Rochdale 2-3 FC United: Last-gasp glory
FC United of Manchester pulled off a major shock in the FA Cup with a controversial 94th minute goal to beat Rochdale 3-2 in a thrilling first round tie.
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The non-league side, set up in protest against Malcolm Glazer's takeover of Manchester United, looked to be heading towards a replay after they threw away a two-goal lead at Rochdale. But a calamitous late error from 'keeper Josh Lillis, which allowed striker Michael Norton to pounce, means that FC United are now just one game away from a potential clash against the Red Devils in the third round.
With five tiers of English football between the two teams, the game threatened to be a mismatch - but FC United, despite a shaky start, acquitted themselves admirably throughout a closely-fought first half.
Although they rode their luck at times - with Anthony Elding missing two great chances for Rochdale - it was no great surprise when they took the lead three minutes before the break.
Nicky Platt produced a composed finish to flick the ball over onrushing 'keeper Josh Lillis, who went to ground far too early.
The Evo-Stik League side doubled their lead in the early stages of the second half when Jake Cotterill - a Rochdale trainee until the age of 16 - sent a thundering strike into the roof of the net from 18 yards.
A 2-0 lead was the stuff of fairytale for FC United - but they were soon brought back down to earth when Elding atoned for his earlier misses by halving the deficit.
That goal sapped some of the energy from the tiring FC United legs, and Rochdale seized control of the match heading into the final 20 minutes. A heroic block on the line from Richard Battersby prevented Chris O'Grady's goalbound effort bringing the sides level, before prolific defender Craig Dawson's header pulled the sides level.
With the game seemingly heading relentlessly towards a replay, Norton stole the ball from Lillis' grasp in the 94th minute before rolling it into the empty net, sending the away fans into raptures.