Rochdale have returned to the summit of the Enterprise National League following a dramatic 2–1 home victory over Southend United, sealed by a 90th-minute strike from Harvey Gilmour.
The visitors edged in front shortly before half time, but Kyron Gordon levelled with a superb solo goal, before Gilmour snatched all three points with the final kick of the game.
Manager Jimmy McNulty made five changes to the team that defeated Truro City at the weekend, recalling Ryan East, Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Devante Rodney, Jake Burger and Dan Moss to the starting eleven.
A cautious opening saw few chances for either side. East and Gilmour both fired efforts over the bar from distance, while Rodney's deflected strike forced a corner.
Dale goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff produced a smart low save to deny Andy Dallas, but the breakthrough came on 40 minutes. Southend were awarded a disputed free kick, and from the delivery, Gus Scott-Morriss bundled in at the second attempt.
The response was immediate. Gordon burst forward down the right, cut inside, and bent a pinpoint left-footed shot into the far corner to equalise before the break.
Gilmour tested Southend keeper Collin Andeng-Ndi again before the interval, but the second half brought limited goalmouth action until the final stages.
Chances came and went for both sides, including late efforts from substitutes Mani Dieseruvwe and Joe Pritchard for Dale, and Keenan Appiah-Forson for Southend.
But the decisive moment arrived as Dieseruvwe controlled a loose ball and threaded a pass to Pritchard, who beat his man and squared for Gilmour to finish from close range.
Tobi Adebayo-Rowling and Tarryn Allarakhia both came close to adding a third in stoppage time, before Tom Hopper headed over at the other end as Southend pushed for an equaliser.
Dale’s fourth consecutive win takes them two points clear at the top, with two games in hand over second-placed York City.
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