Rochdale seal passage into the FA Cup second round with a late winner

Robbie Stockdale’s men made the 90-mile trip worthwhile with a 90th minute header that will see Rochdale host League One leaders Plymouth in the next round.

After 90 minutes of action at the Crown Oil Arena, the two sides would need a replay to settle this one. County fresh off a booming atmosphere were looking to carry that with them for tonight’s fixture. A chirpy crowd of 4,460 were almost rewarded with the perfect start.

Matt Palmer lofted a long-ball into the path of Ruben Rodrigues which looked set to cleared by Dale skipper Eoghan O’Connell but his tame attempt fell into the path of Rodrigues. The County forward rushed the chance and fired straight at Rochdale goalkeeper, Jay Lynch.

It was Rochdale’s composed start that earned them the opener. Playing with an assuredness about them that only comes through 94 seasons of football league experience, Liam Kelly curled a sweeping cross from deep-right that found a free Josh Andrews to cushion home a volley past a nervy Anthony Patterson.

County had clearly taken notes from the League Two side, as they warmed to occasion with a short-period of fluid football. Rodrigues skipped inside working room for a strike that would catch out Lynch, but his name would be rubbed out from the lights with the crossbar denying him.

Corey O’Keefe came close to haunting the Magpies again, after scoring in the first tie. Rodrigues was swarmed by a pack of Rochdale midfielders with Aaron Morley emerging with the ball. His deftly-executed pass looped over Adam Chicksen through to O’Keefe who’s dink tumbled just wide of the mark.

The 12,843 that turned up to Meadow Lane on Saturday had been funnelled down to the hardcore Pies fans. And it was them that were left frustrated following a damp first-half performance where the Magpies oft looked lackadaisical.

Burchnall’s boys levelled things up just after the hour via Dale’s Aidy White. Chicksen found himself further afield and whipped in an inviting cross that wasn’t intended for the Rochdale defender, but with Aaron Nemane applying pressure from behind White couldn’t prevent it nestling in off his stomach.

Searching for silver, in the form of a second, substitute Cal Roberts was lighting up the left-hand side. Getting to the byline and feeding his delivery into an unmarked Rodrigues, his first-time effort would meet Lynch’s stretched hands.

With Stockdale’s subs, Rochdale remained patient in their hunt for a winner. Stephen Dooley’s clipped ball weaved its way onto Jake Beesley’s head. Despite, Patterson’s dodgy footwork all evening he remained well-adversed to expertly claw away Beesley’s header.

However, Beesley would finally get the better of Patterson in the dying embers. Matt Done teed up the Dale no.9 with his glancer worming beyond the clutches of the County keeper and into the net.

Notts County’s unbeaten comes to an end at the hands of football league opposition and there is no harm in that for Burchnall’s side. His fight remains at the top of the National League where he hopes to play similar opposition of Rochdale’s standard next term.