A dismal result leaves Dale fans checking the bottom half of the table instead of the top half, as this win puts Dale within seven points of the dreaded drop zone.

A dismal result leaves Dale fans checking the bottom half of the table instead of the top half, as this win, with which Scarboro completed a league double over Dale, puts Dale within seven points of the dreaded drop zone.

Same old story. Scarboro had one chance and scored. We had loads and didn't.

The game was not long old, and Dale had had a couple of little excursions into their half without really threatening, when they had an attack. They raced the ball down the right hand side. The ball landed at the feet of a Scarboro attacker who had a shot, which was saved by Neil Edwards, but rebounded to Brodie who should have been marked by Stoker who was left with a simple finish to put the relegation haunted club the lead.

After that it was one way traffic, as Dale strived to get back into the match. We had a couple of efforts cleared off the line. We had some saved by their keeper who took great delight in swearing at the young Dale fans down the front.

The second half got worse. The number of chances that we had diminished, and Scarboro managed to hold on for a very vital win for the Seadogs. The only other point of note was Michael Holt's booking. He went in late for a tackle showing his studs, as he has done on several occasions this season. He was so late the player had moved on and avoided the challenge. The ref took an age dealing with it and the red card was visible to all. It looked like Holty was going off, and if contact had been made, it would have been difficult to argue against it. He got the yellow card and was immediately substituted for Robbie Painter. The obvious choice would have been Morris, cos Holty was having a decent game. Sure he may have missed a chance or two but at least he was earning chances. Why will Barrow not try Painter and Holt together?

Apologies for a crap report but it was a crap match. This result leaves Dale just seven point off bottom of the table.

Dale: Edwards, Carden (Bailey), Barlow, Bayliss, Monington, Farrell, Stoker, Bryson, Morris, Peake, Holt (Painter

Photo: Action Images

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