Holt 31, 74  Goodall 33

Townson 24 

 Dale's first win of the season at home was inspired by Captain 'Grant'-astic as Holt swooped to net a brace pushing Dale to second in the table.

Rochdale manager Steve Parkin opted to go with three strikers, naming Grant Holt as captain in the absence of the suspended Gary Jones, hoping that a little more responsibility would go a long way in keeping the striker clean of a caution.

In fact Grant Holt took just two minutes to get his first effort on target following a well worked corner.  Blair Sturrock flicked on Lamberts cross and Holt met the ball at the far post, but his header was easily saved by Fettis.

In a fairly scrappy start from both sides and chances were few and far between with just the odd distance effort. It took 22 minutes before the supporters saw any action in and a round a goalmouth.

Alan Fettis in the visitors goal was almost punished for two consecutive mistakes.  First his poor kick out was seized upon by Lambert who fed the ball to Sturrock.  The Scotsman watched by his father Paul, shot and enter Fettis error number two as he spilled the effort and unfortunately Lambert couldn't make him pay as the ball drifted the wrong side of him. 

Two minutes later Macclesfield were in front and it was Kevin Townson who got the visitors off the mark with a great finish in front of the Sandy Lane.

It was obvious that the former Rochdale man would score on his return and to be fair it was a good goal by the scouser.  Townson took the ball wide on the right before cutting inside and firing low hard shot that gave gilks no chance.

Macclesfield were lifted by the goal and Kevin Townson was denied some minutes later from a corner by former team mate Matt Gilks.  Townson arrived late at the back post to power a header goalwards.  Somehow Gilks reacted to push the bar onto the underside of the crossbar, though Russell following up should have finished it off with a simple header he managed to put wide.

However, it was Dale who were next to find the back of the net minutes later on two occasions inside three minutes.  Two Rickie Lambert propelled corners brought goals for firstly Grant Holt and then Alan Goodall with the Macclesfield defence's eyes on Holt.

Those goals infuriated Silkmen boss Brian Horton with the poor marking allowing free headers and with the halftime whistle he marched straight down the tunnel to greet his charges in the dressing room.

The second half began with Brian Horton making a change to his line up.  Neil Mackenzie was taken off  as Martin Bullock a more attacking player came on.

Things started well for the Silkmen who responded well to the Horton rocket at half-time.  But still it was scrappy and still there was no pattern to the game.

Brian Horton shuffled his pack again with the introduction of David Beresford for Kevin Sandwith just before the hour, but Dale it was who began to get on top.

Chances came for Steve Parkin's side and sadly they went with a succession of last ditch challenges and the woodwork keeping the home side out.

Goodall continued to do what he does best on the left hand side, attack and almost copied his goal at Leyton Orient after linking well with Sturrock, but after dinking his way past the last defender, but sadly just drove his shot just wide.

Two minutes later the fruitful left wing almost produced goal three for Dale after great work again by Alan Goodall.  Holt was unlucky to see his

Holt lit up Spotland on 75 minutes with a goal of sublime quality.  There's no doubt that a goal was coming, but nobody expected something like that.  Holt turned before the defenders twice before driving the ball past the hapless Fettis.

It's off to Darlington on Bank Holiday Monday  for Steve Parkin and his players, without Lee Cartwright who strained ankle ligaments, an injured Gareth Griffths and a suspended Gary Jones.

But Neil Brisco returns to the fold after his three match ban and with messers Lambert and Holt forging a strike partnership to be reckoned with it promises to be a cracker.