Rochdale 3 Darlington 1

If 2007 was a good year to be a Dale fan the evidence of the first half destruction of high flying Darlington would suggest that 2008 might just get better.In the face of what could best be described as physical intimidation from Dave Penney's side Keith Hill's side kept their cool, kept to their game plan and thoroughly deserved a victory that leaves them within touching distance of the top 7

After a fairly scrappy start teenager Joe Thompson, in for the Kallum Higginbotham opened the floodgates as he got across his marker to head home a Tom Kennedy cross for his first senior goal on 23 minutes.

On 31 minutes Darlington produced a chance as Rob Purdie crossed from the right only for Sam Russell, fresh from signing a new contract, saved well from Ricky Ravenhill.

6 minutes later Dale doubled their lead as Thompson turned provider pulling a cross back from the left that Glenn Murray greedily gobbled for a 5th goal in as many games.

On 39 minutes Russell was then called on to make a wonderful save, twisting in mid air to claw away an Ian Miller header.

Just before the break Adam Le Fondre won and cooly converted a penalty as he got on the wrong/right side of Miller. Quite why the defender didn't see a card of any description was a major asking point as was the fact that Alan white his co-defender was still on the pitch despite an attempt to get into the Guiness Book Of Records for the most fouls in the shortest period of time. Visiting boss Dave Penney lost his cool at the referee as the half time whistle went but in truth he could have no complaints as a less lenient official would have reduced his side considerably.

The visitors were handed a lifeline on 55  minutes as referee Lewis was the only person in the the ground to spot a "foul" by Simon Ramsden on White and after the usual arguments had died down skipper Clark Keltie belted home the spot kick.

Any hopes The Quakers had of clawing something back from the game ended on 75 minutes as referee Lewis finally lost patience with White and dismissed him for yet another foul sparking the usual and in the circumstances comical protestations of innocence.

A top drawer performance by a young side that can only get better. Glenn Murray picked up the sponsors Man of the Match award but all through the side there were some awesome individual performances to send the faithful home very happy.