Things which are great in life in order

1) Injury time away wins.

2) Sex with Kylie*

3) That first Stone Roses album

 * = probably

And let it be said, there was few if anyone could have argued with the result. It'd be a touch untrue to say that we bossed the game for the full 90 minutes, but we were without doubt the better side of the two, and the only bone of contention was how we hadn't put the game to bed long before Alfie's 93rd minute winner.

For such was our advantage over the hosts, that they must have been counting their blessings at half time to have still been on level terms after we'd been gifted chance after chance by a Bradford defence which did their best to convince me that I could still make it as a professional footballer despite being over weight and in my mid thirties.

There were many plaudits to be given to the Dale side after this performance but above everything you had to look towards our management duo. Without doubt, this was their bravest team selection in their 15 month tenure at Spotland, dropping some big name players from the Dale side whilst having to cope with a couple of key suspensions. And all that on the back of three straight defeats.You'll be hard pushed to find bigger smiles anywhere this weekend other than on the face of Hilly and Flicker.

So that brave team selection saw Sam Russell dropped in favour of Jamie Spencer. It's arguable as to whether Russell had done anything to warrant dropping, and had we not got another keeper of a high quality on the books, then the topic would never even be discussed.

Also we had Doolan and Alfie dropped to the bench alongside Russell, with Perkins reverting the centre and Thorpe back in the starting line up.

Right as for the game.......... Much has been made of Bradford's decision to cross that £20 threshold in entrance fees (and fairplay to the Bradford steward who convinced me that my six year old was only five and therefore entitled to free entry). It's wrong, it's sets a precedent that every club in the division can now point to in the Summer when they raise prices yet again, and it was worth every single penny just to see Matthew Clarke's own goal.

It wasn't as much a goal which was celebrated but rather one that was laughed at. For you'll do well to find a funnier Dale goal in recent years. Paul Butler had nothing on this.

We'd played a nothing ball into the box, and then time kind of went into slow motion. The whole thing came across like the game had been brought to a halt or something. Some Bradford defender stuck his leg out for no reason whatsoever and directed the ball goalwards.

And we all had enough time to check out the linesman to ensure that there was no flag up, and that the referee hadn't stopped play. The ball trickled and trickled goalwards. We were celebrating before it had hit the net. Well we say celebrating, when we mean laughing, pointing and laughing some more.

And this seemed to set us up for hammering our Yorkie opponents. Bradford didn't really twig that having David Wetherall in defence has cost them three relegations already, and we did our best to take full advantage. We knocked the ball about with confidence, with both wingers seeing plenty of action.

But it was when we got the ball and ran at Bradford where we really threatened. They had no answer to our power and pace and seemed to go brown underpants time when they looked up and saw the likes of Jones, Perkins and Rene running ball at feet direct at them.

And they were right to, because if any of them had taken the chances that they created, we'd have had such a lead that we'd have declared by 3:30 and been telling the turnstile operators than £20 was a bargain.

For that Bratfud defence was parted more times than *self edit goes here* and it seemed like a matter of time before we added to our one goal. We even rounded their keeper two or three times but the City defence managed to scramble it away.

But it wasn't a half of complete dominance. Whilst they might have been awful defensively, they looked a very useful outfit going forward. Playing with a forward line of Willie and Thorne, our defence had to be on top form to stop them going all snooker loopy, and we were most certainly tested.

They had this ten minute spell where the equaliser seemed a matter of when not if. But our defence most certainly rose to the challenge. There seemed to be a newly found responsibility about so many of our individual performances today. They'd been asked to step up to the plate. Make no mistake, they did.

McArdle ruled the roost at the back up against the very impressive Willy Topp. At times, it was desperation stuff, but it was a tussle that we always came out of on top. Even if many of them had us "just" coming out on top.

Also not good enough for bury Tom Kennedy had his work cut out with the tricky Omar Daley, but TK displayed an outstanding footballing brain by never rushing in with his tackles and just waiting for the right moment. Daley impressed many but unquestionably it was a battle in which TK came out on top.

But let's not give all the credit to the defence. For it was our midfield which dictated the way that this game happened. David Perkins in particular was everywhere, and was clearly sending a message to Hill and Flicker that he prefers his central midfield spot.

So one minute to go of added time, couple of bits to tweak at half time to improve matters, and we can set about extending our lead. No, non, nein, нет, æ²’有.

There was time for one last attack from the home side, and just when it looked like we'd weathered the storm, City went and did the unthinkable and equalised. What did they want to go and do that for?

Anyway, it came with the Dale fans screaming offside, but it was most probably allowed due to a deflection as the ball came over, and it landed at Peter Thorne who's shot disappeared behind a post before landing in the back of the net. Consider it an injustice.

If that goal had ditched our confidence, then you wouldn't think so given our start to the second half. For we could have scored a couple of times before most Dale fans had retaken their seats in the sub standard away stand.

It was Rene Howe who was the man responsible, with his second attempt seeing the City keeper pulling off a point blank save to force yet another Dale corner.

We then had the intervention of the referee. I've never liked complaining about refs when we've lost so its great to go on about the incompetence of Boyeson (and I don't doubt that the archives of Dot Com will show many many complaints about Boyeson) after we've won a game. It kind of reinforces our point.

Gary Jones was on the receiving end of a two footed challenge from Omar Daley. Had red card written all over it, and fortunately for us, the ref was right in front of it. Or so we thought. Nowt was given, not even a free kick for what was the most obvious red card that you've seen all season.

Even the Bradford manager McCall (who would have been sacked at any other club) realised in a brief respite from barking at his players, and took Daley off immediately before the ref got rid. But the moment proved just how desperate Gary Jones is to break the Dale record. He could have been subbed half a dozen times in this game after being kicked left right and centre (well I hope not centre). He looked indestructable.

We still were the better side, and the decision to sub Daley allowed left back Kennedy to push about 20 yards further forward, and it certainly contributed to our win but the Bantams had chances of their own.

Thorne had their best effort, when he let rip from about 25 yards with goal written all over it. To be honest, I'd given up all hope of it staying out and it seemed a surprise to see the City fans not celebrating and the ball well wide after deflecting off the post. Of course, Spencer had it covered.

At the other end, we were getting increasingly frustrated at the decisions by Boyeson, and the actions of own goal scorer Matt Clarke. You'd have thought at six foot three and thirteen stone, he'd be able to handle himself. But he came across like some walking advert for Mr Muscle, as he dropped to the floor every time he challenged Lee Thorpe to the ball.

Thorpe's booking for a trivial challenge saw us switch from Lee to Le, and if truth be told, Alfie didn't have a good game. With fresh legs, he didn't put the home side under any danger at all. Even when we went three up front by introducing Buckley, Alf looked to lack the confidence to carry out my promise to the previously mentioned six year old that Alife would win it for us.

 And several minutes after the board indicating four minutes of additional time, something snapped in Alfie's head. He gave the ball away cheaply, then produced the most determined challenge of the day as he threw himself into a tackle to win the ball back.

And then the defining moment of the weekend. We pressed again, Alfie at the edge of the penalty box, and with what was bound to be the last chance for either side, he struck a shot, which went beyond the outstretched arm of the Bradford keeper.

I thought it was going wide. Everyone I spoke to who was sat near me thought it was going wide. It didn't. The net bulged and 800 Lancastrians went Monkey poo. For a long, long time. And by the time we looked up again, there was about 12,000 less Yorkies in the ground than there had been seconds earlier. Never seen a ground empty so quickly.

And we had a matter of seconds to wait until Boyeson blew his whistle. There was to be no final threat. He blew, we won and we piled out for a 40 minute version of an apparent 10 minute walk but that's a different travelling tale altogether.

Wasn't the best performance by Dale of the season, but was a much needed and much deserved win. There seemed to be increased responsibility taken by the squad today, with there being several captains on the Valley Parade pitch or whatever corporate sponsorship is dictating its namenow.

But the brave team selection decisions proved to be decisions that helped win us the game and Hill and Flicker get yet another feather in their caps.  Guess that means the wheels are back on....

Photo: Action Images

Rochdale Polls