40), Allen, Lund, Dawson (Hery 73), Vincenti (Andrew 65), Henderson, Done
Subs (not used) Diba, Rafferty, Lancashire, Muldoon

Swindon: Foderingham, Stephens, Turnbull, Kasim, Byrne, Gladwin (Thomson 53), Luongo, Bell (Obika 75), Rodgers (Reeves 64), Smith, Williams
Subs: (not used) Belford, Toffolo, Waldon, Barthram

Referee: Mr S Martin
Assistant Referees: Mr W Bull & Mr A Laver
Fourth Official: Mr A Tranter