Saturday 4th November 2006 - 3pm

 1

Bury

 3

1

Matt Gilks

 25

 Kasper Schmeichel

3

Mark Jackson

 2

 Paul Scott

14

Gary Brown

 3

 Tom Kennedy

6

Jon Boardman

 4

 John Fitzgerald

12

Alan Goodall

 8

 Dwayne Mattis

8

Gary Jones

 12

 Andy Bishop

 4

Ernie Cooksey 

 14

 Richard Baker

 16

Keith Baker 61

 15

 Chris Brass

9

Chris Dagnall

 17

 David Buchanan

7

Darrell Clarke 87

 18

 Marc Pugh 87

17

Glenn Murray 62

 28

 Glynn Hurst 72

Substitutes

20

Clive Moyo Modise 61

 6

 Colin Woodthorpe

26

Morike Sako 62

 10

 Tom Youngs

11

Adam Rundle 87

 11

 Brian Barry Murphy 72

13

Lloyd Rigby

 16

 Nicky Adams 87

2

Simon Ramsden

 24

 Jake Speight

SCORERS

BOOKINGS

Jones 58

  Baker 87

Boardman 90+7

Stuart Ashworth at Spotland

 A hotly disputed late penalty popped the cherry on the cake on a performance that left many open-mouthed. Yes this was a football match, but it isn't the teams we are talking about, it was the referee Darren Drysdale who capped a poor showing with an astonishing decision in stoppage time.

The controversy began with Dale continuing the second half onslaught on Bury's goal late in the game.Rochdale had pushed everyone forward in the dying minutes, desperate to get something out of the game when the visitors broke.

With a four man to two advantage recalled defender Jon Boardman threw himself in front of Dwayne Mattis as he raced into the Dale box. Boardman nicked the ball away before taking out the player and as the crowd applauded the tackle referee Drysdale raced over with whistle blowing pointing to the spot.

It was a decision that caused fury amongst the home support and it was a kick in the teeth for a Dale side that edged out the visitors in the first half and completely railroaded them in the second.

Rochdale manager Steve Parkin called on his side to start the game on the front foot and from the first whistle they followed his commands to the letter.The opening few minutes brought wave upon wave of attacking football with three chances to open the scoring inside the first seven minutes.

The first almost fell to on loan striker Keith Barker after skipper Gary Jones tried to pick him out with a cross from the right.The ball looped towards the Dale striker but he failed to bring the ball under control in a good position just outside the box.

Defender Gary Brown, who again shunned those who criticise his size with a good solid display, almost caught 'keeper Kasper Schmeichel out with a central free kick, but the Dane got down well to smother Browns effort by his left post.

Bury weren't without chances themselves although they were very few and very far between.In-form striker Glynn Hurst went close with a flicked header from a Tom Kennedy right-sided free kick and only the outstretched hand of Matt Gilks prevented the ball from sneaking under the crossbar.

Two minutes later Rochdale's blistering start was rewarded after Chris Dagnall started and ended a move down the left.Alan Goodall dinked a little nine-iron free kick down the flank one that Dagnall latched onto before beating his marker with a neat turn.The scouse striker pulled the ball back to Barker waiting in the centre, but he miss-controlled the ball.It turned out to be the best one-two of the game however as the ball looped into the path of Dagnall and he smashed the ball home from six yards.

With things seemingly going the home side's way the second chance of the afternoon fell to the visitors and this time there was nothing Gilks could do about it.A Tom Kennedy right wing corner dropped to the ground inside the box and Bury's John Fitzgerald was first to react, lashing the ball home off the underside of the crossbar.

It didn't stop Rochdale going for more and with 19 minutes on the clock the home side came very close to registering their second of the afternoon as ball back into the box from Ernie Cooksey almost sneaked in at the far post as it dropped from the misty sky.

Dale went closer still three minutes later after a near post corner was met by Barker but his header clipped the crossbar on its way into the Sandy Lane end.

Three minutes later Glenn Murray squandered a chance after a flick on from Barker fell invitingly for the on loan striker.With a clear route to goal 18-yards out Murray snatched at his effort and failed to make a decent contact, scuffing the ball wide of the target.

Just before the half hour mark Rochdale, as seen many times this season, fell victim to the sucker-punch. Another rare attack saw Dwayne Mattis brought down by a clumsy Ernie Cooksey tackle inside the box and the referee made the right decision by pointing to the spot.Former Dale striker Andy Bishop stepped up and steered the ball to his right with Gilks going the other to make it 2-1.

Rochdale responded with a couple of efforts before the break with a strong run by Darrell Clarke only ending with his shot blocked and a Chris Dagnall effort flying just wide of the mark.

Steve Parkin's side needed to come out of the break as brightly as they went into it and following an initial scare when Bishop headed just over the bar early in the half, they were brighter.

Parkin's '60 Watters' cranked it up to halogen proportions as they mounted an onslaught on Bury that would last throughout the second period.

However, despite the pressure a combination a poor finishing and dogged defending kept the score line intact for the visitors.Dale boss Steve Parkin needed something different in attack and on the hour introduced Morike Sako and Clive Moyo Modise for tiring duo Murray and Barker.

The substitutions lifted Dale into overdrive with Sako almost making an immediate impact with a spinning shot that zipped wide and Modise trying his luck with an overhead kick that flew over the bar

On 63 minutes Rochdale's Gary Jones drove a fierce low shot at goal that Schmeichel saved and although he spilled the ball Sako on the follow-up was ruled offside.

Two minutes later the on loan Man City 'keeper goofed again after coming off his line in an ill-judged attempt to gather a Gary Brown cross.Morike Sako got there before the 'keeper only to power his header off the crossbar.

Shakers boss Chris Casper opted to try and stop the constant blue wave of attack and settle for the points introducing Brian Barry Murphy for Glynn Hurst as he attempted to shore up his midfield.

The move worked to some extent, as the game entered the final twenty minutes Bury managed to get out of their own half and with only their second effort of the second period they almost put a little daylight between the scores.Ritchie Baker raced forward and from distance cracked a stinging low shot that beat Gilks but found the upright rather than the back of the net.

With the game entering stoppage time Modise almost made a name for himself as he desperately tried to hook the ball home with a melee of players all intent of getting something on a loose ball in the box, but without any power Schmeichel gathered the ball easily.

Morike Sako was next to register an effort in the 93^rd minute of play, but again failed to find the target from a decent position.

Cue moment of controversy! As explained above, a penalty for the visitors to secure the points and a red card for Boardman for the challenge.Harsh? You'd better believe it, but it was the score line that sadly failed to respect the effort, pressure and chances rather than the final few seconds.

Match Stats

Rochdale

Bury

ATTEMPTS

 18

ATTEMPTS

 10

ON TARGET

 5

ON TARGET

 5

FREEKICKS

 16

FREEKICKS

 12

CORNERS

 10

CORNERS

 6

OFFSIDE

 2

OFFSIDE

 1

YELLOW CARDS

 1

YELLOW CARDS

 1

RED CARDS

 1

RED CARDS

 0

POSSESSION

52%

POSSESSION

48%

Star Player

Rochdale

Bury

 Gary Jones

 Dwayne Mattis

Managers Comments in Brief

Steve Parkin

Chris Casper

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