Keith Hill's side proved there is justice in the world of football after a dazzling display at Spotland saw them edge out Championship side Stoke City in the first round of the Carling Cup.  Dale were the better side for much of the 120 minutes but saw what would have been a deserved victory seemingly snatched from their grasp by a fluke last second equaliser in time added on.

However, Hill's side kept their collective nerves in the penalty shoot out to book a deserved place in the second round.

Things certainly didnt start according to plan against a Stoke side who's average height was well over 6 feet. A needless handball by Tom Kennedy resulted in a free kick on the right and from it giant defender Anthony Shawcross, on loan from Manchester United was allowed a free header to plant the ball past James Spencer. That apart the Potters only made two other chances of note, one of which saw them equalise, the other saw Spencer claw away a shot on the turn by Jon Parkin.

Perhaps realising that they were giving their visitors a little too much respect Dale worked their way back into the game with their hard work first of all earning them the right to play and then by producing the sort of football that became their trademark in the final months of last season.

It looked like being a night of frustration though especially when a flowing move finished with Adam Rundle nearly uprooting one of the posts with a left footed rocket but on 85 minutes a deserved and top drawer equaliser came their way. Involved three times in a patient build up Dave Perkins played the ball into Glenn Murray on the edge of the box, took his exquisite back heel on the run and rifled a shot past the onrushing Russell Hoult from 15 yards.     

Then in extra time, Rory Prendergast who had been an excellent replacement for the tiring Adam Rundle found himself on the end of one of many superb Ben Muirhead crosses and calmly side footed a volley home from 10 yards.

With most of the final four added minutes ebbing away Cresswell on his own cut into the Dale box and got off a shot that cannoned off at least one  and possibly two defenders as they closed in on him and past the wrong footed Spencer.

Spencer then saved Stoke's first penalty and thougn the usually reliable Adam Le Fondre saw his effort saved it was left to skipper Jones to seal the win after Carl Dickinson had blazed over . Jones duly obliged and for once in this competition Dale perhaps look forward to drawing a plum.