Dale deny Rovers of points twice in 3-2 thriller

Rochdale struck within three minutes of both of ten-men Tranmere's equalizer's as the Whites went home empty handed.

The away side got off to a bad start when Marlon Broomes was judged to have pulled down Chris O'Grady in the area, earning the home side a penalty and Broomes a sending off. Gary Jones dispatched the spot-kick to give his side the lead on 25 minutes.

But Rovers looked the more likely to score next despite being a man short, and they were awarded for their efforts just short of half-time after a scramble in the box. Enoch Showunmi, Lateef Elford-Alliyu and Ian Thomas-Moore all had shots blocked before Joss Labadie managed to angle the ball into the bottom right corner on 42 minutes.

However, only two minutes later an attack started on the right side caught Rovers short at the back which ended with Jones grabbing his second- tapping from a low cross.

Dale Jennings took to the field on 65 minutes as the home side looked to be sitting on their lead nicely, and the injection of pace was what Les Parry's side needed. A few neat runs from Jennings got the team pushing forward, and on 80 minutes Rovers were awarded a penalty for a foul on Joss Labadie inside the box after 15 minutes of pressure. Thomas-Moore continued his terrific form from the spot for Rovers with a kick just creeping under Dale keeper Josh Lillis.

Unfortunately for the travelling fans, the celebrations were short lived. A passing move in Rovers half ended with the ball put out for a corner where substitute Bobby Grant rose to head the winner into the net on 84 minutes.

Rochdale: Lillis, Wiseman, Widdowson, Holness, Dawson, Barry Murphy, Jason Kennedy, Jones, Done (Joe Thompson 75), Akpa Akpro (Grant 66), O'Grady. Substitutes not used: Edwards, Josh Thompson, Elding, Gray, Tom Kennedy.

Tranmere: Collister, Wootton, Broomes, Goodison, Cresswell, Labadie, Taylor (Grandison 27), Welsh, Thomas-Moore, Showunmi, Elford-Alliyu (Jennings 65). Substitutes not used: Miotto, Blanchard, Bakayogo, Fraughan, McGurk.

Referee: Carl Boyeson

Yellow cards: Thomas-Moore (36), Barry Murphy (56), Goodison (67), Grant (67)

Red cards: Broomes (25)

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