Notts County steal late point

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Garry Thompson scored from close range in the fifth minute of added time with goalkeeper Josh Lillis injured on the floor and the Rochdale players having stopped playing for what they believed was a free-kick. But referee Scott Mathieson insisted the goal stood and the points were shared.

The home side were dealt an early blow when goalkeeper Conrad Logan turned his ankle just four minutes in and had to be replaced by Lillis.

The substitute stopper, like opposite number Roy Carroll in the Notts goal, had little to do in the opening half an hour.

But the game came to life after 42 minutes when former Spotland skipper Gary Jones, the record appearance holder for Rochdale, curled a free-kick on target from 20 yards. Lillis was equal to that one, flying to his right to save one-handed. But within seconds the Magpies were ahead as Mike Edwards met Elliott Whitehouse’s near-post delivery and volleyed beyond Lillis.

The closest Dale came to scoring in the opening 45 minutes came as half-time approached, as Michael Rose’s thunderous 25-yard piledriver flew narrowly wide.

But Keith Hill’s men were quick out of the blocks after the interval, with Ian Henderson converting within seconds of the restart after good work from Rose and Stephen Dawson.

And they were a whisker away from a second goal when Dawson and Henderson combined to set up Matt Done, who stroked a shot past Carroll but against the foot of a post.

Carroll pulled off a great save to deny Peter Vincenti but he was powerless after 64 minutes when Vincenti met Done’s cross and headed into the roof of the net.

Dale looked good value for the win until Thompson’s late leveller, Lillis having been flattened seconds earlier.

Notts County steal late point

admin

Garry Thompson scored from close range in the fifth minute of added time with goalkeeper Josh Lillis injured on the floor and the Rochdale players having stopped playing for what they believed was a free-kick. But referee Scott Mathieson insisted the goal stood and the points were shared.

The home side were dealt an early blow when goalkeeper Conrad Logan turned his ankle just four minutes in and had to be replaced by Lillis.

The substitute stopper, like opposite number Roy Carroll in the Notts goal, had little to do in the opening half an hour.

But the game came to life after 42 minutes when former Spotland skipper Gary Jones, the record appearance holder for Rochdale, curled a free-kick on target from 20 yards. Lillis was equal to that one, flying to his right to save one-handed. But within seconds the Magpies were ahead as Mike Edwards met Elliott Whitehouse’s near-post delivery and volleyed beyond Lillis.

The closest Dale came to scoring in the opening 45 minutes came as half-time approached, as Michael Rose’s thunderous 25-yard piledriver flew narrowly wide.

But Keith Hill’s men were quick out of the blocks after the interval, with Ian Henderson converting within seconds of the restart after good work from Rose and Stephen Dawson.

And they were a whisker away from a second goal when Dawson and Henderson combined to set up Matt Done, who stroked a shot past Carroll but against the foot of a post.

Carroll pulled off a great save to deny Peter Vincenti but he was powerless after 64 minutes when Vincenti met Done’s cross and headed into the roof of the net.

Dale looked good value for the win until Thompson’s late leveller, Lillis having been flattened seconds earlier.