Dale picked up all three points with a 2-1 win over Woking at the Crown Oil Arena on Tuesday.
Goals at the end of each half completed the turnaround. Cian Hayes netted his sixth of the season to equalise before a fine free-kick by Devante Rodney meant Dale secured the victory. Both teams had players shown their marching orders with substitute Ian Henderson sent off for Dale.
Jimmy McNulty made two changes to Saturday’s draw against Oxford City. Finlay Armstrong returned in place of Cameron John who dropped out of the squad, with Devante Rodney coming in for Jesurun Uchegbulam.
Woking began the game on top and had the first chance of the game four minutes in, when Jermaine Anderson let fly from the edge of the area, but the attempt was met equally by Brooks who pushed it away to safety.
The ball was then played to Cian Hayes down the right who had the better of full-back Dion Kelly-Evans and cut in on his left, with his low fizzing effort just wide of the far stick.
The visitors had a huge opportunity to get ahead when a superb delivery was met by Josh Casey at the back post and his effort from close range flew over the bar.
The early pressure from the visitors told in the 15th minute. Ethan Ebanks-Landell was dispossessed by Charley Kendall, who found himself one on one with Brooks, and he slotted home to break the deadlock.
Just before the half hour mark, Dale began to respond and Ryan East swung in a set-piece which was knocked back into the path of Devante Rodney who sent it over the bar.
Rohan Ince then had a strike 20 yards from goal which he sent wide.
With six minutes of the half remaining, Dale got back on level terms. Harvey Gilmour made an excellent challenge in midfield and spread a ball out to Hayes. He beat a couple of defenders and smashed one into the far top corner for the winger’s sixth of the season.
Dale nearly had a quickfire double when Kairo Mitchell found himself in space and put in a ball for Rodney to latch onto, but it was just in front of the sliding Dale forward.
It was a slow beginning to the second half and neither side created an opportunity until the 64th minute when Anderson picked up space outside the box and sent his powerful strike over.
Two minutes later and Woking were reduced to ten men. Kelly-Evans flew into a tackle on Hayes and received a straight red card from referee Michael Barlow.
Woking goal scorer Kendall had an effort diverted onto the top of the net with around ten minutes remaining.
Just as the sides were about to enter additional time, Dale completed the turnaround when Gilmour won a free-kick. Rodney stepped up after East’s dummy and struck a powerful effort home low to the goalkeepers left to give Dale a late lead.
In the aftermath of the goal celebrations, Henderson was sent off for an off the ball incident on the goal line.
Barely a minute later of the restart, Ince sent a volley goal wards and Brooks was called into action and made a fine save to tip over.
Three minutes into added time, Woking thought they drew level when the ball was bundled over the line but the linesman's flag on the far side denied the away side and Dale held on for all the points.
Dale XI | Brooks, Gordon, East, Ebanks-Landell, Mitchell, Rodney (90+1’ Keohane), Nevett, Hayes (90+1’ Sassi), Gilmour, Armstrong, Mather (73’ Henderson)
Unused Subs | Clayton, Uchegbulam.
