Late Goal Sinks Stanley

At Accrington, England:

Jason Kennedy scored the winning goal in the 83rd minute as Rochdale recovered from blowing a two-goal lead on the road and defeated Accrington Stanley 3-2 in Saturday English League Two action.  The win marked the triumphant return to Accrington for former longtime Stanley manager John Coleman, now the boss man with Dale.

Blades Continue Push For Automatic Promotion Back To League Championship

At Rochdale, England:

Ched Evans scored twice in the first half (22', 45'+3) as Sheffield United defeated relegation-threatened Rochdale 5-2 on the road in Tuesday English League One action.  The Blades currently reside in second place in the league standings, two points ahead of local rivals Sheffield Wednesday.  Poor, lowly Dale are on the cusp of relegation back to League Two.

Blades Slice Up Rochdale

At Sheffield, England:

Ched Evans scored twice (39', 63') as Sheffield United dominated visiting Rochdale 3-0 in Saturday English League One action.  The win was the fifth in a row for the Blades.

Dale Knock Off Saints To Climb To Promotion Playoff Berth

At Rochdale, England:


Joe Thompson (28') and Chris O'Grady (41') provided the scoring that carried Rochdale to a 2-0 home win over Southampton in Tuesday action in England's League One.  The win moved the hosts up to sixth place (the final promotion playoff berth) in the league standings while the visiting Saints, currently residing in second place,  were unable to tighten their hold on an automatic promotion berth.

Promoted Dale Knock Off Managerless Saints At Southampton

At Southampton, England:

Chris O'Grady (45') and Gary Jones (68') provided the scoring that carried visiting---and promoted---Rochdale to a 2-0 road win over Southampton in Saturday action in England's League One.  The Saints suffered their second home defeat in a week after canning manager Alan Pardew. 

At Last: Rochdale Promoted; Notts County Too

At Rochdale, England:

Chris O'Grady scored the only goal of the match at 23 seconds as Rochdale secured their first promotion since 1969 with a 1-0 home win over Northampton Town in League Two play on Saturday.  Next year, Dale will be playing in League One.

At Nottingham, England:

Lee Hughes scored twice (7', 18') as Notts County secured promotion to League One (England) Saturday with a 4-1 home beatdown of Morecambe.

Darlington Out Of Football League Despite Shock Road Win

At Rochdale, England:

Despite a 1-0 road win over Rochdale that prevented the hosts from securing their first promotion in 41 years, Darlington were still relegated from League Two and the English Football League.

It's League One For Stockport

At London:

Liam Dickinson scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal at 67 minutes to lift Stockport to a 3-2 victory over Rochdale Monday to win the League Two promotion final at Wembley Stadium, sending the Hatters to League One.

im Gannon's Stockport made it fifth-time lucky at Wembley but were made to sweat in their 3-2 Coca-Cola League Two play-off final win over local rivals Rochdale.

County manager Gannon, 10 years a player at Edgeley Park, had been a Wembley loser four times with Stockport, who clinched their first promotion in 11 years.

The Hatters fell behind to Rochdale defender Rory McArdle's 23rd-minute corner, but once Nathan Stanton's own goal hauled Stockport level, Gannon's side seized control.

Anthony Pilkington headed County into a 49th-minute lead and Liam Dickinson bludgeoned home a third before Dale winger Adam Rundle set up a nerve-jangling finale with a 77th-minute volley.

For Stockdale, this marks their first promotion in 11 years. The Hatters will join Milton Keynes Dons, Peterborough, and Hereford in moving up to League One. As for the perennially snakebitten Dale, next season will mark their 35th straight in English soccer's fourth division. They will be joined by two teams coming up from the Blue Square Premier (formerly Nationwide) Conference, table-topping Aldershot and Exeter City, who won the promotion final at Wembley Stadium on May 18, 1-0 over Cambridge United.