ROCHDALE, England (Interstat) — Rochdale opened its National League campaign with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Wealdstone at Crown Oil Arena on Saturday, overcoming an early deficit to secure three points.

The visitors from Wealdstone defied pregame projections by taking a second-half lead, but Rochdale responded with two late goals, including a stoppage-time winner, to seal the result. The match was the season opener for both clubs in England’s fifth tier.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a more comfortable 3-1 win for the hosts, whose probability of victory was calculated at 89.6% by the same service’s ELO rating system. Wealdstone’s resilient performance, however, made for a tense contest until the final moments.

The first major chance fell to the hosts, but it was Wealdstone which struck first against the run of play. In the 58th minute, forward Deonysus Woodman broke the deadlock, finishing a move to stun the home crowd and put the Stones ahead 1-0. The assist was credited to defender Kyron Gordon, whose long pass from the back initiated the scoring play.

Rochdale, prompted into urgency, found its equalizer 19 minutes later. Veteran striker Ian Henderson leveled the score in the 77th minute, tapping in from close range after a low cross from forward John-Kymani Gordon. The goal shifted momentum firmly in favor of the home side.

As the match entered its final scheduled minute, Rochdale completed the turnaround. Midfielder Luke Hannant emerged as the hero, scoring in the 90th minute to clinch a 2-1 victory for Dale. The decisive goal capped a sustained period of pressure from the hosts in the latter stages.

The physical encounter saw three yellow cards issued by the officiating crew. Wealdstone’s Kyron Gordon was cautioned in the 41st minute for a tactical foul. Rochdale’s Dominic Hutchinson received a yellow card in the 69th minute for a late challenge. Rochdale’s John-Kymani Gordon was also booked in the 82nd minute for dissent.

With the result, Rochdale begins its National League season with a perfect record of one win and zero losses, carrying that mark across all competitions. Wealdstone starts its campaign with a record of zero wins and one loss in the league and overall.

The victory provides a positive start for Rochdale as it aims for promotion back to the English Football League, while Wealdstone will look to rebound from a narrow defeat despite a promising performance on the road.