Rochdale 1 (O'Grady 23) Northampton 0

Rochdale secured a first promotion since 1969 and only the second in their history with victory over Northampton.

Fans streamed onto the pitch at the final whistle, many with tears in their eyes, as they witnessed history being made at Spotland.

Chris O'Grady's early goal settled the encounter as Dale got a first win in five and finally ended their 36 year stay in the football league's basement division.

Rochdale began well but could not get the vital touch to couple of low crosses that had the Northampton defence troubled. Joe Thompson and Chris O'Grady came close to converting Chris Dagnall's centre after he had spun his man on the edge of the box.

Dale enjoyed plenty of the ball on the edge of the Northampton box but struggled to create the key opening. Instead it was the visitors who had the first meaningful attempts on goal. Liam Davis ran the length of the Rochdale half and stole a yard past Frank Fielding but could only hit the side netting from a tight angle. Kevin Thornton's low drive then brought a save from Fielding and Steve Guinan's shot was deflected wide.

The home side responded and grabbed their first goal in five games. Thompson mis-hit his shot from Tom Kennedy's low corner but the ball fell to O'Grady, who rifled it into the roof of the net from six yards.

Dale sought a second and Dagnall should have done better when he stole a yard on Dean Beckwith and latched onto O'Grady's through ball but fired wide across goal. Minutes later and a Rochdale second looked certain when Kennedy had a second chance to deliver a corner, Dagnall had two shots blocked and then Craig Dawson hit a low drive destined for the bottom corner until it unknowingly hit the back of a grounded defender.

Dagnall's penalty appeals were waved away by the referee as Dale kept up the pressure. The striker skipped beyond Paul Gilbert en route to goal and then appeared to be tripped by the full back. Dagnall was adamant in his appeals but they fell on deaf ears.

Most of the half had been played out in Northampton territory but Dale had to be on their guard as the visitors almost drew level towards the end of the half when Fielding spilled Guinan's shot. Fortunately there were defenders on hand to hack clear.

There were few chances at the start of the second half as Dale looked to consolidate their advantage. Fifteen minutes however and Northampton looked to have the perfect chance to equalise as Billy McKay raced clear and saw the whites of Fielding's eyes. The goalkeeper did superbly, sprinting from his line and smothering the shot at McKay's feet.

There were one or two hairy moments for the Dale defence, not least when Kennedy dwelt on the ball and was robbed by Guinan. Fortunately the ball fell for Fielding to gather rather than at the feet of McKay.

At the other end Gary Jones came close to sealing it as his rasping low drive came back off the legs of Jason Steele with Thompson close to turning in the rebound.

The respite was brief as Northampton began to hammer more consistently on the Rochdale door. Shots rained in on goal but most were wayward and Fielding was never truly tested.

How Dale did not seal it with ten minutes to play is anyone's guess. Dagnall found O'Grady and when the striker shaped to curl a trademark right foot shot into the bottom corner a goal looked certain. Steele saved but the ball came back to O'Grady, who headed over the keeper but the ball came back off the crossbar. Thompson was on hand but his volley was somehow blocked.

That made for a nervous last ten minutes with fans lining the pitch waiting to run at the final whistle. Still there was nothing clear cut for Northampton and the four minutes of injury time passed without incident to leave the supporters, players and Keith Hill and David Flitcroft to start the celebrations. No doubt they will last long into the night.

Rochdale: Fielding, Wiseman, T. Kennedy, Stanton (McArdle 72), Dawson, Thompson, Jones, Taylor, Higginbotham, O'Grady, Dagnall.
Subs (not used): Arthur, Obadeyi, Toner, Holness, J. Kennedy, Haworth.

Booked: Stanton.

Northampton: Steele, Johnson, Beckwith, Osman, Guinan, Holt, Gilligan, Davis, McKay, Gilbert, Thornton (Herbert 64).
Subs (not used): Dunn, Dyer, Curtis, Harris, Rodgers, Jacobs.

Booked: Beckwith, Gilbert.