If Dale can produce this sort of performance every week between now and the end of the season, then promotion will no longer something we can just dream about come the end of the season. This was a very fine performance by Dale, and on another day, they could have won by an absolute landslide. Furthermore, if Darlington are the true favourites for this division, then who is to say that we can't go on and win the actual title.
Carried away by a 1-1 draw? Me, never. Anyway, suffice to say that Dale controlled the match from the start to finish, allowing the visitors just the one shot on goal in the entire match. It was a very solid performance by Dale, with Dale having most of the play. We knocked the ball about well, made use of the (limited) width of the pitch, and came close to winning it on several occasions.
The game began like a dream for Dale. Everything was going right. Passes were being completed, and the new look Dale midfield looked a class above the visitors. In fact, if anything, it seemed too easy. Far from it.
Debutant Lee Todd slipped when attempting to put a challenge in down the Dale left, allowing the Darlington right winger to skip past. Eventually the ball was put over to the back of the goal, where Darlo striker Lee Nogan, back in the side due to the departure of Gabbiadini and Duffield, broke free of the marking of Clive Platt to knock the ball home.
Well Dale got straight back into the game trying to get back on level terms, and they caused a lot of problems in the box. There were a couple of goalmouth scrambles, but nothing concrete. Dale sometimes struggled to get past the defensive pairing of Liddle and Aspin, who are probably as good as a defensive pair as any in the division. The led an offside trap excellently, which Dale often struggled to cope with on regular occasions.
Dale actually scored just before half time, but the goal was again the victim of the offside trap. It looked like Clive Platt was the man given offside, but it was Tony Ellis who got the "goal", running from an onside position to knock the ball home.
Within ten minutes of the start of the second half starting, Dale were back on level terms through a Simon Davies penalty. Paul Ware received an elbow in the penalty box from Paul Heckingbottom, which went unnoticed by most people. Fortunately the referee saw it, and awarded the decision to Dale. With Gary Jones suspended, Michael Oliver on the bench, and Paul Ware being given a standing count on the floor, ex Man Utd youth player Simon Davies stepped up, scoring easily to put Dale back on level terms.
After that, it was more of the same really. Darlington failed to follow up their first half shot on goal, and Dale spent most of the match in the Darlington half. Wayne Evans and Tony Ford both had good chances that came close to sealing the win for Dale, but try as they may, they found keeper Collett in fine form when called upon.
Dale made three late subs in an attempt to nick a win, with Hamilton, Oliver and Hadland all coming on for Rochdale debuts, but it was not to be.
Nevertheless, this was a fine Dale performance, which should have secure all three points. Darlington offered very little in return. This is very encouraging for the future.
Ref M.A.Cooper: First match for the new official and it showed. Very poor showing, Failed to play a single advantange throughout the entire game, even when some of them were very obvious. Did well to spot the penalty, but should have sent Darlo's Kaak off in the first half, when he left his foot in the tackle twice in a minute. If he'd have booked him the first time like he should have done, he wouldn't have tried getting away with it again.Failed to deal with the constant moaning from the Darlington players - you could see where their fans get it from! Former Dale player Adam Reed got booked for time wasting in the first half on a throw in, when he had no one to throw the ball to due to a lack of movement by his team mates.
Dale man of the match: Paul Ware. A good solid midfield performance and never stopped running! Tackled and passed to a high standard and looks a great signing. Keep it up!
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