Notts County Football Club

A dramatic last minute equaliser from Garry Thompson saw Notts County draw 2-2 with Rochdale.

Mike Edwards gave the Magpies the lead towards the end of the first half, allowing Notts to go in ahead at the break, but Rochdale equalised straight after half time through Ian Henderson. 

Peter Vincenti scored midway through the second half, and it looked to have been the winner, but Garry Thompson fired in from close range with only seconds on the clock remaining.

Mike Edwards gave Notts the lead, firing in from close range after a great cross from Elliott Whitehouse. 

After the break, Ian Henderson levelled seconds from kick off, hitting in from close range. 

Peter Vincenti headed in after a pinpoint cross from Matthew Done midway through the second half to give Rochdale the lead.

Rochdale looked to have won it, but Garry Thompson dramatically fired in from close range to rescue Notts a point and keep the unbeaten away record going.

Three changes were made by Shaun Derry following the 1-0 midweek defeat to Preston North End in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Area semi-final. Coming into the starting eleven were Hayden Mullins, Elliott Whitehouse and Ryan Hall, replacing Curtis Thompson, Michael Petrasso and Taylor McKenzie.

Elliott Whitehouse made his first league start for Notts County in the game against Rochdale. The midfielder hasn’t appeared for the Magpies since the defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the first round of the Capital One Cup. Also in the side was Hayden Mullins, who has only played once since the start of September because of injury. The defender featured in the draw with Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup, but didn’t last the first half. Ryan Hall also started after coming on as a substitute in midweek.

Notts County got the game underway and it was only a matter of seconds for them to win their first freekick. Stephen McLaughlin was hacked down on the left. Gary Jones whipped in the cross to the back post, Haydn Hollis challenged for the ball, but Conrad Logan claimed well to deny County from taking an early lead.

Rochdale were putting a lot of pressure on the Magpies back four and were getting in behind the defence on occasion. Matthew Done got into an excellent position on the right and tried to play a ball across goal, only for Gary Jones to intercept and clear the ball away from Roy Carroll’s goal.

Notts continued to get forward after their early pressure. A cross from the right was away from goal, and Garry Thompson was there to try and guide the ball towards goal. His header had the power but just went wide of the goal.

Rochdale had a chance with 28 minutes gone. Ryan Hall slid in late on the edge of the box to bring down Joe Rafferty. Michael Rose stepped over the ball and tried to bend it into the near post with his left foot. Carroll was there to deny.

Down the other end, Ryan Hall was fouled himself about 30 yards from goal. McLaughlin tried to float the ball to the back post, Hollis was there again and did get a head to the ball. Substitute keeper Josh Lillis got up well to deny the centre-back. Seconds later, Elliott Whitehouse had an opportunity. The ball dropped for the midfielder in the box, but his strike blazed over the bar.

Another good run from Stephen McLaughlin gave Notts another good opportunity to take the lead. The Forest loanee was brought down just outside the box after picking the ball up in his own half. Gary Jones was the man to take it and it looked to be bending in at the near post, but Josh Lillis made a fantastic save to deny the former Rochdale midfielder.

Notts were on the up after the recent chances and took the lead with only minutes to go before half-time. Elliott Whitehouse picked up the ball on the right and placed a low and accurate cross to the near post. Mike Edwards was running in and rifled the ball home to give the Magpies the lead.

With five minutes of added time announced, Rochdale came incredibly close to getting an equaliser. Rochdale pumped the ball forward before laying it off for Michael Rose on the edge of the box. The defender struck the ball well, his strike going narrowly wide of Carroll’s goal.

From the restart, Rochdale grabbed an equaliser almost instantly. The ball was thumped up and Stephen Dawson took control of the ball. He rolled it across the area with Ian Henderson waiting. The strike made the ball his own and slammed it past Roy Carroll to get the hosts back in the game instantly.

Notts weren’t buoyed by this and went straight back at Rochdale. Blair Adams put a cross in from the left, Garry Thompson won the header and the ball fell for McLaughlin. The winger showed good ball control before laying it for Whitehouse. Whitehouse hit it first time into the hands of Lillis. 

Rochdale were extremely close to taking the lead after a swift counter attack. Henderson had the ball on the left with it being a two on two situation. He played the ball across to Done. Carroll couldn’t intercept, but Done’s shot hit the post, before County got the ball clear. A real let off for the Magpies.

Roy Carroll made the best save of the game on the hour mark. Michael Rose put in a corner and Peter Vincenti got to the ball first and had power in his header. However, Roy Carroll made a brilliantly strong, one handed save to deny Rochdale from taking the lead.

However, Rochdale look the lead moments later. It was a cross from the left by Matthew Done that was placed onto the head of Vincenti once again. Roy Carroll couldn’t deny the Rochdale number seven this time as the header was powerfully placed beyond the keeper to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.

The Magpies didn’t sit back following the set-back. Gary Jones whipped a freekick in from a dangerous position, but Rochdale defended well to stop Notts from capitalising. Garry Thompson then had a half volley from the edge of the area trickle wide. Ryan Hall was next to try his luck for County, his volley from 25 yards out going wide.

Matthew Done had caused the Magpies problems this game and came close to extending their lead. He picked up the ball on the edge of the area, but his shot flew over Carroll’s goal.

Notts made changes in the shape of Ronan Murray, Michael Petrasso and Drissa Traore to try and level the game. The ball was hoofed forward by Roy Carroll for Haydn Hollis in the box, he flicked it onto Murray, but the substitute couldn’t capitalise on the position, Rochdale clearing the ball.

In the dying minutes, Notts threw players forward to try and grab that equaliser, but Rochdale defended well, staying strong at the back and clearing all that Notts threw at them. It looked to have been the first away league defeat of the season, but Garry Thompson had other ideas.

With one last throw of the dice, Notts pumped the ball forward with most players in the box. Following a scrap and the ball falling to a number of players, Garry Thompson came out with the ball, rounded Josh Lillis and slotted home to give Notts a dramatic late equaliser.

Neither side had enough time to get the ball forward after that, meaning the points were shared one a piece.