Saturday 28th October 2006 - 3pm

 1

Stockport County

 3

1

Matt Gilks

29

John Ruddy

3

Mark Jackson

2

Rob Clare

18

Nathan Stanton

4

Tony Dinning

21

James Sharp 83

6

Ash Williams

12

Alan Goodall

8

Damien Allen 84

8

Gary Jones

9

Tes Bramble

19

Lee Crooks 46

11

Mark Robertson

5

John Doolan

14

Adam Le Fonde 42

9

Chris Dagnall 46

16

Gareth Owen 61

26

Morike Sako

20

Jason Taylor

17

Glenn Murray

26

David Poole

Substitutes

20

Clive Moyo Modise 46

1

James Spencer

7

Darrell Clarke 46

3

Michael Rose 84

11

Adam Rundle

10

Liam Dickinson 61

6

Jon Boardman

17

Greg Tansey

2

Simon Ramsden 83

19

Michael Malcom 42

SCORERS

BOOKINGS

Stanton 40, Goodall 57, Sako 75

Taylor 62

Stuart Ashworth at Spotland

Rochdale slumped to their second consecutive defeat after an indifferent performance from the home side who met a County 'keeper in fine form.

Steve Parkin brought Mark Jackson into the starting eleven at the expense of Simon Ramsden and stuck to the 4-3-3 formation that had served so well.

The opening exchanges brought an even game with no one side taking the game by the scruff of the neck and the best bit of action we got was a15th minute long range shot by Gary Jones which was always rising.

The best move of the game arrived with the best chance of the game so far on 18 minutes.  Sako showed good skill in the centre of the park to beat his marker before slotting the ball out wide to James Sharp.  The Dale defender made his way down the flank before popping the ball into the box for Sako to nod into the path of home debutant Glenn Murray, who was unlucky to steer the ball wide from just inside the six yard box.

Just a minute later a 40-yard effort from Ash Williams left Gilks flat-footed and found its way into the top corner sending the visiting fans wild and Dale fans wondering what had happened.

The home side enjoyed a good spell but despite neat crisp passing they struggled to find a way through the County rearguard.

Stockport showed they could still be a threat and any slip would be punished especailly after Tes Bramble let fly from 30-yards with a shot the went wide

Nathan Stanton picked up the first yellow card of the afternoon after arriving a little late on Damien Allen, a foul that ended the County man's afternoon.  He was replaced by Michael Malcom.

Just before the break an inswinging corner headed goalward by Gareth Owen was adjudged to have been handballed in the box by the referee Kettle and Mark Robertson slotted home.

Dale manager Steve Parkin rang the changes at half-time with Lee Crooks and Chris Dagnall making way for Darrell Clarke and just a smart block from defender Williams prevented the changes making maximum with a minute of the second half played.  It was a move involving Moyo-Modise

Glenn Murray was felled by Rob Clare inside the box on 53 minutes and skipper Gary Jones smashed the ball home, sending Ruddy the wrong way.

With their tails up Rochdale pressed and almost got back on level terms minutes later after a neat ball through to Sako brought a smart save from 'keeper Ruddy.

With Rochdale pressing the away side beat Dale's offside trap with Bramble through on 58 minutes.  He went on to round Gilks but with the goal waiting to accept the ball Bramble somehow managed to put it wide.

Stockport were on the back foot and the organised Hatters we saw in the first half were simply all over the place.

The rare foray into the Dale half from the visitors almost brought another goal on 66 minutes after a low drive from substitute Malcom skipped up off the surface as gilks went to ground.  The ball cannoned off the keeper onto the bar.

That elusive equaliser was almost found Glenn Murray was brought down on the edge of the box and Sako went close with a low shot from the freekick.

Another chance went begging  after Dale broke on 78 minutes.  Midfielder Gary Jones got the better of a challenge inside the centre circle and fed the ball through to Clive, poor finish easy for Ruddy.

Stockport extended their lead after Tes Bramble got his second 'gimme' of the afternoon only this time he slotted the ball home.  It was unfortunate for Rochdale who had Sharp injured wide on the flank and he was judged to play everyone onside as the ball was headed forward and Bramble was left clean through, this time he made no mistake.

 Match Stats

Rochdale

Stockport County

ATTEMPTS

 13

ATTEMPTS

 10

ON TARGET

 6

ON TARGET

 3

FREEKICKS

 13

FREEKICKS

 17

CORNERS

 5

CORNERS

 7

OFFSIDE

 2

OFFSIDE

 1

YELLOW CARDS

 3

YELLOW CARDS

 1

RED CARDS

0

RED CARDS

0

POSSESSION

53%

POSSESSION

47%

Star Player

Rochdale

Stockport County

 Clive Moyo-Modise

John Ruddy 

 Pulled off a series a fine saves to keep his side in the lead.

Managers Comments in Brief

Steve Parkin

Jim Gannon

You cannot expect to win games when you give away soft goals similar to those we did today. 

I thought we throughly deserved the three points despite Rochdale coming back at us in the second half.

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