A dramatic late winner from substitute Devante Rodney deep into stoppage time secured a thrilling 2-1 victory for Rochdale against Sutton United at the Crown Oil Arena, sending the home supporters into raptures. The hard-fought contest remained on a knife-edge until the final seconds, ultimately exploding into life with Rodney’s decisive intervention.
Rochdale took the lead in the 22nd minute, culminating a slick passing move. Tobi Adebayo-Rowling’s astute delivery found Ryan East, who composed himself before slotting the ball past the Sutton goalkeeper for a 1-0 advantage. However, their lead proved short-lived. Just seven minutes later, in the 29th minute, Sutton United capitalised on a lapse in the Rochdale defence. Eduino Vaz reacted quickest to fire home the equaliser and restore parity. The remainder of the first half saw both sides trade attacking blows, but neither could find a breakthrough, leaving the score level at 1-1 at the break.
The second half witnessed a series of substitutions as both managers sought to gain the ascendency. Rochdale introduced veteran striker Ian Henderson at half-time, aiming to bolster their attacking threat. Sutton United also made changes, looking to freshen up their midfield and attack, notably replacing Jayden Harris shortly after he received a yellow card early in the second period. Rochdale’s double substitution in the 64th minute, with Jake Burger and Devante Rodney entering the fray, proved to be a pivotal moment.
As the clock ticked down, the tension inside the Crown Oil Arena became palpable. Both teams pressed for a winner, but clear-cut opportunities remained at a premium. Just as the match seemed destined for a draw, Rodney produced a moment of magic in the 93rd minute. Tarryn Allarakhia delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, finding the substitute perfectly positioned to emphatically bury the ball into the net and secure a dramatic late victory for the home side.
The late winner propelled Rochdale up the National League table from sixth to fifth place, while Sutton United slipped down to 13th. This result maintains the recent balanced head-to-head record between the two clubs, with each side having now won one of their two encounters in recent seasons.