Michael Symes's hat-trick helped Rochdale to a vital win over Oldham.

Symes struck first when his low drive went in off the post, while Shefki Kuqi equalised with a spectacular dipping volley from 30 yards.

Symes swept home a second from Jason Kennedy's lay-off, and got his third from the spot after he was brought down by James Tarkowski.

Reuben Reid pulled one back from the edge of the area, while Tarkowski saw red for two bookable offences.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Rochdale manager John Coleman told BBC Radio Manchester:

"I don't think you can enjoy it on the bench, you've gone through every high and low you can possibly go through.

"For the neutral it would have been magnificent, it was a game that had everything.

"Take his (Michael Symes's) goals away, I thought his performance was very good as well.

"Once he gets going he's a handful for any defence - he's clever, he's incisive, a good finisher and he showed all those attributes today."

Oldham Athletic manager Paul Dickov told BBC Radio Manchester:

"The important thing to talk about is we lost the game and that's very disappointing.

"There were a lot of very questionable decisions that we didn't get but we didn't defend well enough to win the game.

"I'm fuming inside but after four defeats I don't want to come out here and look as if I'm making excuses."

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (6)

Rochdale

  • 23 Lucas
  • 02 Darby
  • 12 Long
  • 17 Holden
  • 22 Jordan (Edwards - 75' )
  • 07 Kennedy
  • 08 Jones
  • 10 Grimes (Akpa Akpro - 63' Booked )
  • 16 Tutte
  • 09 Symes
  • 19 Obadeyi (Barry-Murphy - 86' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Edwards
  • 25 Edwards
  • 06 Barry-Murphy
  • 11 Adams
  • 26 Akpa Akpro

Oldham Athletic

  • 01 Cisak
  • 02 Mvoto Booked
  • 06 Brown
  • 16 Tarkowski Dismissed after an earlier booking
  • 11 Adeyemi
  • 18 Taylor Booked
  • 19 Lee
  • 20 M'changama (Winchester - 80' )
  • 29 Mellor (Hughes - 67' )
  • 32 Kuqi
  • 39 Bunn (Reid - 67' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Bouzanis
  • 26 Winchester
  • 24 Hughes
  • 09 Reid
  • 21 Millar
Ref: Salisbury
Att: 4,671

Match Stats

Shots

17 15

On target

11 8

Corners

7 10

Fouls

14 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +6:46 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +5:44

Brian Barry-Murphy restarts play with the free kick. Stephen Darby concedes a free kick for a foul on Connor Hughes. Alex Cisak takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +5:44 Booking

Booking Caution for Chris Taylor.

90:00 +5:24 Dismissal

Dismissal James Tarkowski sent from the field by the ref for second bookable offence.

90:00 +5:02

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro by James Tarkowski.

90:00 +4:37

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro takes a shot. Save by Alex Cisak.

90:00 +4:04

The referee gives a free kick against Jean Yves Mvoto for handball. Free kick taken by David Lucas.

90:00 +2:49

Chris Taylor takes a shot. David Lucas makes a save. Connor Hughes concedes a free kick for a foul on Stephen Darby. David Lucas takes the direct free kick. The referee blows for offside against Michael Symes. Alex Cisak takes the free kick.

90:00 +2:14

The ball is delivered by Chris Taylor, clearance made by Kevin Long.

89:30

Phil Edwards challenges Chris Taylor unfairly and gives away a free kick. A cross is delivered by Chris Taylor, Jean Yves Mvoto takes a shot. David Lucas makes a save.

88:57

Shot from outside the penalty box by Andrew Tutte goes wide right of the goal.

88:29

Outswinging corner taken by Chris Taylor, clearance made by Jason Kennedy.

87:47

Chris Taylor takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Reece Brown takes a shot. David Lucas makes a save.

87:10

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro is penalised for a handball. Alex Cisak takes the free kick.

86:28

Connor Hughes challenges Stephen Darby unfairly and gives away a free kick. David Lucas restarts play with the free kick.

85:30 Substitution

Substitution Brian Barry-Murphy is brought on as a substitute for Temitope Obadeyi.

84:08

Corner taken by Jason Kennedy, Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro takes a shot.

84:08

Outswinging corner taken by Jason Kennedy from the right by-line, Header by Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

83:58

Temitope Obadeyi takes a shot. Save by Alex Cisak.

82:58

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jason Kennedy played to the near post, clearance by Connor Hughes.

81:09

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Carl Winchester by Jason Kennedy. Reece Brown takes the direct free kick.

79:39 Substitution

Substitution Carl Winchester comes on in place of Youssouf M'changama.

77:36

Free kick crossed right-footed by Shefki Kuqi from right wing, clearance made by Jason Kennedy.

77:25

Handball decision goes against Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro.

77:36

The free kick is swung in right-footed by Shefki Kuqi, Jason Kennedy makes a clearance.

77:36 Booking

Booking The referee shows Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

77:25

Handball by Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro.

75:54

Reuben Reid is adjudged to have handled the ball. Phil Edwards takes the free kick.

74:58 Substitution

Substitution Stephen Jordan leaves the field to be replaced by Phil Edwards.

73:48

Assist on the goal came from Kieran Lee.

73:48 Goal scored

Goal - Reuben Reid - Rochdale 3 - 2 Oldham Reuben Reid scores a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Rochdale 3-2 Oldham.

71:25

Youssouf M'changama takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.

70:43

Corner taken right-footed by Chris Taylor from the right by-line to the near post, Gary Jones makes a clearance.

69:36 Goal scored

Goal - Michael Symes - Rochdale 3 - 1 Oldham Penalty taken right-footed by Michael Symes and scored. Rochdale 3-1 Oldham.

68:58 Booking

Booking Caution for James Tarkowski.

68:21

James Tarkowski gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge on Michael Symes.

66:41 Substitution

Substitution (Oldham) makes a substitution, with Reuben Reid coming on for Harry Bunn.

66:41 Substitution

Substitution (Oldham) makes a substitution, with Connor Hughes coming on for David Mellor.

65:23

Harry Bunn takes a shot. Dean Holden gets a block in.

63:08

Chris Taylor produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the goal.

62:40

Free kick awarded for a foul by Youssouf M'changama on Stephen Darby. Stephen Darby restarts play with the free kick.

62:01 Substitution

Substitution Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro replaces Ashley Grimes.

59:20

Outswinging corner taken by Chris Taylor from the right by-line, Kevin Long makes a clearance.

59:04

Tom Adeyemi takes a shot. Stephen Darby makes a clearance.

57:49

The referee blows for offside against Ashley Grimes. Indirect free kick taken by Alex Cisak.

56:28

Youssouf M'changama takes a shot. David Lucas makes a save.

52:23

Chris Taylor takes a inswinging corner.

50:36

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Mellor by Temitope Obadeyi. Alex Cisak restarts play with the free kick.

48:07

Harry Bunn fouled by Kevin Long, the ref awards a free kick. Youssouf M'changama has an effort direct from the free kick, blocked by Stephen Darby.

46:47 Goal scored

Goal - Michael Symes - Rochdale 2 - 1 Oldham Michael Symes scores a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Rochdale 2-1 Oldham.

46:23

Short corner taken by Jason Kennedy from the left by-line.

46:11

Andrew Tutte takes a shot. Save by Alex Cisak.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:00 +2:27 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +1:16

David Mellor takes a shot. Stephen Darby gets a block in.

43:50

Corner from the left by-line taken by Chris Taylor, Headed effort on goal by James Tarkowski from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

42:30

Unfair challenge on Harry Bunn by Gary Jones results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by James Tarkowski.

42:04

Jean Yves Mvoto gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Symes. Gary Jones takes the free kick.

39:06

Gary Jones has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

37:49

Corner taken right-footed by Jason Kennedy from the left by-line, clearance made by James Tarkowski.

37:16

Outswinging corner taken by Jason Kennedy from the right by-line, Youssouf M'changama manages to make a clearance.

36:40

Temitope Obadeyi takes a shot. Blocked by Jean Yves Mvoto.

36:15

Michael Symes takes a shot. Save made by Alex Cisak.

35:33

Unfair challenge on Stephen Jordan by Harry Bunn results in a free kick. Free kick taken by David Lucas.

33:50

Chris Taylor takes a corner.

32:13

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Jason Kennedy, Temitope Obadeyi gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tom Adeyemi. Direct free kick taken by Alex Cisak.

32:13 Booking

Booking Jean Yves Mvoto booked for unsporting behaviour.

31:54

Temitope Obadeyi takes a shot. Reece Brown gets a block in.

31:13

Kevin Long gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Harry Bunn. Youssouf M'changama takes the free kick.

29:21

Unfair challenge on Dean Holden by Shefki Kuqi results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by David Lucas.

27:56

Corner taken right-footed by Jason Kennedy to the near post, Michael Symes has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the goal.

27:43

Shot by Jason Kennedy. Alex Cisak makes a save.

27:07

Free kick awarded for a foul by Andrew Tutte on Chris Taylor. Chris Taylor delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, David Lucas makes a save.

23:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Harry Bunn by Stephen Darby. Chris Taylor crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, clearance by Dean Holden.

23:42

Stephen Darby challenges Harry Bunn unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Taylor crosses the ball in from the free kick, save by David Lucas.

21:27

The offside flag is raised against Chris Taylor. David Lucas takes the indirect free kick.

20:13 Goal scored

Goal - Shefki Kuqi - Rochdale 1 - 1 Oldham Shefki Kuqi fires in a goal from a long way out high into the middle of the goal. Rochdale 1-1 Oldham.

18:18

Gary Jones has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area missing to the wide left of the goal.

17:44

The assistant referee flags for offside against Michael Symes. Indirect free kick taken by James Tarkowski.

17:19

Unfair challenge on Chris Taylor by Michael Symes results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by James Tarkowski.

16:24

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Chris Taylor.

15:03

David Mellor fouled by Stephen Darby, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by Chris Taylor, Dean Holden makes a clearance.

11:59

Stephen Jordan challenges Tom Adeyemi unfairly and gives away a free kick. David Mellor produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.

10:55

Andrew Tutte takes a shot. Save by Alex Cisak.

8:39

Kieran Lee fouled by Temitope Obadeyi, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by James Tarkowski from right channel, Jason Kennedy makes a clearance.

7:24

Header from deep inside the area by Michael Symes goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

6:51

Andrew Tutte takes a shot. Blocked by Tom Adeyemi.

5:14

Close range header by Jean Yves Mvoto goes over the crossbar.

4:45

Outswinging corner taken by Chris Taylor from the right by-line.

3:26

Outswinging corner taken by Chris Taylor from the right by-line played to the near post, Ashley Grimes manages to make a clearance.

2:03 Goal scored

Goal - Michael Symes - Rochdale 1 - 0 Oldham Michael Symes fires in a goal from just outside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Rochdale 1-0 Oldham.

0:34

Stephen Darby sends in a cross, Alex Cisak makes a save.

0:00

The match begins.

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