Much maligned Dale striker Andy Morris proved everybody wrong when he came up with a superb hat trick to wrap up the points for Dale.

Much maligned Dale striker Andy Morris proved everybody wrong when he came up with a superb hat trick to wrap up the points for Dale. It was very much needed and proved to be yet another lifeline for manager Graham Barrow as Dale were losing at half time to a struggling Chester side.

Well this was my first home game back in the country since by visit to sunnier climes, and for a while I was wishing I was still there. I knew things had not been pretty during my absence, but before kick off, all people did was tell me how it was even worse. It couldn't be that bad could it, after all we did alright at Cambridge. Well at half time I believed every word they said. We were absolutely dire in the first half. With a low crowd for what is technically called a derby match, and poor football being played on the pitch, it was like watching a pre-season friendly or a non league game.

The game started with Dale playing their familiar 5-3-2 formation with a return to the side for Michael Holt. Andy Farrell was put to right back. However it was soon clear that this was not working and Carden and Farrell soon swapped roles on the orders of the dugout. Neither side looked likely to score, yet the visitors managed to following a move down their left hand side. The ball was crossed into Luke Beckett who was situated at the near post. He edged the ball goalwards, but his shot was deflected off Keith Hill into the back of the net through a gap between the post and Neil Edwards which did not look to be there. The shot looked like it had hit the side netting, but it was not to be.

It was hoped that this goal would stir Dale into action and show the sort of form they had at the Abbey the previous Tuesday. However the rest of the half was played out in utter boredom. The only 'shots' that Dale could count went nowhere near the target.

The second half did not start much better. In fact it looked early doors that Chester had stepped up a gear and came close to increasing their lead a couple of times. It took a super Neil Edwards save to prevent them scoring when he tipped one effort round the post.

The breakthrough came when Robbie Painter was introduced on the hour mark as Barrow decided Dale should go for it with three forwards on the pitch at the same time, though Painter played no direct part in the equaliser. Dale had already been awarded a free kick when he was brought on for Lydiate. The free kick was taken and found its way to Bryson who knocked the ball on to Andy Morris who volleyed the ball home. Just a couple of minutes earlier, many had been wanting Morris substituted (myself included!). He was to go on and prove me, them and everybody else wrong.

Robbie Painter almost put Dale in the lead when he broke free and he raced towards a one on one with the Chester keeper. His shot however went beneath the keeper who managed to scramble a save. Dale certainly looked a much more of an attacking force since Painter's introduction. He has recently been criticised for playing out his contract before a summer move, but he looked quite determined today.

Dale knew the win was there for the taking as the Chester heads dropped, and they tried to launch attack after attack. Playing all three forwards caused the defence all sorts of problems, and it was a matter of time before Dale took the lead. An Andy Barlow was cross was headed goalwards by Andy 'Bruno' Morris. His effort hit the post on the way in to send the Sandy and the rest of the Dale crowd into ecstasy.

We all know that Dale have a real problem coming from behind to win having only managed it three times in Barrow's three year tenure. We almost managed against Scunny this year but blew it in the last minute. The question was whether Dale could hold on, especially as Chester introduced Mike Conroy who seems to always score against us, but it was not to be, as the Dale not only held on, but increased their lead in the last minute. And the scorer? Well it could only be Bruno, with what was the best goal of the three. He chased down the defender won the ball, but was almost pulled down in the process. He managed to keep his feet, doing a little pirouette in the process, before coolly slotting the ball past the despairing Chester keeper.

The final whistle soon blew to much celebration as the very welcome three points all but mathematically ensure Dale's survival in the division. As the players walked off, the ref called Bruno back to give him the matchball which was a nice touch from the official.
Dale: Edwards, Farrell, Bayliss (Barlow), Hill, Monington, Lydiate(Painter), Carden, Holt, Morris, Peake, Bryson sub not used Hicks 

Photo: Action Images

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