Trailing to a Kevin Gallen brace, supporters making their way home early from Spotland to avoid the rush will have undoubtedly wondered what all the fuss was about after Keith Hill's side scooped maximum points in a late, late showing after a showing barely recognisable from that on Tuesday night in the Carling Cup.

Second best for virtually the whole of the 90 minutes, never say die Dale turned the game on it's head in the closing seconds to snatch victory from the jaws of a deserved defeat thanks to the diminutive live wire pairing in the Dale strike force.

The visitors completely bossed the 1st period as Keith Hill's side looked leggy and out of sorts and deservedly took the lead on 15 minutes when the evergreen Kevin Gallen nodded an inviting Lloyd Dyer cross past the unprotected James Spencer.

Paul Ince's side looked hungry and fed on the scraps of football served up by a Rochdale side who barely strung three passes together in the early stages.  The visitors controlled the tempo with an impressive work rate and good football and it was somewhat against the run of play when Rochdale striker Chris Dagnall dragged his side back into things with a brilliant individual goal.

Dagnall inched his way along the 18-yard line looking for support or indeed an opening and without a team mate in sight the Dons defence parted inviting the former tranmere Rovers man to curl a wonderful effort into the top corner.

The celebrations were short lived and it was the 200 or so travelling Don's fans turn to cheer within a minute of Dagnall's superb equaliser. The Dons were back in front after passing their way through an accomodating defence and left Gallen with the sort of chance that he has been gobbling for many a year, slotting home quite coolly from a right wing centre.

Dale fans and indeed the frustrated Rochdale manager Keith Hill were looking for a response in the second half and whilst James Spencer never had a shot to save thanks to excellent defending from Peterborough loanee Guy Branston, Dale very rarely threatened at the other end.

Rochdale needed a lift from somewhere and it was thanks to the referee Mr Bates whose mystifying decision making  made Premiership ref Rob Stiles look world class that helped provide it.  The list of gaffs by the officials and his assistants incensed the Spotland faithful and the roar from the terraces brought Hill's charges to life.

The injection of urgency was helped by the introduction for Adam Le Fondre for an out-of-sorts Glenn Murray and the removal of veteran midfielder Colin Cameron by Don's chief Paul Ince.  For the first time Dale's midfield pairing of Doolan and Perkins moved forward from their very deep positions and their support  to the attack helped turn the tide.

Rory Prendergast also added something extra down the flank coming on as Adam Rundle flagged and it was his assist that brought the first of a quick fire double.  Prendergast slotted to ball to fellow substitute Adam Le Fondre and having carried the ball 10 yards he produced a similar shot to the one Dagnall  had scored from in the first period.  This time as the ball looked destined for the back of the net, keeper Gueret got a hand to it but could only palm the ball up in the air and then watched in horror as it spun into the net behind him.

It looked as though Dale had rescued a point and the cries to keep the ball and run down the remaining seconds of the game sounded from all quarters of the ground.  However, Hill's side had other idea's and incredibly a minute or so later Dale won it.  An excellent Prendergast cross was met by Le Fondre and after his effort rebounded off the bar Dagnall was on hand to head home the winner at the back stick.

Ince winced, Hill smiled and Dale fans danced with delight - a victory snatched from the jaws of defeat and although it's the first win of the season and I don't suppose too many will mind the fact that it was undeserved.