| This was a very encouraging performance by Dale in a game where their superiority was clear for all to see from start to finish. Goals from Plattini, who made it five in six matches, and Mark Monington on his first start of the season, were enough to kill of York, but it could easily have been many more, had we taken advantage of our chances.
Despite the petrol shortage and rumours of hold ups on the motorway, there was a decent number of Dale fans who made the journey to Bootham Crescent with around 300 present. This meant less than 2000 home supporters in attendance. Those present included the latest addition to the Dale "noisemachine" [(c) Frank Bishop], with a brass section added to it, which provided some light hearted moments along the way.
There were several enforced changes from the side that beat Carlisle on Saturday. There was a recall for the previously suspended Tony Ellis, which prompted a change back to 4-4-2. There were also a comeback for Mark Monington who came in for the injured Keith Hill. Teenage winger Phil Hadland again started, but the change of tactics forced him to play on the left wing, with Flitcroft pushed out on the right.
The game began in constant drizzle which was much appreciated by the Dale supporters on the uncovered away terrace which masquerades as an away end at York. This gave the pitch a slippy feel and it allowed the ball to move briskly across the turf, aiding our passing game.
York had the first major chance of the game within the opening few minutes, just like they did last season. Former Lincoln striker Colin Alcide turned well (almost Ellis style) and forced Neil Edwards to tip the ball out for a corner. That was their last shot on target in the entire match.
However, Dale were soon in the driving seat when Clive Platt scored his fifth goal in six matches. He received the ball from Tony Ellis, just inside the York half, and ran at the home side. He did a couple of shimmies and skinned a couple of the home defenders in the process. In doing so, he found himself in so much space, he could have started waving to the crowd there and then. However, he sensibly steadied himself and slotted the ball past SUPER Fettis to continue his recent goal streak. This was a real top class goal by the young striker, and there can be no more doubters left about him now. This stood out for me as the goal of the season so far.
This put Dale very much on top and the home could do little about it. And unlike recent matches, we looked very comfortable at the back. Dave Bayliis had his best game of the season, not that he had much opposition to deal with, as the home side were woeful up front.
City came back into the game and they had their best spell around the half hour mark. However, all that came from that was a bit more possession and nowt else. Edwards was untested, and the defence seemed very capable of doing whatever they wanted.
Dale soon stepped up a gear as half time approached, and by the time that Dale had doubled their lead, you just knew that a second goal had always been on the cards. There were a couple of close calls for Dale which resulted in a couple of corners. Paul Ware crossed one in, and this was met easily by Mark Monington who scored to celebrate his return to the first team.
Dale continued to press until the break, and came close to making it three, before the ref blew his whistle. Dale were excellent value for their half time lead.
The second half began, and it was this opening spell that saw Dale wrap the game up. Dale were awesome in the early stages, and how they never added to their lead, I shall never know. Ellis came close on a couple of occasions, only to see SUPER Fettis save. There was one particularly moment, where a goal mouth scramble almost added a third goal for Dale but York managed to survive to keep their faint hopes alive.
Dale had a couple of penalty appeals turned down when the York defenders tried to remove the Dale attackers shirts, but the ref seemed more interested in awarding offsides. Oh why couldn't we have this fella at Blackburn last week?
York never gave up but as you would expect from a Terry Dolan side, their solution was to pump long balls down the pitch, but they found themselves unable to cope at all with Dale when Dale passed the ball about. At times, it was almost too easy, such was Dale's dominance in the midfield. Gary Jones was everywhere and ran the show, well supported by Ware and Flitcroft. Jones came close to getting on the score sheet himself after a couple of long range efforts went wide of the post.
Despite one late scare, where York forced a goal mouth scramble of their own, but were unable to direct the ball towards the goal, Dale hung on comfortably, and never looked to be in danger of not holding on to their first clean sheet of the season.
This victory sends Dale up to third position now after seven matches. You can't argue with that.
Dale man of the match: Gary Jones. He ran the midfield aiding in both defence and attack. York failed to deal with him at all, and he stood out in a fine Dale performance.
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