Accrington Stanley 2 -3 Rochdale

John Coleman made a happy return to his former club as his Rochdale side edged a five goal thriller. George Donnelly netted his first goal for the club after just 23 seconds when he volleyed home from 18 yards and Ashley Grimes doubled Dale’s lead from the spot after Dele Adebola was brought down inside the area. Accrington hit back with goals either side of half time, their first was a goal on the counter attack whilst the second is one goalkeeper Josh Lillis won’t want to see again when he let a long range effort squirm over the line. With the game heading for stalemate, Jason Kennedy stepped up to score with a wonderful striker from just outside the area.

With Bobby Grant suspended, Ashley Grimes was given the chance from the start. Five of the Dale 16 used ply their trade at Accrington, although only Phil Edwards and Kevin McIntyre started the game.

Dale gave Coleman the perfect start when they opened the scoring after just 23 seconds. Straight from the kick off, Rochdale pushed forward with the ball finding Donnelly who hit a sweet volley which went in off the underside of the crossbar sending the 1000+ travelling fans wild.

That early goal opened the game up from the start with both teams looking to get forward.

Grimes saw Dunbavin save his curling effort whilst the former Lincoln striker thought he had scored moments later when he beat Dunbavin but Peter Murphy cleared off the line.

Josh Lillis had to be at his best when Dele Adebola inadvertently headed an Accrington free-kick towards his own goal but the stopper stuck out a leg to clear.

Rochdale doubled their lead on 32 minutes. A bustling run down the left by Adebola saw great attention from Stanley full back Nsiala with the defender diving in; bringing Adebola crashing to the ground. Referee Chris Foy, who is more used to Old Trafford than The Crown Ground pointed straight to the spot. Grimes stepped up and fired into the t0p corner from 12 yards.

Coleman’s men looked on cruise control but Stanley looked dangerous on the counter attack and so it proved. A Dale corner was cleared out of defence by Molyneux who played a wonderful ball down the left flank. Joe Rafferty went to stop the attack but missed the ball allowing Padraig Amond all the time he required to pick out Watford loanee Mingoia. Stanley had three attackers versus just one defender and Mingoia fired past Lillis to half the deficit.

The counter attack was proving an effective weapon in the home team’s armoury and they should have been level three minutes before the break. A static Dale defence watched as Joyce clipped the ball into the area to Mingoia who from six yards should have headed home but put the ball wide.

After the break the pattern of play remained the same with Stanley on top and they got back on level terms in bizarre circumstances. Romi Boco picked up and unleashed a 35 yard effort that looked easy picking for Lillis but the Dale stopper got his angles all wrong and the ball spun off his gloves and into the net.

Coleman’s men seemed stunned by the leveller with Stanley pressing and forcing errors from those in Dale colours. Boco forced a low save from Lillis whilst the defence rebuffed any Accrington advances.

Kennedy saw a right wing free kick tipped away as the ball almost crept in at the far post whilst substitute Ray Putterill shot over when given space.

The winner came with seven minutes left on the clock and it was well worth the wait. Kennedy was synonymous for spectacular goals against Dale whilst playing for Darlington but the Spotland faithful have yet to see a Kennedy stunner. This winner was up there with the best as he picked up 20 yards out, and with his supposed weaker foot fired an unstoppable left-footed shot into the top corner.

Accrington almost levelled once again deep into stoppage time but Amond’s free header from six yards went over the bar.

So it was a happy return to Accrington for Coleman and Bell with the home fans applauding and chanting the names of their former management duo after the full time whistle, which was a fitting tribute to the pair who will forever be known as adopted sons of the East Lancashire town.

Coleman spoke afterwards: “I’m delighted with the three points but not so with the performance.

"I’ve got to give credit to Accrington, they didn’t deserve to lose that game. They pressed us back, made chances, and were full of energy. That could have been due to them having Tuesday’s game called off.

"I pulled two players before the game to speak to individually and that was George (Donnelly) and Jason (Kennedy). I told George that in my time at Accrington lots of players who had been on goal droughts ended their droughts against my team and told him today could be his day. I told Jason it was time to step upto the plate. By his own standards, Jason hasn’t reached the level he would like. He’s one of the best players in the league but he needs to show that more often.

"For a neutral it was a fantastic game. The game could have gone either way and when they got the luck with the mistake by Josh I thought they may have gone on to nick it.”

On his return to Accrington: “It was quite emotional really, especially when I went over to the Accrington fans at the end. I had a lump in my throat. You can’t just wipe away the years I had here, I had some fantastic times here and these people are like my family. It still feels awkward when I watch them on TV as I feel I should have been at that game but I have job to do at Rochdale and I’m enjoying it.”

Attendance: 2678 (1018 from Rochdale)

Rochdale: Lillis, McIntyre, R Edwards, R Bennett, Rafferty, P Edwards, Tutte ©, Kennedy, Donnelly (Curran 54), Adebola (Craney 84), Grimes (Putterill 54)
Subs: (not used) Barry-Murphy, Smith, Pearson, Cavanagh

Accrington: Dunbavin, Nsiala, Molyneux, Atkinson, Murphy, Joyce ©, Schofield (Whichlow 76), Chippendale (Miller 55), Mingoia (Hatfield 79), Boco, Amond
Subs: (not used) Dawber, Lindfield, Dixon, Sheppard

Referee: Mr C Foy
Ass Referees: Mr S Long & Mr K Mattocks
Fourth Official: Mr S Mathieson