A late Louie Soares goal cancelled out a magnificent Chris Dagnall effort as Dale were pegged back at the Recreation Ground, but still came away with a point and an extension to their lead at the top of League Two.

Dale just edged the first-half before Aldershot came out for the second half with a point to prove. However, Chris Dagnall gave Dale the lead with a superb turn and chipped finish inside twenty minutes to go, before Louie Soares equalised from close range after a Marvin Morgan knock down.

Keith Hill made two changes for his side's first game of 2010, with Scott Wiseman returning from injury in place of Rory McArdle and Adam Rundle coming in for Will Atkinson who has returned to parent club Hull following his loan spell. Otherwise the team remained the same, with Tom Heaton between the sticks for Dale. Wiseman was at right-back, with Tom Kennedy on the opposite side and Craig Dawson partnering Nathan Stanton at centre-back. Captain Jason Kennedy was alongside Jason Taylor, who is now at Spotland until the end of the season, in midfield, with Rundle and Joe Thompson on the wings. Now permanent striker Chris O'Grady played his first game as a Dale player alongside Chris Dagnall up front. Kenny Arthur returned from injury to take the goalkeeping sub spot as Dale named just the six subs with Scott Hogan pulling out on Monday due to an injury in training.

Having not played a game in over three weeks, both sides could have been forgiven for making a rusty start, but it was Dale who forced the first corner of the game. Chris Dagnall fed the ball left to last week's permanent signing of Chris O'Grady, who forced Aldershot goalkeeper Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz into conceding a corner with a cross-cum-shot. The corner came to nothing, but Dale continued to press and Chris Dagnall forced the Aldershot stopper into another save, but it was easy for the home 'keeper.

Aldershot were looking to create something themselves, with striker John Grant having their first effort when his disappointing effort flew well wide of Tom Heaton's goal.

The game wasn't dull by any means with both sides looking to attack at pace, but there was a lack of goal scoring chances with twenty minutes gone and both defences held firm. Chris O'Grady showed just why the Rochdale board had spent good money on the striker as he showed strength and pace to beat two Aldershot players in the left corner, but the former Oldham man's ball across was to no-one in a Dale shirt as the home side managed to clear.

As the game approached the 25^th minute Dale started to take control of the game and Chris Dagnall had Dale's first real chance of the game when he forced a smart save out of Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz. Jason Taylor floated a ball over the Aldershot defence with Dagnall bringing it down well. He twisted and turned the full back Andy Sandell before firing his shot off, which the Shots 'keeper was equal to as he palmed it away. Chris O'Grady had a deflected effort from outside the box a minute later which troubled Jaimez-Ruiz, but he gathered at the second attempt.

With half an hour gone the game continued in the same vein, as a scramble in the Dale box almost led to a chance for Aldershot, but the ball was eventually played out for a Dale goal-kick.

In the 36^th minute Dale forced arguably their best chance of the game. Chris O'Grady and Chris Dagnall linked up properly for the first time in the game, with Daggers feeding the ball to O'Grady's feet before picking up a return ball in behind the Aldershot defence. Dagnall elected to take the shot early and the ball rolled just wide of the Aldershot goal.

With Dale looking more like scoring an opener everytime they went forward, Aldershot knew they would have to start creating chances of their own. Marlon Jackson took that matter into his own hands as he beat a couple of Dale players down the right before crossing for John Grant, but the striker didn't get hold of the shot and Tom Heaton was able to collect easily.

This seemed to spur Dale on even further as Joe Thompson broke free following indecision from Chris Blackburn. The centre-back attempted a slide tackle on Thompson but mis-timed it with the Dale winger breaking clear. He looked to play a ball back to Chris Dagnall which was cut out by the backtracking Blackburn, but his clearance only found Adam Rundle. Rundle decided to run at the Shots defence, dummying a shot twice, before his final effort was blocked out for a corner.

The fourth official signalled a minimum of one minute added time, with only a well cleared Dale free-kick occurring in that minute. It was Dale who had the better of the half, but it was far from a complete first half performance as the first half finished goalless.

Aldershot made two changes at half-time with Ben Harding coming on for Lewis Chalmers and Marvin Morgan replacing Anthony Straker.

Dale will have wanted to start the second half in the same way as they ended the first, attacking the opposition at pace, but it was Aldershot who had the first chance of the half as Tom Heaton pulled off a good save to keep them at bay. Midfielder Scott Donnelly cut in from the left before releasing a shot from the edge of the area which was at arm's length for Heaton, but the on-loan stopper still managed to keep hold on with attackers looking to pounce.

The Shots had certainly come more into the game in the second half and had a decent effort to go ahead as the hour mark approached. Andy Sandell managed to cross from deep on the left side to substitute Marvin Morgan, but his header was weak and easily collected by Tom Heaton.

Kallum Higginbotham was brought on for Adam Rundle as Dale looked to freshen things up.

The worry for Keith Hill's men was that Aldershot were starting to dominate as the half progressed and Tom Heaton had to make a wonderful save to deny John Grant. Scott Donnelly fed a ball into Grant who had made a run past Nathan Stanton, but Heaton made a diving save to his left to palm the ball around his near post for a corner.

Just a minute later and Dale created their first chance of the half fifteen minutes in. A corner from Tom Kennedy reached Chris O'Grady who looked to glance the ball into the far corner of the goal, but his header just sneaked past the far post and out for a goal kick. O'Grady had another effort two minutes later as he tried his luck from the edge of the box, but his fizzing effort was just over the Aldershot crossbar.

Tom Heaton's handling ability was getting a good workout on the night and he needed a firm pair of hands again in the 72^nd minute when Louie Soares went close. The Aldershot midfielder had a good effort from outside the box, but Heaton got down well to his right and held on to the ball.

Chris O'Grady was looking like Dale's best outlet as the game entered the final 20 minutes, and he had another strike from the edge of the box which was well held by Jaimez-Ruiz.

However, it was Chris Dagnall who brought some magic to the game as he gave Dale the lead. Chris O'Grady played a ball into the feet of Dagnall who flicked the ball behind himself on the turn before picking the ball up and beautifully chipping the ball over Jaimez-Ruiz. It was a goal of real class from Dale's leading scorer who made it 14 for the season, and it was one of his best yet.

The goal seemed to shock Aldershot and Dale were able to keep possession of the ball, slowing the game down and making Aldershot chase. This game plan stayed the same and there were no chances of note in the ten minutes following the goal. Chris Dagnall had the chance to break through after a ball over the top by Kallum Higginbotham but Dagnall's first touch was heavy and the ball rolled to Jaimez-Ruiz.

However, with Dale seemingly in control, at 1-0 it only takes a second to draw level, and that is what the home side did. A ball into Marvin Morgan was well chested down by the substitute into the path of Louie Soares who managed to squeeze the ball past Tom Heaton for an equaliser.

This gave Aldershot real hope that they could grab a winner and they pushed forward following the goal, forcing a corner, which eventually came to nothing. There were to be three minutes of added time, but neither side could create anything in particular and the game came to an end with the scores level.

It was a good point for Dale all things considered, against a side who have a good home record, and the reaction from the home crowd showed they were very pleased with a point at the end of the game. For Dale it was disappointing letting a lead slip, but the point moves them six points clear of Bournemouth who sit second.

Dale: Heaton, Wiseman, T Kennedy, Stanton, Dawson, J Kennedy, Taylor, O'Grady, Dagnall.

Aldershot: Jaimez-Ruiz, Herd, Straker, Blackburn, Charles, Soares, Chalmers, Grant, Donnelly, Jackson, Sandell.

Attendance: 2,453 (213 Dale fans).

There will be a full post-match reaction from Keith Hill on Dale Player on Wednesday morning.