Dale progressed through to the Northern Semi-Final of the AutoWindscreen Shield, following Mark Monington's "Golden Goal" winner four minutes into extra time.

Dale progressed through to the Northern Semi-Final of the AutoWindscreen Shield, following Mark Monington's "Golden Goal" winner four minutes into extra time. Dale now have their best chance of reaching the Twin Towers in years.

Dale progressed through to the Northern Semi-Finals of the AWS after Mark Monington scored a Golden Goal just four minutes into extra time away at our Yorkshire neighbours.There was quite a large following for Dale for their 'home' match with Halifax with a good 700 or so making the short trip to the wrong side of the hills. The fans were placed in the large open terrace (the old tarmac end), in a ground vastly improved on days of old (not hard).

Barrow made a couple of changes from Saturdays match with Scunny. Monington came back into the side replacing on loan Jason Lydiate who was cup tied having previously played for Scarboro in an earlier round. Dean Stokes made his long awaited return to first team action, after a five month layout. Robbie Painter had to make do with a place on the bench, as Paul Carden was back in midfield.

Dale started well and looked very comfortable indeed in the first ten minutes with the Shaymen hardly setting foot into our half. However for all this early possession, Dale made few attacks to speak of. As the half went on Halifax came closest to scoring on a couple of occasions, but Edwards did what was needed when called upon. Indeed, he pulled off a brilliant save at the feet of one of the attackers.

The second half started and Halifax almost scored when a long range effort rebounded off the crossbar with Edwards completely beaten (or either he was very confident that it was not going in!). Halifax had a couple of near efforts and should really have taken the lead. Dale weathered the storm and soon got back into the game. Dean Stokes who soon tired was replaced by Gary Jones who took the lead for Dale within a minute of coming on. Morris was pulled back in the box, and the ref duly gave the penalty. Now Morris had been the victim of some awful manhandling by Sertori all night, who constantly had arms all over him, but this seemed far less serious that some the ref had let go. The talk on the terraces was who would take the penalty. I was surprised holt wasn't up there, but it was Paul Carden who stepped up to take it, only to be pushed out of the way by Gary Jones who coolly slotted home to put Dale in front.

We then saw Dale doing their usual trick of defending on the edge of the penalty box, allowing the Shayman to attack them, but still they looked fairly solid and were even getting the odd break. One break saw Holt go in fairly high on the ginger Halifax substitute (john Brown?), and was lucky to avoid a booking. Brown retaliated by pushing Holty away. The rules state that if you raise your hands you have got to get sent off. No cards. Holt was immediately subbed by Barrow, who feared that the young man's temper had gone, and brought on Painter. Painter did not look fit in the slightest. He did not look his usual sprightly self, and was in fact quite slow on occasions. One break saw Painter bearing down on a free ball with only ex Dale reserves keeper Lee Martin to beat, but he finished a couple of yards away from the challenge, when it was Dale's for the taking.

Dale actually stepped up the pressure a little bit, and went looking for the second, but got caught out when a high ball tested the pace of Bayliss and Monington. The town striker got between them, but was pushed down just inside the box by Mono, and the ref gave another penalty. A fifth consecutive penalty save was probably too much to ask for, but Edwards got a hand to it, and another inch would probably have seen him push it wide. One all.

The last fifteen minutes saw Dale trying to hold on to the draw and to push the game into sudden death extra time. Halifax came close a couple of times, but Edwards always looked like he wasn't going to allow another in.
The ref finally blew for full time, and the mangers had to give their team talks on the pitch. The Dale fans sang throughout this, whilst there was mostly silence from the home fans. Whether this had any effect I don't know but within four minutes we were in dreamland.

Dale reverted at the restart to a 4-4-2 with Jones pushing up, and Sparrow back at right back, and were soon on the attack. Dale won a corner, and immediately the fans were crying for Mono. The ball went over and was drilled back into the box, allowing Mono to toe poke the ball home into the back of the net, to send the travelling fans into ecstasy. The players seemed equally delighted, and few can doubt the team spirit that exists within the dressing room on this showing.

Couple of points. One the ref was just totally inept. Morris was given no protection whatsoever. Personally I didn't think it was a Dale penalty, and theirs looked a little questionable. Bothered. Finally, some credit must go to Graham Barrow for his part in our mini revival. The players certainly seem to be playing for him at the moment. Holt looks a superb buy and even Morris is looking useful, something which impossible in his first couple of games.

Talk was all about Wembley after the game. I know we are still a couple of rounds away, but the circumstances that we have faced so far in this competition, have given Dale fans that feeling that our name just might be on the cup.
Dale: Edwards, Sparrow, Stokes (Jones), Bayliss, Monington, Farrell, Stoker, Carden, Morris, Peake, Holt (Painter). Sub not used Stuart

Photo: Action Images

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