Adam Le Fondre struck with two minutes left as City were beaten again by a late Rochdale goal.

Peter Thorne's 13th goal of the season from the penalty spot looked to have salvaged a point.

But substitute Le Fondre had the last laugh as he had done at Valley Parade in February.

David Perkins took only 21 seconds to fire Rochdale in front. But City came back and Eddie Johnson drove against the post after eight minutes following a clever free-kick move.

Thorne levelled after Joe Colbeck was tumbled over by Tom Kennedy.

And City nearly equalised for a second time in stoppage time when Mark Bower headed against the bar.

CITY: Loach, Starosta, Wetherall, Bower, Heckingbottom, Colbeck, Johnson, Penford, Nix, Thorne, Conlon. Subs: Williams, Evans, Rhodes, Medley, Moncur.