Hat-trick hero Aaron Collins snatched a late winner as promotion-chasing Bristol Rovers twice overturned a two-goal deficit to beat Rochdale 4-3 and improve their hopes of promotion from League Two.
Dale took a two-goal lead into the break after Luke Charman netted in the ninth minute and added a second eight minutes later.
Rovers improved after the break and Sam Finley brought them back into the game with a composed finish in the 53rd minute.
Dale restored their two-goal lead on the hour mark when Matt Done teed up Corey O’Keeffe to beat James Belshaw in the Rovers goal at the second attempt.
However, Rovers hit back in the 66th minute, Antony Evans sliding an intelligent delivery across the face of goal for Collins to convert.
Joey Barton’s visitors levelled the scores in the 89th minute, Harry Anderson setting up Collins for his second of the afternoon.
And the three points were secured in dramatic fashion in the fifth minute of added time when Elliott Anderson’s header was turned home by Collins.
The visitors’ Paul Coutts was sent off in the eighth minute of added time following a melee in his own penalty area, but Joey Barton’s team held on to see out a win which keeps alive their hopes of automatic promotion and makes sure of a place in the play-offs at least.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Rochdale
Formation 3-4-3
- 21Eastwood
- 13KeohaneBooked at 58mins
- 6O’Connell
- 5TaylorBooked at 69mins
- 2O’KeeffeBooked at 83mins
- 24Brierley
- 7Dooley
- 26ClarkSubstituted forWhiteat 74′minutes
- 16DoneSubstituted forCashmanat 74′minutes
- 11Grant
- 9CharmanBooked at 85minsSubstituted forAndrewsat 90+3′minutes
Substitutes
- 3White
- 10Newby
- 18Odoh
- 19Andrews
- 20Cashman
- 30Kelly
- 34Scanlon
Bristol Rovers
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Belshaw
- 30HooleSubstituted forNicholsonat 78′minutes
- 17TaylorSubstituted forLoftat 74′minutes
- 2Connolly
- 4GrantSubstituted forThomasat 35′minutes
- 15CouttsBooked at 90mins
- 19AndersonBooked at 39mins
- 21Evans
- 6Finley
- 12Anderson
- 10Collins
Substitutes
- 7Thomas
- 11Nicholson
- 16Anderton
- 26Whelan
- 32Jaakkola
- 33Rodman
- 38Loft
- Referee:
- Ross Joyce
- Attendance:
- 4,628
Live Text
-
Match ends, Rochdale 3, Bristol Rovers 4.
-
Second Half ends, Rochdale 3, Bristol Rovers 4.
-
Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by James Belshaw.
-
Paul Coutts (Bristol Rovers) is shown the red card for violent conduct.
-
Goal! Rochdale 3, Bristol Rovers 4. Elliot Anderson (Bristol Rovers) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
-
Attempt saved. Aaron Collins (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Loft.
-
Attempt missed. Sam Nicholson (Bristol Rovers) header from the left side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Sam Finley.
-
Sam Finley (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Josh Andrews (Rochdale).
-
Sam Finley (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Conor Grant (Rochdale).
-
Substitution, Rochdale. Josh Andrews replaces Luke Charman because of an injury.
-
Attempt missed. Aaron Collins (Bristol Rovers) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Harry Anderson with a cross.
-
Attempt missed. Luke Charman (Rochdale) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Danny Cashman.
-
Goal! Rochdale 3, Bristol Rovers 3. Aaron Collins (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Harry Anderson.
-
Foul by Ryan Loft (Bristol Rovers).
-
Eoghan O’Connell (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Luke Charman (Rochdale) is shown the yellow card.
-
Corey O’Keeffe (Rochdale) is shown the yellow card.
-
James Connolly (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

