An incredible end to the game saw Dale equalise on 87 minutes before scoring what looked like a winner on 90 minutes before conceding in stoppage time in an enthralling 3-3 draw at home to high flyers Peterborough.

After a quite magnificent win last week away at Lincoln City, Dale were back at home this weekend with another tough fixture with Peterborough United the visitors.

Could Dale build on last weeks win and give us another reason to be hopefully of avoiding relegation? The team news came through and it was a bit of a change around due to Ryan McLaughlin being out injured meaning Keohane and Done had to be utilised in different roles while we welcomed back Jake Beesley after a lengthy lay off.

Despite a quick opening couple of minutes from Dale, Peterborough took the lead with just 5 minutes gone. The ever impressive Dembele picked the ball up after Humphrys lost the ball and he hit a magnificent strike past Bazunu and into the top corner to make it 1-0 to Peterborough.

Dembele nearly doubled his tally and the Peterborough lead on 9 minutes when he picked up the ball from an unintentional Clarke-Harris lay off but his curling effort went over the bar from 25 yards.

With 10 minutes gone, Dale had their first chance when Conor Grant hit an effort wide after some hard work from Humphrys to force the error but this Irish Under 21 didn't connect properly.

Conor Shaughnessy hit a harmless effort well wide when he should have done better after the ball was cleared to him from a Matt Done cross and just a minute or so later, another effort, this time from Rathbone was straight at the keeper. Dale were definitely getting forward more.

With 22 minutes gone, Shaughnessy caught Dembele about 20 yards out and was lucky not to be booked for a really poor attempt at a tackle. Johnson Clarke-Harris hit the freekick narrowly over the bar.

A great attack from Dale saw Shaughnessy break forward, play a wonderful through ball to Beesley who laid it off to Keohane who put a great ball in which Humphrys hit wide with an audacious overhead kick attempt. Would easily have been goal of the season had that gone in.

Gabriel Osho was visibly attacking whenever he picked the ball up and had space and he had a wonderful chance having got past two Posh defenders but his effort wasn't quite accurate or hard enough and it was simple for the keeper.

Sammie Szmodics hit an effort that was always going wide after good work from Kent for the visitors with about 10 minutes of the half left.

Great chance for Dale!! Humphrys did well to get the ball out of his feet and he smashed the ball low and hard but it went agonisingly wide of the post.

As stoppage time came, the game was effectively over with Peterborough going 2-0 up. Keohane was caught in possession and Hamilton and Dembele linked up well with Dembele turning brilliantly and playing a good ball through to Szmodics who got did well to take it down and get past McShane to finish past Bazunu into the far bottom corner. Would probably say McShane and Osho should do better.

The half time whistle blew with Dale 2-0 down. Dale, in fairness, hadn't played badly at all I didn't think. We'd created chances and could, and probably should have taken a couple of them but didn't whereas Posh did. Frustrating but not surprising unfortunately.

Dale had the first chance of the half. A good break forward from Shaughnessy saw Keohane squad the ball to Rathbone whose effort was high and never coming down quick enough and didn't force the keeper into a save. A couple of minutes later and Humphrys had a similar effort that also didn't force Pim into making a save as his effort flew over the bar as well.

PENALTY TO DALE! Shaughnessy wins a flick on and Beesley was brought down in the box about a minute or so after Shaughnessy (not Bazunu or Beesley despite Martin saying otherwise) was reprimanded for diving. Humphrys stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to halve the defecit and make it 2-1.

Humphrys game looked like it was over. He was holding his hamstring and went to ground as well. Kwadwo Baah replaced the Dale goalscorer. Has any chance of staying up just gone off the pitch?

As it stood, we were back to the bottom of the league.

Dembele again causing Dale problems and a twist and turn on the edge of the box got him away from Osho and he curled an effort goalwards but Bazunu pulled off a very good save to keep it at 2-1.

Morley comes on for Conor Grant with Done moving up front.

Dale were well on top and looking to attack at every opportunity with Peterborough sitting deep but Dale just not able to get the break through.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!! Osho does absolutely brilliantly battling for it and Matt Done puts in a delightful ball for Beesley who heads home past the keeper to equalise on 87 minutes!

Could we snatch a winner here?!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!!!!! Oh wow! Keohane scores what looks like the winner!!! Ball came in from the left and Keohane managed to get the ball from between his feet and smash the ball home on 90 minutes!!

Could we hold on here!?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! Oh f*** off! Aaron Morley gives away a really silly penalty, not knowing he had a man behind him and the referee points to the spot in stoppage time! Johnson Clarke-Harris steps up and sends Bazunu the wrong way. Absolutely devastated. Like genuinely heartbroken.

Game over and the game finishes 3-3.

Lost for words.

PLAYER RATINGS:

Gavin Bazunu - 7 - Pulled off an excellent save second half and did well.

Jimmy Keohane - 7 - His usual steady self today.

GABRIEL OSHO - 8 - Did really well, my MOTM. Solid and did unbelievably well in the build up for the equaliser.

Paul McShane - 6 - Tough game for the Irishman, beaten for pace a couple of times and could possible do better for the second goal.

Eoghan O'Connell - 7 - See McShane. Didn't do much wrong at all aside from a few slightly over-hit first touches, but defended very well.

Matty Done - 7 - Did ok at wing back, moved up front late on and put a delightful ball in for Beesley's header.

Ollie Rathbone - 7 - Another good performance from Ollie I thought, worked his socks off

Conor Shaugnessy - 6 - Did ok on the ball but weak in front of both boxes I thought.

Conor Grant - 5 - Doesn't lack confidence with the ball at his feet but just didn't work for him today.

Jake Beesley - 7 - Impressive comeback from Beesley. Got on the scoresheet and worked tirelessly.

Stephen Humphrys - 7 - Did well again, always looking for shooting opportunities and did well converting the penalty. Need him not to be out for long!

SUBS:

Aaron Morley - 6 - Gave away the penalty in stoppage time but also the ball in for Keohane's goal.

Kwadwo Baah - 6 Not on long but worked very hard

Photo: Action Images

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