Ben Toner will referee Dale for the third time this season when we entertain Southend on Saturday.

The Darwen official was in charge of our Carabao Cup second round tie at Middlesbrough last August and then the league visit to Bradford eight weeks later.

Fans will remember Dale won that game 2-0 thanks to two late Ian Henderson penalties.

Ben also refereed Dale’s Checkatrade Trophy meeting with Lincoln in January 2018 and the League One fixture at Wigan a month later.

Now in his fourth season on the referees’ list, this will be Mr Toner’s eighth Dale appointment.

As well as the games already mentioned, he was the man in the middle for the dramatic 2-1 win over Doncaster at the Crown Oil Arena in September 2017 and fine 3-2 home defeat of Scunthorpe in December 2016.

Ben also officiated our 2-0 loss at Shrewsbury towards the end of the 2016/17 season.

A 34-year-old science teacher at Fleetwood High School, Mr Toner has refereed 36 games this term, showing 113 yellow cards and six red.

His most recent match was Luton v AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night.

Photo: Action Images

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