Kennedy caps Dale fightback

Rochdale recorded a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Exeter to preserve their League One status for another week at least.

After goals from Nicky Adams and Joe Thompson had hauled Dale back from 2-0 down with 11 minutes to go, Jason Kennedy steered home an 88th-minute winner.

Exeter settled quickest and Matt Edwards saved well from Daniel Nardiello before the visitors took a 28th-minute lead. Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro felled the former Manchester United frontman and Nardiello stroked home the resulting penalty.

Nardiello clipped the crossbar after good work from Alan Gow, while Sean McConville had Rochdale's best first-half effort, cutting in from the left he beat Grecians full-back Steve Tully, but his stinging drive was saved by Exeter goalkeeper Artur Krysiak.

Exeter controlled the game after the break and doubled their lead with a superbly-worked move. David Noble fed Nardiello and he squared unselfishly for Liam Sercombe to score from six yards.

But Adams pulled one back with a shot inside Krysiak's near post, Thompson lobbed the goalkeeper for a fine finish two minutes later and after Akpa Akpro had hit the post from close range, Kennedy stroked the ball beneath Krysiak for the winner.