Dale 3-1 Darlo

Keith Hill`s impact on the club throughout 2007 was huge. It seemed fitting then that this game summed up everything which has made Hill so popular with the fans and given them so much hope for the future.

It was a vintage first half display from Dale and a great way to bring in the new year. TK returned from illness to take up his usual left back role, Doolan came in for Crooks in the centre, ALF came in for Evil and Joe Thompson, who made such an impact at Macc, was brought in in place of Higginbotham.

The game was a rather scrappy end-to-end affair in the opening exchanges although Dale were clearly looking to knock the ball about and have a real go at Darlo. Dale`s first goal came from probably there first real chance when TK produced an excellent cross from the left which was met by the head of the onrushing Joe Thompson. It was a great moment for the lad and a bit of a kick in the teeth to those who have seen it fit to criticise him in recent times. The management duo seem to think he has a real future in the game and who are we to argue?

Dale continued to push forward and they were playing some really good stuff attacking with both width and pace. Darlo weren`t without chances though, and Dale were let off the hook when a ball was fired in from the wing but eluded everyone. Minutes later Darlo had an effort on goal but it was easily saved by Russell. Russell was to go on to have a great game against his old club and was a key reason Dale took all three points.

As Dale pushed men forwards looking to add to there tally Darlo broke up field and with a Darlo striker looking as though he was through on goal Stanton somehow made up the ground and put in a fantastic tackle which had three sides of the ground on their feet in appreciation. Dale then played the ball forward and out wide to JT who pulled the ball back for Murray to calmly slot the ball home and make it 2-0. Murray was having an excellent game and holding up the ball and getting involved as we all know he can, his form from earlier in the season seems a distant memory now. The goal was celebrated by Adam Rundle who turned to the Darlo fans and clenched his fists in their direction, the winger had been getting dogs abuse throughout from the Darlo fans but if anything it had been spurring his performance on. His celebration apparently saw him reported to a Policeman, oh how I would have loved to see the look on the Dibble`s face!

The next five minutes were crucial, the last thing Dale wanted was to concede a goal before half time and allow Darlo back into it. However, it almost looked as though they were going to do that when Sam Russell was called upon to produce a fantastic save from an Ian Miller header. With that went Darlo`s first half threat. Indeed Dale added to their lead before half time when ALF was apparently brought down by Miller, it was unclear from the Sandy but speaking to people after the game it was a tad harsh. Having said that, if indeed the ref deemed the offence worthy of a penalty surely the Darlo defender should have been sent off? Anyway, ALF didn`t care and he calmly slotted the ball home and made it 3-0.

At half time Dave Penney remonstrated with the ref about the penalty although he seemed perfectly happy with his own sides tactics. Darlo had clearly come to Spotland looking to intimidate us breaking up play with fouls and several elbows. At one point Murray had to leave the pitch due to a nasty cut he received above the eye. The worst culprit was Alan White who was giving away fouls left, right and centre. It was typical of Penney to ignore his own sides shortcomings and instead blame the officials, deep down he knew his side had been outplayed throughout the first half.

Into the second half then and Darlo clearly came out with the bit between their teeth. It was just ten minutes into the half when they made their breakthrough. Darlo were awarded a penalty when Ramsden was judged to have pushed White in the penalty area, it seemed harsh on Ramsden but he should know better than to give them an excuse to go down. Clark Keltie put the penalty away and Darlo were well and truly back in the game.

Thompson came off for Higgy shortly after the goal and both players received a warm reception from the home fans. In truth though it did little to stem the Darlo attacks. Dale seemed to be getting further and further back into their own half and were really struggling to keep hold of the ball. Luckily for Dale Darlo were rather toothless upfront and their only weapon seemed to be the long throw into the box. The Dale defenders dealt with this admirably and there were few real moments of danger. Darlo saw a few headers go narrowly wide but Russell, in truth, had few saves to make.

With less than a quarter of the game to go ALF came off for Evil as Dale looked to keep the ball further up the pitch. It was shortly after the introduction of Evil that the game was all but put to bed. After his seventh foul of the game Alan White was finally shown his second yellow of the game and ordered to leave. His reaction summed up everything about Darlo yesterday as he threw a tantrum and refused to leave the pitch offering out anyone near him. His manager was little better, coming onto the pitch and giving the ref an earful. The ref would have been well within his rights to give White another red and send Penney to the stands.

That was it from Darlo as their increased pressure throughout the second half had been soaked up. Dale were now keeping the ball in Darlo`s half and, had they really wanted to, they could have added to their lead. Rundle came closest when he flashed an effort just wide and Murray had a decent effort saved .

The final whistle blew and Dale collected all three points. It was a thoroughly professional display as they battered Darlo in the first half and stood strong in the second. Let us not forget Darlo are a very good team and this result is a massive one for us.