COUNTY's promotion aspirations took a battereing at Edgley Park after Rochdale netted seven times.

Keith Hill's side had stunned Jim Gannon's promotion hopefuls by racing to a four-goal lead within 17 minutes of the kick-off, then completing the rout in the second-half.

Glen Murray, who started the season as a Stockport player on loan from Carlisle, opened the scoring in the 5th minute after a run in which he evaded challenges from Gareth Owen and Ashley Williams before drilling the ball into the corner of Wayne Hennessey's net.

The 20-year-old keeper, who had gone nine games without conceding in County's recent history-making unbeaten run, was beaten again four minutes later when Alan Goodall headed home Adam Rundle's corner.

Things went from bad to worse from Hennessey, who dropped Lee Crooks's free-kick and as Murray tried to protect the ball from him grabbed the striker's legs.

Although Hennessey managed to parry Rundle's penalty the spin on the ball took it over the line.

In the 17th minute another Rundle cross was met by Ben Muirhead's deflected shot and Keith Hill's men were four up.

Confidence

But gradually County recovered a little of their confidence, pulling two goals back before half-time.

Anthony Elding's back header from Tony Dinning's ball in looped over Rochdale keeper Matt Gilks in the the 32nd minute.

Three minutes later Rundle's misdirected pass was intercepted by Elding, who squared the ball for Liam Dickinson to score from the edge of the six-yard box.

But any hopes of a dramatic comeback were destroyed by Muirhead's second goal seconds after the restart.

Simon Ramsden's cross in was nodded down by Murray and Muirhead produced an acrobatic finish for Rochdale's fifth.

And in the 53rd minute Murray made it six when he headed in Rundle's corner from close-range.

A fine instinctive save by Hennessey denied substitute Danny Reet with 10 minutes left, but another sub Chris

Dagnall completed the rout with Dale's seventh in the 89th minute just seconds after coming on.

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