Dale failed to score again despite facing a Halifax team which had a Keeper with a broken finger for the first half and a midfielder taking his place in the second half.
Dale failed to score again despite facing a Halifax team which had a Keeper with a broken finger for the first half and a midfielder taking his place in the second half. The game was a dour encounter with a lack of quality to be seen anywhere.
Very little to report - this match from both sides was utter crap. Apart from Peake, Bayliss, Carden, the little used but faultless Edwards, and Halifax's sprightly Patterson, there wasn't a player who deserved a wage at the Shay. Ref Dowd was crap for both teams, endlessly blowing his whistle, giving decisions the wrong way and wafting yellow cards about for fun, in association with a clueless linesman.
The match - Peake had a good free kick that went wide in the first half. The second half saw "dirty get" Kevin Hulme take over in goal. Dale fans looked forward to an onslaught on a dodgy substitute keeper, but apart from weak headers from Mono and Lydiate, he wasn't even tested. Dale fans spent the last half hour screaming for Holty to replace either the hapless Morris or the half hearted Painter to no avail. By rights we should have had a bagful, but it looked like Barrow couldn't care less and the Dale players looked to be totally lacking in confidence, motivation and basic footballing knowledge. Halifax were as bad, if not worse than Dale, and if we can't win games like this, something must change - now!
We nearly lost it at the end, but Mono cleared a late goalmouth scramble away.
There was only one topic of conversation on the coach back, WHEN will IT happen ? Not WILL IT happen but WHEN. The supporters club Chairman is refusing to travel away because of his dismay at the management, many are refusing to watch their only Rochdale at home. Big Nose and Baldy must know they're on their way out, and appear to want to take OUR Rochdale down with them. There is only one option left....
Today's team:Edwards, Carden, Barlow ( Bryson ), Bayliss, Monington, Farrell, Stoker, Painter, Morris, Peake, Lydiate.
Subs not used : Holt ( why not used ?????? ) Bailey
Attendance : 2,759 ( about 600 from Rochdale )