Rochdale vs Oldham Athletic. Sky Bet League One.
Spotland StadiumAttendance4,671.
Saturday 17 March 2012 18:26, UK
Michael Symes fired a hat-trick as Rochdale beat local rivals Oldham 3-2 to keep alive their hopes of avoiding the drop.
Striker Symes, on loan from Bournemouth, had failed to score in his first six appearances for the club, but was quickly off the mark, his low drive from the edge of the area running wide of Oldham goalkeeper Alex Cisak and bouncing in off the post in the third minute. The visitors equalised in the 32nd minute, and in spectacular fashion, with Shefki Kuqi sending a dipping, 30-yard volley over the head of stranded Rochdale goalkeeper Dave Lucas. Andrew Tutte was denied by Cisak at the start of the second half, but from the resulting corner Kennedy teed up Symes to sweep home his second. And Symes completed his hat-trick with a 70th-minute penalty after James Tarkowski had brought him down in the area, the big striker stroking home the spot kick. Reuben Reid reduced the arrears with a 74th minute strike to set up a nervy finish for the hosts, but John Coleman's men hung on for the points.