Football: Rochdale  3 - 2 Middlesbrough

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Ollie Rathbone scored Rochdale's winner

Ollie Rathbone scored a last gasp winner as Rochdale staged a remarkable comeback from two goals down to run out winners against Championship side Middlesbrough at the Crown Oil Arena.

Rathbone pounced to fire home after Aaron Wilbraham’s header was only parried by Conner Ripley with the midfielder on hand to score Dale’s third with the last kick of the game.

Earlier, Middlesbrough scored either side of half time to take a commanding lead through Ash Fletcher and Harry Chapman; the first goals that Dale had conceded in pre-season so far.

Fletcher glanced home a left-wing cross in the first half, whilst Chapman finished with aplomb with a shot that hit the inside of the far post after a sweeping ball across field from Fletcher picked out the striker after the interval.

Rochdale got a goal back with a little over 20 minutes left, Calvin Andrew heading home from close range after good work from substitute Bradden Inman to get to the line to cross from the right.

Inman turned from provider to scorer when Wilbraham’s presence caused confusion in the Boro defence and when the ball fell to Inman inside the area, he made no mistake as he smashed the ball past Ripley.

The closing stages saw Dale pile on the pressure as they looked to maintain their winning run this pre-season and as the clock ticked just past the 90 minute mark, the pressure paid off. A Dale corner saw Wilbraham plant a firm header at goal and when Ripley could only parry, Rathbone was on hand to turn the ball into the roof of the net for a confidence boosting win.