Dale 2 Torquay 1

As footballing clichés go, explaining this one away as a game of two halves is up there with "Sick as a Parrot", "Over the Moon Brian" and "Halifax 0", but this match looked like the phrase was invented for games such as this one.

In the first half, Dale were awesome, and their thoroughly deserved two goal lead at half time flattered the visitors, such was Dale's superiority in the first half. It was by far, Dale's best half of the season so far, where everything seemed to click into place. We were passing the ball for fun, and there seemed to be a gulf in class between the two sides.

The second half was awful, and Torquay, who didn't even have a shot till they scored, came very close to snatching a draw. The last few minutes were enough to make even Simon Coleman's hair stand on end. Dale were certainly holding on in the second half, in which the visitors dominated, and the final whistle brought some very relieved faces around Spotland.

A crowd of 2,871 turned up to see this game, and taking into account that Torquay had something in the region of forty fans making the petrol raiding trip North, it does at least represent a big increase in the number of Dale fans at the match. Not perhaps as good as it should be, but things are at least moving in the right direction.

Despite winning four out of the last five matches playing 4-4-2, manager Steve Parkin opted to change things rounds, and he played a 5-3-2 formation in a bid to accommodate Simon Coleman who made his first Dale appearance today. This meant that young winger Phil Hadland who has impressed in recent games was forced to collect splinters by sitting on the bench.

The change in tactics may well have raised a few eyebrows before the game, but within the opening five minutes, it appeared that it was yet another tactical masterstroke by Steve Parkin, as Dale took the lead. In form striker Clive Platt forced a corner, which was taken by Paul Ware. Ware swung it over, and Mark Monington had the very easy task of heading it in to give Dale the lead, and score his second goal in successive matches.

This goal seemed to be just what Dale needed, as it allowed us to start playing the controlled passing football that we are used to. Dale were on fire in the opening few minutes, and they looked capable of increasing their lead at every moment. Torquay were not at the races, and they just couldn't cope with what Dale had to offer.

Dale were awesome and were knocking the ball around for fun. Torquay were chasing shadows, and they hardly ventured into our half at all. And it was no surprise when Dale increased their lead halfway through the half. A long ball from keeper Neil Edwards was headed forward by Clive Platt into the no mans land between the Torquay defence, who were pushing forward and their goalkeeper. Both parties hesitated, allowing Tony Ellis to move in and lob the keeper with ease from outside the box to deservedly double Dale's advantage.

Dale continued to dominate and this was perhaps Dale's best half in a match since the first half at Northampton last season. Dale came very close to increasing their lead on a few occasions, with Platt, Ellis and Ware all having attempts go just wide of the post. At the other end, Torquay only really ventured into the Dale penalty box once, but Edwards dived well at Bedeau's feet before he had a chance to shoot. It was so easy in fact that Neil Edwards even tried walking off the pitch one minute before half time. Perhaps he was just bored, and wanted a decent seat in the changing room.

Then came half time...............

I don't know what was said by both managers at half time, but the difference between the two sides was evident within the opening seconds of the half. Torquay came out looking livelier and a lot more confident. They showed a desire that hadn't been there in the first half, when the possibility of them scoring was about as likely as Gary Gliiter being asked to babysit.

Within ten minutes of the restart, Dale had allowed Torquay back into the game, and then spent the rest of the game with backs to the wall. The goal came after Torquay's Kevin Hill almost scored with a header. It was brilliantly saved on the goal line by Neil Edwards, who was caught on the hop by the header. Taffy tipped the ball upwards and outwards from an awkward place underneath the cross bar. The ball bounced about a couple of times, before Torquay's former Fulham left back and ex mullet wearer Robbie Herrera finished with a low drive which went into the back of the net, much to the delight of the 40 odd fans who had travelled up from the South East.

Now after this, everything seemed to go to pot. There were misplaced passes, lost tackles, and a few moments that would make even Simon Coleman's hair stand on end. They almost got an equaliser straight after the goal, when Tony Bedeau took advantage of a sloppy back pass to almost score, but he was forced down well by Neil Edwards.

Another break from Torquay again almost earner them a point, when a break down the left, with Bayliss struggling behind was very well saved by Edwards again.

It was all hanging on from Dale who seemed to forget where the Torquay penalty box was for long periods of the second half. There were all sorts of panic in the final few minutes, when Bedeau caused all sorts of problems with his pace (when he remembered to keep his footing!).

With time added on, the referee almost created a very controversial finish to the game. Torquay's defender Alex Watson (brother of Everton's Dave) kicked the ball back to the Torquay keeper Jones, who picked it up and launched the ball forward. With the Dale fans screaming for a Back Pass, his kick earned Torquay a corner, and up he raced. However, Gary Jones was able to clear up for Dale.

However, that wasn't the end of the drama, with Torquay almost scoring from the very last kick of the game. However, referee Bates did the first decent thing all afternoon and blew his whistle.

Now you can point your finger at several reasons why Dale almost succumbed to United in the second half. The change in tactics seemed to be the major reason, with it causing all sorts of confusion at the back. It allowed Bedeau to nip in a couple of times, and with a one or two stray back passes causing a few headaches for Taffy as well. The tactical change seemed to leave too much to do for the full backs, and consequently the midfield was not at its best without people always out wide to lay it off too.

Simon Coleman did alright in his debut, but he visibly tired as the second half went on. After breaking his ankle, this was his second ninety minutes in a week, which is bound to have an effect on him. As he tired, he seemed to play a lot more hopeful hoofs further forward, which didn't help matters, as it just allowed United to push forward again.

Well at the end of the day (back to football clichés again!), this was a very welcome three points, and it sees Dale up into second place with a three point advantage over third place Cardiff. Wins against Torquay don't come round too often, so for that in itself we should be very grateful.

However, if the rest of the season will consist of games like this, it might be a valium shortage hitting Rochdale rather than a petrol shortage.

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