Inept defending was the description given by Dale boss Steve Parkin as yet again Rochdale failed to keep a clean sheet (only 2 since the opening day of the season) and a lesson in not only how to defend was given by County, but also a harsh lesson in how to convert chances was dished up to their under-achieving visitors.

Rochdale manager Steve Parkin made two changes to his side with the returning Gary Jones taking his place in midfield at the expense of Neil Brisco. However, a surprise change saw Alan Goodall keep Brisco company on the bench with Tony Gallimore back into the side at left-back.  Dale started 4-4-2 with Chris Dagnall occupying a role on the right of midfield.

Both sides looked to create the openings in a well contested start to the game, despite not much actual action for either keeper. Good movement down the flanks, especially down the left, brought crosses that sadly, from a Dale point of view were never met.

Stockport lost Liam Dickinson after five minutes after picking up an head injury that required stitches, he was replaced by Matt Hamshaw.

It changed the game from a Stockport point of view as they flooded the midfield leaving Jones with far too much on his plate, often swamped by the opposition every time he got the ball.

That said, when the chances came Dale looked the more likely to break the deadlock with Iyesden Christie looking lively. The former Kidderminster striker almost caught Hatters 'keeper James Spencer off his guard with a hooked shot on 17 minutes but his effort flew narrowly over the bar.

From just inside the box Christie then shot on the turn again minutes later, but Spencer was well positioned and the surprise attack from Christie was dealt with quite easily.

Stockport County themselves weren't without chances and Danny Boshell tried his luck with a curling effort after his colleagues had worked the opening well. It wasn't to be for Boshell though as his shot drifted wide of the target and over the bar.

A Dale corner three minutes later led to panic in the County area.  Dale looked to get on the end of the ball as richoceted around the box, but County defended like their lives depended on it and eventually cleared the danger.

With 25 minutes on the clock Rochdale went close to opening the scores after excellent work by Iyesden Christie wide on the right. His turn and cross found Cooksey inside the area, but his volley skimmed wide of the target when he should have done better.  It would prove a costly error and turning point in the match as within five minutes Dale would find themselves two down.

A minute County did break the deadlock after Rory McArdle had failed to deal with a routine cross from the left. A weak clearance only reached the edge of the penalty box and Danny Boshell coolly curled the ball past the helpless Matt Gilks.  It was extremely poor defending and must have left Steve Parkin pulling his hair out.

With 32 minutes played Dale were hit by County on the break and goal number two quickly followed. It was straight forward for the home side to break down the static Dale defence and after a cross from Briggs on the right Griffin nipped in from the left-flank to volley past Gilks, who again had no chance.

Despite the setback Rochdale continued to press, but it was a stubborn and hard-working defence that seemed to get in the way of everything.

With five minutes to the break Chris Dagnall seized upon a loose ball on the far post and drilled a superb effort that Spencer in the County goal parried away superbly, maintaining his sides two goal cushion.

The home side weren't letting Dale have their own way and still looked dangerous going forward against a less than convincing visiting defence.  The returning Jon Boardman was having a torrid time dealing with any aerial ball played in his direction and one or two heated words were exchanged between Dale colleagues on more than one occasion.

Keith Briggs almost made it three for Stockport after his lofted ball into the box travelled further than he thought and just cleared the crossbar.

Dale needed to come out in the second-half with more fight and to some extent they did.  Maybe the reason Rochdale took the game to County lay in the court of the home side who seemed happy to sit on their two goals and defend.  Hamshaw had now retreated to a more solid midfield role leaving Tesfaye Bramble as the lone striker.

Whatever the reason, Dale enjoyed bags of possession but never found the cutting edge to their game, though as the half wore on and the crowd got bored with their sides tactics, openings began to appear.

The response from Steve Parkin's men began to show it's head on the hour mark with a John Doolan effort from 18-yards that narrowly flew wide of the target.

Two minutes later skipper Gary Jones found himself on the edge of the area with a little time to drill a low ball at the County goal. His shot took a touch from a County player and was deflected wide of the post past the out-stretched hand of the keeper.

Mat Gilks still found time to come to the rescue after a rare raid by County over the halfway line. Tes Bramble got within a yard of blasting home, but Gilks was bravely out to deny the County hitman at his front post.  You just felt Dale were likely to get caught on the counter-attack at any given stage.

Even the luck fell the way of the home side after a Lambert corner with 20 minutes to go hit Ramsden on the head inside the box.  The Dale defender didn't know a great deal about his effort and 'keeper Spencer was happy to see the ball go straight into his hands.

If it wasn't bad enough for Parkin and his side Stockport, who had defended reliably throughout, broke to score a third goal as the game came to a close.

Keith Briggs made the most of a fast asleep linesman, who failed to spot the County man in an offside position as he picked up a neat lay off by substitute Adam Le Fonde.

Briggs still had plenty to do despite being three yards ahead of the Rochdale defence but he rounded Gilks and slotted home comfortably.  You had sensed it a third goal may arrive and it prompted a massive departure of fans from the away end.

There is no doubt that despite all their possesion Rochdale lacked a cutting edge tonight and got a lesson in taking your chances from Stockport County.

Stockport defended well to a man and if they continue to play with the passion they showed tonight, Conference football next season won't be an option.