Dale won this game having come from behind to win a match for the first time since September 1996.  

Dale won this game having come from behind to win a match for the first time since September 1996. In fact we didn't even have to wait this long for Mark Bailey to score a goal. In that time, we have changed governments, seen the rise and fall of the Spice Girls and built a new stand.

The game was slow in starting, but when it had done it was worth the wait. Full credit to Brighton who came to Spotland looking to win away for the sixth time on the trot. Dale controlled the majority of the first half, but as is usually the case, failed to take advantage of their dominance. Edwards who managed to get here on time this week had very little to do in the first half. However, neither did the young Brighton keeper Ormerod.

There were few real opportunities for either side. The nearest Dale came to scoring was following a great passing move, which led to Peakey receiving the ball in acres of space inside the Brighton box. Peake failed to take advantage of the chance to put one over on his former side, and blasted the ball well over from about ten yards.

The second half brought a little more openness into the match, but Dale still could not break the deadlock. Michael Holt came the closest to scoring following a good move. He struck a great shot on the turn from the edge of the box, but was touched over by keeper Ormerod. Other than that, most of the best chances fell to the travelling Brighton side, cheered on by a very vocal support of about 400. Edwards made a fantastic double save, the second of which he had no right to do so, recovering well from the first to make the second. Not longer after, a Brighton shot was tipped onto the underside of the crossbad by Taffy, who saw the ball bounce downwards towards the goal line, before being cleared.

Soon, Brighton took the lead following a bit of slack defending, where the Dale players were ball watching, giving Mayo an easy opportunity to put the homeless side one up.

We have seen time and time again over the past two and a half years that this is the signal to raise the white flag as far as the Dale players are concerned. Not today. The Dale players immediately stepped up a gear. Holt broke down the left wing, before putting in a low cross to Robbie Painter who had loads of space to put the ball to the keepers left into the back of the net.

Dale kept up the pressure as they went in search of the winner, though Brighton also did the same. Dale were on top for about five minutes, before Brighton managed to attack with more regularity. It seemed that Dale would be content with a point, but after another Edwards save, Dale went on the attack again through Michael Holt down the left. He was brought down by the Brighton full back Browne as he was about to enter the box. The ref quite rightly gave the full back his second yellow card and the subsequent red card. The free kick was swiftly taken, to Mark Monington who headed the ball into the bottom right hand corner, sparking mass celebrations.

Full credit to Dale and the players. The midfield had a good game with Bryson starring, but well supported by Peakey and the increasingly impressive Paul Carden. We had yet another dodgy ref, who let several challenges go and should have booked at least half of the Brighton team. It wasn't a dirty game, but the challenges warranted yellow cards. We are suffering again from the inconsistency of the officials.

Dale: Edwards, Sparrow, Barlow, Hill, Monington, Farrell, Carden, Painter, Holt, Bryson, Peake.

Photo: Action Images

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